MCO 3.0 and Tourism

Wisma MAH, Ampang (8 May 2021) -- The tourism and hotel industry is again left helpless as various states fall into another round of the movement control order. This time around it came right in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan when hotels are busy preparing for the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays and serving the once-a-year festival buffet for breaking fast. Last year, the hotel industry lost a minimum of RM135mil in food and beverage revenues as it was MCO for the entire fasting month. Hotels were already badly impacted with the extended interstate travel restrictions and now travel has been suspended even between recovery MCO areas. The blanket ban on dine-ins left hotels in a predicament with only days to reorganise what was planned for the entire month. Hotels are not only left with excess supplies of perishables but also committed manpower for the period.

With the current situation cutting off all revenue streams, the industry is willing to impose stricter SOPs such as lower capacity limit, served-buffet service or a limit of two per table, limited dining time, increased screening and even mandatory testing for hotel guests checking in from different states. The government needs to consider these options before imposing blanket bans to allow the industry to at least survive on its own. We have seen similar situations in other countries and the governments there have provided subsidies to businesses for losses due to the inability to operate. The tourism and hotel industry remains committed to supporting the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.


Source: Official MAH Press Release (2021, May 8) MCO 3.0 AND TOURISM. Retrieved from https://www.hotels.org.my/press/24292-mco-3-0-and-tourism