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GEORGE TOWN – Penang hotels reckon they will only see signs of recovery after at least six months as the country transitions into the endemic phase.
The Malaysian Association of Hotels’ (MAH) Penang chapter said the industry also faces rising operating costs and acute labour shortage.
Its chairman, Tony Goh, likened the industry’s situation to coming from the intensive care unit to the critical care unit.
“It will take time. In the meanwhile, we hope the public can understand our plight,” he said after handing over 2,000 packets of bubur lambuk to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry’s office here.
He added that hotel operations are often disrupted as workers contract Covid-19 or they are unable to fully open due to labour shortages.
Goh said the industry needs help with loan moratorium extensions and discounts on utilities.
“We are grateful for the support from domestic tourists but it will take time for tourism to regain what it had lost since 2020.”
Goh also hopes that the authorities can help provide fresh strategies to engage new workers as the hospitality business is driven by service and not just digital solutions.
Yesterday, local government and housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo said the local authorities are in the midst of finalising new guidelines on imposing a ban on short-term rentals of private condominiums and high-rise apartments, in a bid to bolster the state’s hotel industry.
“We do not want situations that disturb the well-being of other residents. People do not want their houses to become hotels. That’s the simple reasoning behind the guideline,” he said after handing out aid to Penang Island City Council staff in conjunction with the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
He said the local authorities will present their proposed guidelines to the state exco for approval, adding that it will not affect medium-term rentals that stretch over several months.
The move will also extend to short-term leasing for landed properties, though Jagdeep did not give a timeline for when they expect the proposed guidelines to come into force. – The Vibes, April 29, 2022