LIM Guan Eng will meet tourism industry players on Monday, ahead of the government’s announcement on its economic stimulus package.

The feedback gathered will be brought to the cabinet for further action, the finance minister told a press conference in Bayan Lepas today.

“I’ll meet the parties involved in the tourism industry next Monday to discuss the stimulus package.

“We will hold talks, and the action that follows will be decided in a cabinet meeting.”

Last Sunday, Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said Putrajaya is mulling an economic stimulus package in light of a deadly new coronavirus outbreak.

On Thursday, Lim said Malaysia is not facing any risk of a recession despite the government’s plan to expedite the introduction of the stimulus package.

The Malaysian Insight today reported economist Soon Hoh Sing as saying Malaysia is among the Asian countries to be impacted if the outbreak lasts more than three months.

The disease originated in China, which is the largest trading partner of many Asian economies.

The virus, first detected in the city of Wuhan last December, has killed at least 722 people in China and infected more than 34,500.

For Malaysia, the reduction in Chinese visitors due to the temporary suspension of visas will impact its tourism, catering and retail sectors.

“The tourism industry will be affected. Most tourists are from China, not the US. The Chinese have strong purchasing power,” said Soon.

It was reported that normally bustling hotspots in Penang and Sabah are quieter now due to a lack of visitors. – February 8, 2020.