JOHOR BARU: The tourism industry in Johor and Melaka is expected to experience shifts following Johor's decision to revert to a Saturday-Sunday weekend from Jan 1.
Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said the change would have varying effects on different sectors.
Most tourism facilities in Johor close on Friday, as they expect more visitors on Saturdays and Sundays.
The attractions that close on Fridays are likely to see increased visitors on Sundays, as domestic tourists and visitors from Singapore take advantage of the unified weekend.
"Johor and Melaka, in particular, will feel the impact as these destinations attract visitors from Malaysia and Singapore.
"We anticipate higher demand for tourism services and commodities on Saturdays and Sundays."
He expressed confidence that tourism operators would have enough time to adjust their operations.
Leong said that while the transition may lead to some short-term disruptions, the overall demand for tourism-related activities was expected to rise.