Hotel owners' association wants govt to allow hotel guest, lift interstate travel ban

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners (MAHO) wants the government to allow hotels to take guests for room accommodations and for meetings.

Its president Tan Sri Teo Chiang Hong, in a statement Friday (Feb 12), also hoped the government would lift the ban on inter-state and inter-district travel to revive domestic tourism.

He said since the country’s borders are still closed to foreign tourists, hotels in the country depended wholly on domestic tourists to generate revenue.

"Otherwise, many hotels are no longer able to sustain their business or survive any longer. We expect to see a number of hotels closing down.

"Hotels suffered heavy losses last year, with some having to close down for good, resulting in termination of employees, while a number of hotels are still closed for an unspecified period, subject to recovery, ” he said.

Teo said that since the movement control order was implemented last Jan 13, about six hotels have closed down, while many of those still in business had to resort to putting their employees on a 50% salary cut and unpaid leave.

The Chinese New Year festive season is a peak time for hotel business, usually with heavy bookings for rooms and F&B, but unfortunately, not so this year, he added.

As such, he said, MAHO is requesting the government for more assistance for the hotel sector, such as an increase in the wage subsidy quantum to RM1,200 - RM1,500 without a cap on the maximum number of employees.

It also wants the government to extend the 10% discount in Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) bills to 15% from March to September this year, a moratorium on business and operating licences or permits, Social Security Organisation (SOCSO)Employment Injury Scheme (EIS), deferment or reduction of assessment, as well as a review of Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) monthly fixed charges linked to a property assessment value. - Bernama