GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s tourism industry is grateful to the authorities for working with employers to house foreign staff in hotels, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 at their usual living quarters.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) chief executive Yap Lip Seng told The Vibes this will help hotels earn revenue amid the pandemic, and also shows the industry’s support for the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus.
“But frankly speaking, the measure is inadequate. Only budget properties may be compelled to accept the workers, because the operational costs continue to be high for some 5,000 hospitality properties.
“Unfortunately, it may not serve hotels’ economic and operational needs.”
On February 7, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said workers should be housed in hotels so as to address the issue of virus transmission at their hostels and dormitories, where hygiene is often an issue.
It said this will enable the government to assist hotels, which are in dire straits due to movement curbs, and employers, who need to keep their foreign workers safe from the virus.
Yap said various factors must be taken into consideration, including hotels’ capacity and measures to ensure physical distancing is observed.
“Based on the current implementation, as briefed by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, it would likely appeal only to small and budget hotels.”
MAH vice-president Khoo Boo Lim said the initiative is much welcome, but that all parties need to be realistic.
“For RM200 per month, what can you expect, and how many hotels are willing to participate at such a low rate?
“You can’t even rent a room outside for RM200 a month nowadays. The government needs to be realistic and offer a reasonable sum.
“If a hotel is tied to this concept, they will suffer even more, as they need to cover more overhead to operate.”
Langkawi Business Association deputy president Datuk Alexander Issac said the travel community expects more.
There is a need to mitigate escalating operational costs, he said, as Covid-19 has caused the prices of many items to go up due to supply logistics impacted by the movement control order (MCO).
“The best way is to lift the MCO and have a targeted form of lockdown in red-zone localities, as opposed to the entire country.
“Enforcement must be strict, and hotels can accept guests only with strict standard operating procedures in place.”
He said businesses need to reopen to boost domestic consumption, and a surge in spending can help shield the economy from the turbulence brought on by the pandemic. – The Vibes, February 12, 2021
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