ALOR STAR – The Kedah and Perlis chapter of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) would welcome the reopening of the Thai-Malaysia border but expressed its preference for border opening hours to be reduced.
The chapter’s chairman Eugene Alan Dass said that, prior to the pandemic, MAH observed that more Malaysians opted to become tourists in southern Thailand compared to their counterparts crossing over.
Dass said that the border operating hours should be limited to just 10 hours instead of the present 18 as the tourism industry needs time to bounce back following two years of shutdown.
“We used to have an average of 70% hotel occupancy on weekends in mainland Kedah but when the borders operated almost 24 hours, the rate of stay dropped to 50% on certain days.
“Now with the pandemic, it may be worse.”
In the past, many investors decided to build hotels in Kedah and Perlis but when the border extended its operating hours, many suffered a decline in their business.
Dass said that the allure of Thailand is simply because there are a host of attractions, which Malaysia is incapable of offering or competing in terms of cost.
Cross-border trade and cargo movement, though, is allowed to operate around the clock in view that southern Thailand and northern Malaysia are enjoying a growing volume in the import and export business.
Given time and more marketing efforts, Dass hopes that the hotels here can regain their allure as preferred places of accommodation.
“But to do it holistically, there is a need to have more products and packages developed here.
“Tourism should not just be confined to Langkawi. On the mainland of Kedah and Perlis, there are many products which have potential to be tourism draws.”
The border crossings here are located at Wang Kelian (Perlis) - Satun (Thailand), Padang Besar - Padang Bazaar, Songkhla (Thailand), Kuala Perlis - Satun (Thailand) Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah) -Songkhla (Thailand), and Durian Burung (Kedah) - Songkhla (Thailand).
Meanwhile, Langkawi tourism veteran Ahmad Pishol Isahak said that Tourism Malaysia has to redouble its efforts to lure affluent Thais to visit northern Malaysian states.
“We have to bank on our food, culture and certain products to lure the Thais over.”
He also urged Tourism Malaysia to work with the aviation companies to establish strategic air linkages between Bangkok (Thailand) with Langkawi and to design packages where people can stay a few nights on the island before exploring mainland Kedah.
“Tourism is never static. It is constantly evolving as tourists tend to want different tastes and needs. But we can compete as long as we make our destination trendy.”
Pishol said that it is no longer just the beaches and the sun that are viewed as attractions.
It should also be accompanied by newer attractions and adventure-type ones.
He also urged the tourism authorities to conduct a study on how the industry players can compete better in view that there is an acute shortage of workers and inflation has set in. – The Vibes, February 20, 2022
