Malaysia denies aiming gambling at Indonesian tourists

Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin said that Malaysia encourages Indonesian tourists to explore cultural sites.

Malaysia.- Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, the deputy chairperson of Tourism Malaysia, has denied that the country aims to attract tourists from Indonesian tourists to gamble. He said visitors from the neighbouring country, where gambling is illegal, are not encouraged to focus on gambling as their main reason for visiting.

During a press briefing in South Jakarta, Dato’ Yeoh said that while gambling in Malaysia is legal, the country promotes other attractions like cultural and sports tourism to Indonesian visitors. However, he added:  “But if there are Indonesian tourists who seek (casinos) in Genting, we can’t stop them, and we can’t prevent them,” he added.

Gambling in Malaysia is permitted only at Genting Highlands, which is home to Genting Casino and SkyCasino. Genting Malaysia’s fourth quarter revenue was flatish at RM2.68m (US$604.3m) while adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was RM180.6m (US$41m), down 78.6 per cent year-on-year and 86.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter.