GEORGE TOWN – Penang tourism executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin has urged the federal authorities to axe tedious travel requirements and embark on a massive marketing drive to meet the surging demand among tourists on both the domestic and international fronts.
He particularly emphasised on the imminent Middle Eastern holiday season after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“Middle Eastern travellers are already starting to make plans for their summer holidays, which typically take place from June to August. Eased restrictions will make Malaysia their destination of choice,” he said.
He pointed out that countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have done away with complicated travel requirements to lure international travellers, including introducing friendlier schemes and scrapping tests.
“Malaysia was among the last to reopen borders. We will lose out on plenty of economic opportunities if we continue to impose exhaustive arrival conditions and remain indecisive about marketing plans,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Meanwhile, Penang’s tourism fortunes have begun to rebound after two years of lockdowns and the reopening of Malaysia’s international borders earlier this month.
Malaysian Association of Hotels’ Penang chapter chairman Tony Goh said that local beach hotels are recording about 90% occupancy rate, while city hotels are chalking up between 70% and 80% occupancy rate during weekends.
“The occupancy rate on weekdays is between 20% and 30%. It’s a little bit low but that is understandable due to Ramadan as the Muslims are fasting,” he said.
Goh said that hoteliers are expecting more tourists and travellers to come over during the long break due to Labour Day and Hari Raya public holidays next week.
“But most of the hotels are still lacking manpower. So, some of them are limiting their room bookings because of this.
Goh hopes that the federal government can assist the tourism sector to overcome the acute shortage of manpower. – The Vibes, April 27, 2022
