She said with state borders expected to open before international ones do, there is a unique opportunity for Malaysians to travel domestically to destinations they may have overlooked in the past.

“Take the road less travelled, as they say,” she told FMT, noting that with travel between green zones already permitted, it was only a matter of time before other forms of interstate travel would become options.

“We are home to so many sights and experiences, we have world-class food, and we have such a rich and diverse culture. That’s why we’ve remained a prime tourism destination for all these years.

“Now, Malaysians should take this chance to discover all the places Malaysia has become known for that maybe they’d never considered before. We have so much to offer in our own backyard, we should take advantage (of it).”

Speaking about her own constituency (Batang Sadong), she said that attractions such as crocodile or firefly watching are being seen as “new” despite having existed for years.

“Suddenly people now care for all these little things because they have been, so called ‘deprived’, of wanting to see all this because there are too many other options for them, domestically and abroad.

Levelling up local communities

Nancy said that the local tourism industry has the potential to uplift local communities if people provided continued support, with an abundance of local cuisines and artisanal products available to those who seek them out.

She said that some crafts, such as bags woven by the Penan people, had become trends once discovered by the masses.

“Buying our local products, we are helping our own community, because we need local community participation contributing to the country’s economy as well.

“I’m glad that during the (first) MCO, we were able to open up the e-craft bazaar. That’s where we sold our local products, and again you see if not for Covid, we may not know about all this.”

She said Malaysians going abroad were spending about RM40 billion every year in other countries; that money could be better used circulating within Malaysia’s borders.