THE Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has urged hotel operators to adjust check-in and check-in times to ensure users receive stay time of at least 23 hours a day.
"I advocated for this change during a recent meeting with hotel industry association representatives in Parliament on October 17.
"I'm also looking to engage with the Human Resources Ministry and the Home Minister to address any staffing shortages this modification might necessitate," he said.
He said 23 hours a day accommodation is common abroad. with guests checking in at 2 pm and checking out by noon the next day or no later than 1 pm.
"This is normal and does not affect the cleanliness or quality of accommodation," he said.
The minister then said hotels may be concerned about costs and profits but reminded that customer satisfaction is also critical.
"Guest dissatisfaction could lead to a perception that hotels prioritise profits over service quality. A positive guest experience often results in higher profitability for hoteliers," he said.
"I will assist hotel owners with staffing issues by facilitating conversations with the Human Resources and Home ministries for the recruitment of foreign workers.
"The hospitality industry does not enjoy priority when applying for foreign employment, even though the number of resource countries allowed to supply foreign workers is extremely limited and affects the workforce.
"I will speak with the relevant departments to find a solution in this matter," he said.
Tiong then said that he has directed the National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage to introduce certified training courses for hotel room cleaning and housekeeping, aimed at uplifting the professionalism of Malaysian tourism workers.
"This can at once help improve the quality of service and work efficiency in hotels in addition to improving the image of Malaysian tourism professionals," he added.
Other concerns raised by hotel owners, said Tiong included the lack of standard operating procedures and disturbances from other guests.
"These were raised at a cabinet meeting on the same day and will be discussed further in the upcoming cabinet Tourism Development Committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"My ministry is prepared to work with other ministries, including the Housing and Local Government Ministry, to devise strategies and address these challenges," he said. - October 20, 2024
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