PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) is disappointed with Budget 2021, saying there was little mention of aid to sustain the tourism sector which is badly affected.
“The tourism and hotel industry are deeply concerned with the lack of immediate assistance to stakeholders under heavy cash flow burden due to travel restrictions both international and domestic,” said MAH in a statement.
According to a recent survey, the spike in Covid-19 cases resulted in a 35% dip in customers in the first week of October, followed by 30% the second week and eventually down to 20% in the last week of October.
“The government needs to acknowledge these indicators and that the industry is in need of more assistance. So far from the announced initiatives under Budget 2021, little was mentioned on sustaining tourism businesses other than the extension of wage subsidy at the same amount of RM600 per employee per month.
“The industry had long voiced that the amount is insufficient when the industry had lost almost 80% of business,” MAH said.
The association wants the government to consider a higher amount based on percentage, 50% for employees with wages up to RM4,000 per month and 30% for employees earning RM4,001 to RM8,000.
This model, according to them, is adopted in many countries to support the industry and to protect people’s jobs.
But the MAH thanked the government for extending direct assistance to displaced airline employees.-Bernama
