JOHOR BARU: The reversion of Johor's weekends to Saturday and Sunday, effective January next year, is set to enhance the state's tourism sector.
Johor Tourism director Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim said that aligning with the national weekend standard is expected to increase domestic tourism, making Johor more accessible to visitors from other states that observe the same weekend.
"We anticipate a surge in domestic tourism, particularly during school holidays and public holidays, as more locals find it easier to visit Johor," he said.
The shift is also expected to boost Johor's international appeal, particularly among tourists from countries like Singapore and Indonesia, which share similar weekend systems.
"Aligning our weekends with international standards makes Johor a more attractive destination for overseas visitors, and this could result in a substantial increase in international arrivals and tourism revenue," he added.
"The weekend reversion is predicted to streamline business operations by aligning them with global practices, which could simplify international trade and attract more foreign investment.
"Johor's businesses will benefit from improved synchronisation with global markets."
The change is also likely to enhance event attendance, allowing more people to participate in festivals and events scheduled over the weekends. This, in turn, is expected to boost economic activity.
"The impact of this weekend reversion will be overwhelmingly positive for Johor's tourism industry and broader economy," he told the New Straits Times today.
Johor will revert to weekend days off on Saturday and Sunday starting Jan 1, 2025, as announced today by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.