PETALING JAYA: Two tourism associations have come out in defence of the industry and tourism, arts and culture minister Nancy Shukri, saying it was unfair to blame them for a group of tourists testing positive for Covid-19 after travelling to Genting Highlands.
The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita) and the Malaysia Association Tour Agency (Mata) said the travel bubble had been introduced before the latest round of the movement control order was implemented.
Mata president Mohd Khalid Harun said that when it was implemented, there were those who flouted the SOPs which had been laid out by the National Security Council and the tourism ministry.
By doing so, they had sparked a Covid-19 cluster.
“But we cannot blame the ministry for the cluster. By right, industry players, from tour agencies to hoteliers must comply with the SOPs. If it had been adhered to strictly, the tourism cluster would not have happened,” he said in a statement.
He went on to urge his members to comply with the SOPs, adding that failure to do so would see them incur losses, especially if the travel bubble was cancelled.
On May 7, the health ministry reported that 16 out of the 28 tourists who had gone to Genting Highlands, Pahang tested positive for Covid-19.
The group had travelled in two buses on April 22 and returned on April 24. The trip was organised by a registered tour company in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
Mita president Uzaidi Udanis said the travel bubble had been suspended since May 4.
He also said the incident should serve as a lesson to all, be it tourists or tour operators to adhere to SOPs and observe social distance.
Uzaidi went on to express his gratitude to the ministry for looking out for the industry and allowing them to earn an income and ensure those in the sector were not retrenched.
“Hence, we do not agree with some who blame the industry for spreading Covid-19,” he said in a statement, adding that his members had always adhered to the SOPs.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association said the war against the pandemic was not something that could be won easily and was also beyond one’s control.
“Therefore, it was unfair to blame everyone involved in the travel bubble initiative.
“It was meant to resuscitate the tourism industry which is in critical condition due to the uncertainty,” its president Emmy Suraya Hussein said in a statement.
Which is why, she added, adhering to the SOPs and observing social distance must be stressed on.
The ministry has since said the company which shuttled the tourists was found to be in compliance with all the guidelines set for the targeted domestic tourism movement bubble
However, after returning from Genting Highlands, there were passengers who displayed symptoms and were examined at the health clinic.
The ministry also said that the original source of the Covid-19 contact related to this case has not yet been identified. - FMT
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