GEORGE TOWN – Budget hotel operators have launched a campaign to boost domestic tourism through new tour packages but its timing has drawn criticism on social media platforms.
The Malaysian Budget Hotel Association (MyBHA), in announcing the campaign, aimed to boost the domestic tourism industry for the benefits of its members but it came during a resurgence of the Covid-19 cases in the country.
Known as the Jom Nginap campaign, it is in line with the domestic travel initiative by Tourism Malaysia in collaboration with Touch N Go eWallet (TnG) and Gkash.
The campaign will begin on November 15 until December 31.
MyBHA will engage with 200 budget hotels to take part and will encourage more hotels in similar E-Wallet Cash Back campaigns in the future, said its president, Emmy Suraya Hussein.
“We will be the first hotel association to initiate and engage with 14 million TnG eWallet users," Suraya Hussein said in a statement.
According to MyBHA secretary-general Denis Ong, business has only started to pick up two months ago. They are trying to get more of their members to embrace digitalisation as that will help them during this pandemic.
“If they do not have a website, we will help them to come up with a website where they can have an online presence,” Ong said, noting that only 50% of their 2,000 plus members have gone digital.
On the timing of the launch of the initiative, during the crux of the pandemic’s third wave in Malaysia, Ong was optimistic.
“The campaign will start in November, and it is premature to predict what is going to come. If we don’t do it, there is no best time to do it. Now is the right time,” he said.
Malaysia Hotels Association (MAH) vice-president Khoo Boo Lim said that the hotels have only the domestic market to look forward to.
“Promotions and packages advertised now are planned before this recent wave so they have no choice but to launch it. However, it should be postponed if the situation doesn't improve.”
Social media users questioned if it is in bad taste for the association to promote tour packages amid the rise of Covid-19 cases.
“It is in poor taste, but I can understand why they’ve got to do this.
“They have to sell a lifestyle that people obviously already miss, but I’m also hoping they’d remind people to stay home or travel later. But this is not ethical,” said social media user Beatrice. – The Vibes, October 11, 2020.
