KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) says the tourism industry may suffer an estimated RM150 million in losses during the upcoming school holidays due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Matta deputy president Mohd Akil Yusof said this includes an estimated RM52.5 million worth of potential losses for umrah travel, which usually sees an increase during this time.
He said umrah travel during the holiday period could increase from 1,000 people per day to 1,500, with each package costing an average of RM5,000.
Meanwhile, Matta vice-president for outbound travel Cynthia Tan said the tourism industry may see a potential RM100 million loss in outbound travel during the two-week May school holidays.
She said this was because people typically travel to further, more expensive destinations such as Europe during this period.
She added that the May holidays this year would also coincide with the Hari Raya holidays.