GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government should scrap its plan to ban short-term rentals and homestays in the state, says state MCA youth chairman Lim Swee Bok.
He said that there is a need to promote the industry, as the Ministry of Tourism, Art & Culture (Motac) Penang facts and figures show that homestays offer a promising way to revive tourism in Penang.
Lim said in a statement on Saturday (April 30) that as of October 2020, the Malaysia Homestay Experience programme in Penang had 219 operators offering 264 rooms.
He said the total income generated by the Malaysia Homestay Experience participants in Penang for 2019 was recorded at RM455,510.
Lim added that from January to September 2020, the same programme pulled in RM64,507 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
"While state Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo asserts that if you are holidaying, go to a hotel, he should recognise that homestays perform a complementary role to hotels for Penang’s tourism recovery," Lim added.
He said there are about 90 hotels registered under the Malaysian Association of Hotels in Penang, offering about 14,500 rooms as of Dec 2021.
Lim added that this outnumbered the 264 homestay rooms in the state, and said that the Penang government should entice international travelers to use homestays in Penang.
"Homestays offer an authentic local charm. Traditional games can undergo revival, while tourists may experience local lifestyles and activities," said Lim.
He added that homestay operators must maintain the premises and surrounding areas to ensure that the area is clean and refreshing.
On Thursday (April 28) state housing committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said that the Penang state executive council has agreed to not allow “check-ins” at landed and high-rise buildings for short-term rental homes or homestays.
He, however, added that no date on the ban has been decided yet so far and has stressed that the state government will be firm on the ruling.
Jagdeep said the ban would come in the form of a “guideline” which will be passed to local councils for enforcement.
He said the guideline, among others, would empower management bodies of apartments, condominiums or any stratified properties to take action against errant homeowners who allow short-term rentals.
