Latest news with #TourismSector
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
MCMC clarifies mobile phone data collection for national statistics, says no identifiable user information involved
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has clarified its collection of mobile phone data (MPD) from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), assuring that no Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is accessed, processed, or disclosed. The clarification comes amid recent media reports regarding the matter. In a statement today, MCMC said MPD was used strictly for the generation of official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in two key domains, namely the ICT Sector and the Tourism Sector. For the ICT Sector, MPD helps produce granular statistics, such as the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration rates at the state, district, mukim, parliamentary constituency, state legislative assembly (DUN), and local authority levels. For the Tourism Sector, it generates indicators such as the number of visitors and domestic tourism trips. 'The MPD data requested from MNOs is anonymised and contains no PII. 'In addition, MNOs are given the option to either process the MPD data within their own secure environment and submit the required anonymised and aggregated output to MCMC, or, for MNOs without in-house processing capabilities, to submit the anonymised data to MCMC for processing. 'In both cases, no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected,' it said. MCMC further clarified that the use of MPD as a new source of national statistics was a strategic direction set by the government to strengthen the quality and timeliness of statistical outputs for policy and planning purposes. Implementation of MPD is through collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science, it added. Over the past two years, MCMC said extensive engagement with all MNOs had been carried out to ensure mutual understanding of the data requirements, processes, and privacy safeguards. These included the MPD National Workshop held from Sept 2 to 5, 2024, attended by representatives from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, and MNOs (CelcomDigi, Maxis, TM Tech, U Mobile, and YTL). 'This initiative aligns with international best practices. It mirrors similar projects already implemented in countries such as Indonesia and Brazil, where anonymised telecommunications data is used to enhance national statistics while fully safeguarding user privacy,' it said. — Bernama
Hospitality Net
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Global Travel & Tourism to Reach New Heights in 2025
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) is forecasting that international visitor spending will break all previous records this year, reaching an unprecedented $2.1TN - $164BN more than the 2019 peak. The sector's total global economic contribution is set to reach $11.7TN this year, 10.3% of global GDP, while jobs supported by the sector are expected to rise by 14MN, reaching 371MN worldwide, more than the entire population of the U.S. But while the sector is surging overall, momentum in some major economies is slowing. According to the research, the U.S., still the world's largest Travel & Tourism market, continues to lag, with international visitor spend trailing 2019 levels. In China, while international spending was above pre-pandemic levels last year, growth is expected to slow sharply in 2025. Saudi Arabia Surges Ahead Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia is writing its own success story. WTTC's latest data shows Travel & Tourism is expected to inject SAR 447.2BN into the economy this year - a new record and a bold statement of intent from one of the world's fastest-growing destinations. Travel & Tourism is set to contribute more than 10% of Saudi Arabia's GDP in 2025, with sector employment projected to reach an all-time high of 2.7MN. This success is fuelled by impressive levels of international and domestic spending, with inbound visitor spending forecast to hit almost SAR 200BN this year, whilst domestic spending is also expected to soar to a record SAR 162.5BN. Saudi Arabia is fast becoming a global tourism powerhouse. A Sector Transformed Thanks to the leadership of His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Travel & Tourism sector is not just growing, it's thriving. The Kingdom is redefining what's possible, and will not only meet, but exceed the ambitions of Vision 2030. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO Middle East Growth Across the wider region, the Middle East's Travel & Tourism is expected to contribute $367.3BN to the regional economy, and support 7.7MN jobs this year. International visitor spending is set to reach almost $194BN this year, 24% above 2019 levels, whilst spending from domestic travellers is expected to hit almost $113BN. For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTC's latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC's Research Hub. About WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. View source
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Travel and tourism sector to contribute $34.12bln to Qatar's economy in 2025
Doha: Qatar's Travel & Tourism sector is on a positive growth trajectory as it is projected to contribute QR124.2 billion to the national economy this year. The sector is fast becoming one of the country's most powerful economic engines, according to research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). According to the data the travel and tourism sector is expected to reach QR166.6bn by 2035. With international visitors accounting for almost 90% of travel spending, and over 75% of all trips taken for leisure, Qatar is continuing to cement its place as an international favourite. The sector is set to support over 350,000 jobs in 2025, rising to more than 487,000 by 2035, WTTC noted. Spending by international visitors is expected to increase significantly this year, forecasting a spending of QR 98.8bn in 2025, while domestic spend is projected to reach QR12.6bn this year. Meanwhile the spending by international and domestic visitors is projected to reach QR144.7bn and QR16.7bn by 2035. Qatar's tourism sector began 2025 with strong momentum, welcoming over 1.5 million international visitors between January and March. This surge was driven by an integrated tourism strategy that combines high-profile events, strategic partnerships, and diversified destination experiences. Visitors from GCC countries accounted for (36%), followed by Europe (28%) and Asia and Oceania (20%), reinforcing Qatar's growing appeal across varied markets. Visitor arrivals by air (51%), land (34%) and sea (15%) highlight the effectiveness of Qatar's diversified access strategy. Qatar reaffirmed its leadership in regional tourism by hosting the 51st UN Tourism Regional Committee for the Middle East, where discussions focused on harnessing Qatar's strengths in sports, innovation, and infrastructure to drive sustainable tourism across the region. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
