Tourism players welcome relaxation proposal

Welcome boost: With the suggestion to relax curbs for two-dose vaccine recipients, it is hoped that people will be able to travel and eat at a food court as shown in this file picture taken before the pandemic.

GEORGE TOWN: The proposal to ease movement restrictions for those who have been fully vaccinated is a much-needed boost to those involved in the tourism industry.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter chairman K. Raj Kumar said the suggestion, if materialised, would help inject some life into the fragile industry which had been badly hit by the pandemic since last year.

“I think it is an excellent idea. This is something that we have been talking about for a long time – allowing people who have been fully vaccinated a chance to travel freely within the country.

“This way, our economy can slowly bounce back,” he said yesterday.

Raj Kumar said Malaysia should learn from other countries where they had actually implemented a similar thing, so that the tourism industry could be revived as soon as possible.

“We already have strict standard operating procedure in place at all the hotels, the most important part now is to get our staff all vaccinated,” he said.

Kedah/Perlis MAH chairman Eugene Dass also welcomed the idea, saying that hotels in Langkawi would surely benefit from it.

“Thumbs up for the suggestion. If it is implemented, we will definitely welcome it as it could help the industry,” he said.

Eugene urged the government to expedite the vaccination programme so that more people would be protected.

“Before they plan their next travel, first they must be fully vaccinated. Otherwise, it could backfire on the whole idea,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kedahan Fadzli Abdullah, 29, who already got both doses of the vaccine, is looking forward to the day he can travel again.

“This is a good idea and will encourage more people to get vaccinated and at the same time improve our economy,” he said.

Sally Yeoh, 62, said it was timely for the government to look at relaxing some restrictions for those who had been fully vaccinated.

“It is something many people have been waiting for. This is some sort of a reward for those who have been fully vaccinated,” she said, adding that her second dose appointment is tomorrow.