KUCHING: Malaysia’s tourism sector is currently facing a shortage of 15,000 to 20,000 workers.
Tourism, arts and culture minister Nancy Shukri said the estimate was obtained from national tourism associations.
However, she said the problem of labour shortage is not only faced by the tourism sector but also involves all other industries in the country.
According to her, the government is now trying to address the issue, including by bringing in workers from abroad.
“My ministry has relayed this matter (the problem of shortage of workers) to the Cabinet and the government has given approval to bring in workers from abroad.
“The matter has just been approved and has to go through several processes. We have to wait,” she told reporters at an event with tourism industry players here today.
Commenting further, Nancy said to address the shortage of workers, she also suggested that employers hire local workers.
She expected the shortage of workers to be resolved in a month or two, especially with the country now entering the transition to the endemic phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, she said the number of tourists entering the country so far this year has reached more than 500,000 and she is confident that it will increase by the year-end.
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