KUALA LUMPUR (June 7): The recovery movement control order (RMCO) phase from June 10 to Aug 31, which will relax interstate travel, meetings and workshops, augurs well for the tourism industry and marks the beginning of the recovery of domestic tourism.

In a statement, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) said it had published its base guidelines on May 1 to guide hotels into the new norm of hotel operations.

MAH chief executive officer (CEO) Yap Lip Seng said Malaysian hotels are ready to receive and serve guests, adding that standard operating procedures (SOPs) had always been part and parcel of hotel operations.

“In a recent survey we conducted, out of 402 hotels responded, we recorded 96% adoption of SOPs in reference to safety, health and hygiene practices for Covid-19, with the balance minority awaiting reopening of operations,”said Yap.

He said the MAH’s survey also reported a slow but consistent pickup in onward demand or hotel bookings for the coming months.

“Overall, hotels responded with demand recorded for quarters three and four of 2020 (3Q20 and 4Q20), indicating people’s need to travel and that they had taken advantage of promotions and packages hotels had likely introduced in advance.

“Steady demand is also seen for year 2021, signalling confidence in recovery and the new norm as part of travel,” he said.

Yap said specifically, Kedah (mainland), Perak, Johor, Pahang and Kelantan are expecting short-term or immediate bookings, while Langkawi and Negeri Sembilan are looking at year-end increased interest.

He said Terengganu, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak, on the other hand, saw bookings recorded consistently for 3Q20 and 4Q20, while Penang, Melaka and Sabah are looking at steady demand growth until 1Q21.

Yap said with the announcement of the RMCO, the industry should expect a pickup in not only leisure travel but also business travellers.

“With the industry moving into the first stage of recovery (domestic tourism), we need to plan ahead for the next, and that is the international inbound market when the borders are opened and eased.

“This will involve concerted efforts to market and promote Malaysia by both the private sector and the government, hand in hand,” Yap said.

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