DATUK RASHIDI HASBULLAH

Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah is the Chairman of Smart Leisure & Travels Sdn. Bhd. He is the former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia. His career in ministry began as Assistant Secretary after completing his Diploma in Public Management Program from the National Institute of Public Administration (“INTAN”) in 1996 and Bachelor Degree of Science in Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics from Mississippi State University USA in 1987. He expanded his knowledge by pursuing Master’s degree in Tourism at the Central Michigan University, United States of America in 2004 to enhance his knowledge about the industry, and then enrolled in the Oxford Advanced Leadership Course at Oxford University, United Kingdom in 2012 to further enhance his leadership skills & credibility, which eventually led him to holding the position as the ministry’s Secretary-General. Besides his official duty as a government servant, Datuk Rashidi was appointed as board member of Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, Hotel Seri Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Putrajaya International Convention Centre, Marina Putrajaya, Sepang International Circuit and Penang Hill Corporation, Tourism Malaysia Promotional Board and Kraftangan Malaysia. Currently he is Chairman of board for National Art, Heritage and Culture Academy (ASWARA) and National Visual Art Development Board. Under Datuk Rashidi leadership, he brings homestay program to international level which Malaysia Homestay Experience Program garnered the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance, which later became the benchmark homestay standards for ASEAN countries. Currently, Malaysia has 311 villages participating in this homestay program. Experienced for 23 years in the tourism industry in placing Malaysia as a major tourist destination in the world. Contributing ideas to the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Program (2010 -2020), National Tourism Policy (2020 – 2050) and National Culture Policy (2020 – 2030). He was awarded as Tourism Icon 2018 (Government Sector) by Malaysia Tourism Council (MTC).