Tourism Johor director Suhairi Hashim said around a million Singapore tourists are expected to visit the state this month.

“We are targeting five million foreign tourist arrivals up to the end of this year, and we based this on 50% of tourist arrivals in 2019, which was 10 million foreign tourists.

“Over the next two weeks, there will be a surge of Singaporean tourists who will come over to shop. More so during the months of Ramadan and Syawal,” he told reporters after welcoming the first international flight at Senai International Airport here today.

Deputy tourism, arts and culture minister Edmund Santhara Kumar was also present to welcome AirAsia flight AK1491 carrying 90 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Suhairi said the state government will cooperate with airlines to ensure there are more international, regional and domestic flights to Johor.

“The next six months are the best period for us to see changes in terms of tourist arrivals to Johor, compared with pre-pandemic situations, including those from Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“We will also try to bring Chinese and Middle Eastern tourists to the state, and we are in the midst of discussions with airlines in those countries,” he said.

He added that various preparations have been made to boost tourist activities in the state, including providing courses and training to industry operators, especially those in the homestay sector.

“This is because previously, homestays were lagging behind but this year we will try to intensify promotions as Johor has 27 village areas that can be developed as pioneer projects to develop the homestay sector in the state,” he said.