ALOR STAR – A veteran hotelier has urged Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) members to offer attractive accommodation and food packages to health frontliners as a mark of appreciation.
While vaccine distribution is on the horizon, Perlis/Kedah MAH chapter chairman Eugene Dass said that until the pandemic is fully contained, the need for frontliners is always high.
“But the battle is tough, and with reports of fatigue and mental stress creeping into the healthcare system, hotels can do their part in helping medical professionals destress,” said Dass, who manages the Star City Hotel and Fuller brands here and in Kulim.
Once the movement control order (MCO) is eased and majority of the hotels can reopen fully, he implored property owners to allow their management to offer attractive packages to the frontliners.
“It can also be seen as a corporate social responsibility programme.”
Dass was responding to reports that health frontliners are experiencing high stress and fatigue levels in line with the record rise in Covid-19 cases.
“If they can afford to offer complimentary rooms – it would be better as a token of appreciation.”
Seeing that the tourism industry is unlikely to fully recover this year, Dass urged the travel trade community to find other means of sustaining their operations.
He said some hotels can become quarantine centres for returning travellers or for those suffering low-risk Covid-19 symptoms, with the consent of property owners.
He added that restrictions need to be more elaborate and effective at the locality level to minimise economic effects.
He urged tourism authorities to work with health authorities to develop travel bubbles to allow for minimal tourism activities.
“The incentive for travel bubbles is tourists get to travel after taking the necessary precautions against Covid-19.” – The Vibes, January 24, 2021
