KUALA LUMPUR: Maintenance and upgrading of tourism industry facilities must be expedited to meet the increasing number of tourists in the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said these included the Kuala Lumpur International Airport as well as the airports in Penang and Tawau.
Anwar added that the synergy between ministries and agencies needed to be improved to ensure that Malaysia's tourism industry remained competitive on the global stage.
"(We are receiving tourists) not just in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, Alor Star and Kota Baru, but now also Tawau too.
"Tawau is not designed to receive international arrivals.
"So I want all these areas to be improved, including Tawau Airport and Penang Airport which are so crowded."
He said this at the launch of the 2024 National Craft Dayat Kompleks Kraf here, today.
Anwar said each state also played a role in boosting the tourism sector, including by promoting local handicraft.
"Handicraft can help improve the livelihood of the less fortunate.
"For example, there are Rungus people in Sabah who get orders for their beadwork all the way from Italy.
"And as the government, the ministry needs to promote this (local craft) as part of tourism.
"Next year, Malaysian will be Asean chair and there will be delegations from China, India, Australia, Europe and the United States, among others, and I hope we will present them our local handicrafts as gifts," he added.
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and his deputy, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
At the event, Anwar also presented the 2024 Tokoh Kraf Negara Award to Bangie Anak Embol for her 'Pua' woven textile craft.