GEORGE TOWN – Hoteliers here are expressing concern over the differing sets of standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by three authorities, namely, the Health Ministry, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and the National Security Council.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chairman K. Raj Kumar said the various interpretations of the SOPs have left hoteliers in a bind over how to proceed with the reopening of the tourism sector with the state now under Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan.
He urged the authorities to streamline the SOPs and introduce consistent ones that are practical and accessible for everyone in the hospitality industry.
One example, Raj said, is the percentage of workers who need to be fully vaccinated to serve customers in hotels and resorts, with some saying 40% while others are silent on such guidelines.
Besides reeling from RM1 billion in losses for the since last year due to the pandemic, Raj Kumar said the hotel industry is now forced to spend more to accommodate SOPs, from temperature check equipment and sanitisers.
Raj cited the Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya, which will spend up to RM25,000 a month to buy sanitisers and disinfectants.
State MAH secretary Tony Goh said employers are also spending money for swab tests and preventing staff exhibit symptoms from working until they are cleared to do so.
“These are additional financial burdens that owners and managements have to bear.”
Earlier, Raj launched the “Hands of Hope” programme, a corporate social responsibility drive to distribute food baskets to struggling hoteliers, especially their staff who have lost their jobs, fallen ill or had their income slashed.
The programme, with the aid of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, will see 600 food baskets provided to 40 hotels whose staff are in need of aid.
Raj told a press conference at the St Giles Wembley Hotel here that the Penang MAH allocated RM15,000 for the initiative, of which RM10,000 was donated by state exco member Yeoh Soon Hin’s office.
Yeoh oversees the tourism portfolio for the state government.
Raj also urged the tourism authorities to pay more attention to Penang, which contributes the third highest revenue to the sector in the country. – The Vibes, August 24, 2021
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