PETALING JAYA: A total of RM1.6bil has been allocated for the tourism industry under Budget 2022.

       Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the tourism sector was one of the worst hit industries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "The tourism sector is an industry severely affected by the Covid-19," he said while unveiling Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat.

       RM600mil will be allocated under the Penjana Tourism Financing dan BPMB Rehabilitation Scheme while RM85mil will be go towards a three-month special assistance for over 20,000 tourism operators.

       Tengku Zafrul also announced matching grants for the purpose of renovating budget hotels and homestays, with an allocation of RM30mil.

       To spur domestic tourism, the RM1,000 tax rebate will be extended until 2022.

       Budget 2022 also allocated RM20mil to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council for the purpose of promoting the country as a premier healthcare travel destination.