Kedah hotels appeal for support despite new hotel guidelines

Despite the new federal hotel guidelines, Kedah hotels are appealing for support to help them survive following the movement control order (MCO) which has been relaxed for businesses starting today.

Eugene Dass, chairperson of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (Perlis and Kedah chapters) cautioned that at least 50 percent of hotels in the country are contemplating about permanent or temporary closure which would also lead to thousands of job losses.

His remark is in line with a survey conducted by the Malaysian Association of Hotels on April 16, which showed about 15 percent of hotels might shut down their operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are not sure for how long and we really do not know but the new normal is here for a while until the dust settles," Dass told Malaysiakini.

"Other than the guidelines, hotel operators need more injection of aid and support from the public and private sectors," he added.

"We also need the private sector to continue to have confidence in the tourism industry, which is a major contributor and employment sector," he stressed.

On May 1, hotels across the country were notified of the guidelines where tourists and clients are subjected to body temperature checks, be compelled to wash hands, don surgical masks and share personal data with the hotels.

Social distancing must be practised, while family rooms may no longer exist, as only one guest is permitted in rooms.

These guidelines were decided by the National Security Council and Health Ministry and sent to hotels to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dass said the federal government can help by subsidising 50 percent of the industry's electricity bills until December.

He said hotels are now operating with hardly or zero revenue, except for those leased to the government as temporary quarantine centres.

"Most hotels can hardly cover costs," Dass lamented.

"To ease the situation, we propose that public seminars and conferences be allowed to be held in hotels with assurances that they practise social distancing with no buffet spreads, only takeaways," said Dass.

Meanwhile, MAH (Penang chapter) chairperson Khoo Boo Lim said hotels have to abide by the guidelines in order to ensure the health and safety of the guests as well as the staff.

"For the prevention guidelines and daily cleaning operations, there should not be any challenge.

"However, on how to determine if a guest is infected by any virus is going to be difficult as hotel staff are not qualified with only minimal or no medical experience," said Khoo.

Khoo added that guests have to help the hotels to declare their medical condition and to provide their personal information as well as travel declaration.

"This may pose a challenge as some guests can be uncooperative and difficult." - Mkini