“The purpose of introducing an embarkation card is because we merely want to know their activities, whether they go abroad to travel, for business, study, visit relatives or other reasons.
“The number of Malaysians travelling abroad every year is high and we want to know why they like to go out of the country. If it is for travelling and tourism purposes, we hope to encourage them to participate in domestic tourism,” he said yesterday.
Tengku Adnan said Malaysia had a lot to offer and many Malaysians had yet to visit local places of interest, adding that while his ministry was aggressively promoting foreign tourists to visit the country, domestic tourism was equally important.
Source : The Star April 23rd, 2007
It would be more beneficial if TA look into efforts in building the domestic tourism instead of asking all Malaysians who go overseas to complete embarkation card. If Malaysians are not going for domestic holidays, then he would want to understand why from surveys of general public or review the incentives for domestic holidays. There is no need for embarkation forms.
It clearly shows that he is not in touch with the grassroots of Malaysian travel industry. If only he maintains rapport with the people in the industry and he will find the answers within instead of embarkation card and comments which causes national embarassment.
Is he also aware that travel industry worldwide has grown such that people travel overseas because of cheaper air fares e.g. RM9.99 to Manchester and offers for accomodation. The baby boomers has saved their monies and only know taking opportunity to travel. This is a world phenomenon and not only Malaysia.
While he manage "remotely" or from the tree top, it is not a surprise that he still "wonder" why VMY 2007 never really took off till now. Keep wondering till we welcome 2008 or rather he might not be there then.
Printing at least 15 million embarkation card will again waste public funds! Assuming a card is RM1 then the cost of the cards can be a staggering RM15million. Again, Malaysian tourism promotional funds wasted by a Minister who seem to emulate or competing with his boss on spending public funds. Monkey See, Monkey Do!
If he carries on with his plans he would embarass some high profile Malaysians;
(a) en-route to South America, he goes to Turkey to inspect boat,
(b) go Perth to open Nasi Kandar restaurant and etc.
It would be best for TA play police for rakyat and report on VIPs who travel overseas every month with a zero report card or State Excos who goes on overseas trip to waste public monies or wakil rakyats going overseas to spend on ill-gotten monies. Then it justifies embarkation card!
Going ahead with the embarkation card, I would appeal for TA to make public reports without fear or favor of statistics VIPs (including spouse) going abroad and purpose. At least we know the most preferred destination of Malaysia's rich and famous whether it's London or Perth! We rakyat, wants our monies spent on printing embarkation card to be worth the cost incurred in implementing this silly requirement.
He may just help rakyat to save public funds instead of causing inconvenience to business community and holiday makers whom had save their salary for a well deserved annual holiday abroad! It's also his chance to redeem his position as a Minister.
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