Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has urged tour guides to master at least three foreign languages to improve communication and service quality for international visitors. Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing emphasized the importance of language skills in helping tourists better understand Malaysia’s attractions, particularly its historical sites.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tiong highlighted complaints from foreign tourists regarding unclear and shallow explanations from tour guides, as well as difficulties with the English language used. He suggested that mastering additional foreign languages could help address these issues. This statement was made during the MOTAC engagement program with Negeri Sembilan’s tourism industry stakeholders. State Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Nicole Tan was also present at the event.

Tiong further mentioned that MOTAC does not mandate which languages tour guides should learn, allowing them to choose according to their interests. Additionally, he encouraged tourism agencies to develop new and creative packages in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, aiming to attract more visitors.

As of June, MOTAC reported that there are 9,386 registered tour guides across the nation.