With numerous hotels “folding up” across the country, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) appeals to the Ministry of Health on their recent statement on extending interstate travel.
In a press statement, MAH noted that while the tourism and hotel industry is appreciative of the Ministry of Health’s efforts in controlling the recent spread of Covid-19, the recent recommendation by the Minister of Health to extend the ban on interstate travel beyond the current MCO duration is not a balanced decision.
“The industry understands the rationale but it urges the Minister of Health to relook into current statistics and data, and discuss the matter with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC) before imposing and extending the blanket interstate travel ban across the country.
“The tourism industry had in fact proven itself since the first MCO last March and had operated in full compliance of SOPs, and the hotel industry even introduced its own hygiene and safety certification, the “Clean & Safe Malaysia” label, incorporating standards beyond base requirements of health authorities.
“The industry had always cooperated and worked closely with MOTAC and health authorities and is ever ready to comply with additional SOPs. Having suffered over RM6.5 billion in losses of revenue last year, the hotel industry was again crippled by the MCO early January 2021, with more hotels closing and more employees being retrenched. Extended interstate travel ban would force more into closures.
“The industry would also like to request the Ministry of Health to extend the SOP for special clearance of shorter quarantine approved for Ministers to other business travelers from overseas that would contribute to the economy of Malaysia. If the Ministry of Health is confident of such SOP, it should also work and serve the business community and encourage investments,” read the statement.