IPOH: Subsidies and matching grants offered in Budget 2022 will help the recovery of state tourism, says Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi.

       The Perak tourism committee chairman said it will certainly help industry players who lost income during the movement control order since last year.

       She added that Perak has the potential to be a primary destination for domestic tourism.

       "The allocation will help regenerate the local economy especially at tourist destinations like Kampung Dew, Pangkor, Kinta Valley Geopark and others,” she said on Friday (Oct 29).

       During the tabling of the Budget, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced a total of RM1.6bil would be allocated for the tourism sector, including RM600mil for wage subsidies which would help about 26,000 employers and 330,000 employees.

       The budget also included a RM60mil allocation to promote domestic tourism.

       A hotel owner, who wished to be known only as Patricia, hoped there would be more detailed information about the allocation.

       "I do feel that there are several benefits for tourism players like me who have not made any profit during the MCO.

       "I hope the Tourism Ministry will give detailed outlines to help us understand it better, especially on the RM600mil subsidy programme,” she said.