As we reach the midpoint of 2019, there seems to be much uncertainty looming ahead, from the global economic slowdown and US-China trade war to the effects of climate change. On the homefront, the Malaysian government is getting ready to implement the international departure tax on travellers leaving the country by air (MYR20 to ASEAN countries and MYR40 to other countries), while at the same time having around six months to prepare for Visit Malaysia Year 2020. Reactions have been mixed; some parties say that in the beginning it would affect outbound travel but eventually normalise once travellers are accustomed to it, while others argue that it would affect Malaysia's tourism performance in the long run. There is no denying that the imposition of the departure tax will increase the cost of travel, therefore it is the hope of all stakeholders that the government handles this issue wisely, be transparent in how the money collected is spent, and respond accordingly if the tax were to negatively affect...
