KUALA LUMPUR – Some 107 hotels and resorts nationwide have closed between March and October in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said today.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, told the Dewan Rakyat during question time today that of the total, 22 were shut due to winding-up orders by the court, and eight via voluntary winding-up.
She added during the same period, 95 travel agencies closed.
“However, the ministry has approved new licence applications to 135 tourism companies from March to October 31,” she said in a reply to Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang-BN).
She added the ministry has always helped tourism industry players through several initiatives.
“The ministry also provides financing facilities, such as the Tourism Structure Fund through Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd and the Tourism Special Fund managed by SME Bank.”
She said, currently, the government still has an unused allocation of RM30 and RM200 million provided for in Budget 2021.
“The National Security Council has also approved a travel bubble for green zone areas, and it is one of the efforts for us to revive the tourism economy.” – The Vibes, November 23, 2020
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