Unrestricted thoughts - Virus' effects on hotels, airlines, tourism

The damage to the tourism industry is undoubtedly enormous and it is heartening to see the government rope in a number of hotels to act as quarantine centres for returning Malaysians and foreigners.The government, according to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, (pic) will pay RM150 a day for accommodation and food for each person quarantined. That works out to be RM1,400 over a 14-day period and that money is a lifeline for 45 three- or-more star hotels that are gazetted to act as such centres in the country.

IT seems like a distant memory now of the events from the initial Covid-19 outbreak that hit the tourism-related industry.

The situation has moved up so many gears that the plight of the hotel and tourism industry is now grouped with the troubles of many other industry groups.