Tourism players happy with targeted travel bubbles

PETALING JAYA: Tourism players breathed a sigh of relief as targeted travel bubbles within the country are now allowed.

With the number of Covid-19 cases dropping below the 2,000-mark, the players hoped the government could consider opening up more states for cross-border travel.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the move to lift travel restrictions was a “step forward to revitalise the industry”.

However, he noted that a large portion of domestic travellers and companies were based in states that were under the conditional movement control order.

“Currently, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang are under the conditional MCO and there are many tour vehicles and operators there.

“As such, the impact of the decision to allow interstate travel between states under the recovery MCO cannot be seen or estimated yet since it just started, ” he said.

Tan added that the requirement for tour agencies to obtain police permission in order to travel interstate would also make the process difficult and troublesome for them.

“We must be responsible travellers and do the necessary ourselves.

“MATTA hopes the government will eventually open up interstate travel for other states, ” he said.

Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datuk N. Subramaniam said the decision was a “big step forward” for the travel industry, especially as about 100 hotels had closed temporarily or permanently since the start of the pandemic.

“Although at the moment this (relaxation) is still limited and responsibility is placed on travel agencies and operators, it is a significant indication that the government has taken the industry’s views to move closer towards fully opening up interstate travel.

“The industry is appreciative of the effort by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) to push for the proposed relaxation and hope the government will take this further as we record lower Covid-19 numbers in coming days, ” he said.

He added that while it was understandable that travelling in private vehicles was currently prohibited, he proposed the government allowed flights between recovery MCO states.

“Travel between these states via flights with confirmed hotel bookings can be allowed. Hotels are ready with its SOP, especially those certified ‘Clean and Safe’ by Motac, ” he said.

Subramaniam added that although not every segment in the tourism industry would immediately see a boom, a number of segments such as hotels, theme parks and eateries could benefit from the opening up of travel activities.

Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said it was good for the industry that the domestic tourism sector was slowly opening up.

He said it would take time for the battered tourism industry to fully recover, adding that it could not be done overnight.

“This first step is the start of the recovery of the tourism sector. Many investors are suffering at the moment, and the prolonged closure of borders will do not any good to tourism players.

“The locals must travel first, only then will the visitor numbers start to grow. It will only grow in stages, ” he said.

Apple Vacations group managing director Datuk Seri Koh Yock Heng said the move would enable travel operators to eke out a living.

“Tourism industry is not just travel companies per se, there are other companies such as hotels and restaurants, that need to be considered too, ” he said.