KUALA LUMPUR (May 10): The hotel industry suffered a minimum RM135 million loss in food and beverages (F&B) revenue last year as Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions were imposed in the entire fasting month, according to the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH).  

In a statement today, the association highlighted the tourism and hotel industries were again left helpless as various states fall into another round of MCO this time around in the middle of fasting month and when hotels are busy preparing for the coming Hari Raya holidays. 

“The industry understands the need for restrictions to be in place but believes that there is room for improvements in balancing lives vs livelihood. 

“Hotels were already badly impacted with the extended interstate travel restrictions and now even RMCO to RMCO travel has been suspended. Since the beginning of Ramadan, hotels had adjusted its breaking fast buffets to the new norm, with added SOPs in place to ensure hygiene and safety of guests,” it said. 

The association added the blanket ban on dine-in left hotels in a predicament with only days to reorganise what was planned for the entire month.

It also lamented that the government did not offer any support or assistance leaving hotels high and dry with cancellations pouring in for room bookings planned for Hari Raya holidays.

MAH also pointed out that with the current situation that cuts off all revenue streams, the industry is willing to impose stricter SOPs such as lower capacity limit, served-buffet service or limit of two per table, limited dining time, increased screening and even mandatory testing for hotel guests from different states checking-in.

“Government needs to consider these options before imposing blanket bans, to allow the industry to at least survive on its own,” it stressed. 

Putrajaya previously imposed a ban on all inter-district and interstate travel nationwide from May 10 to June 6 ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. 

Meanwhile, MAH president Datuk N Subramaniam said the government must expedite vaccination plans for economic frontliners like hoteliers and find ways to procure more vaccines.

“We have seen similar situations in other countries and the governments there provide subsidies to businesses for losses due to the inability to operate, in accordance to either business hours affected or volume, whichever applicable,” he said. 

Subramaniam highlighted the industry is committed to supporting the government to contain the spread of Covid-19 and urged the government to consider commencing mass testing and isolating those tested positive to prevent further spread.

“While the MCO is needed, it does not address or prevent spread from asymptomatic persons that would only multiply with time,” he added.