Malaysia's tourism Stimulus Recovery Plan: Green zone travel bubble and more

The travel industry has been among the hardest hit from the COVID-19 pandemic with travel restrictions causing tourism-related business to halt operations while some had to shut down completely.

In an effort to revive the tourism sector and subsequently the national economy, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) yesterday announced a detailed recovery plan that will hopefully provide a much-needed stimulus to Malaysia’s tourism industry.

Malaysia’s Tourism Stimulus Recovery Plan

MOTAC minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that the recovery plan will be carried mainly by its agency, Tourism Malaysia, through the Stimulus Recovery Plan, with support from various agencies and industry players.

Strategic collaborations and partnerships with tourism-related agencies will be the focus with implementation of programmes as follows:

• Partnership with Malaysian Association of Hotels and e-market platforms to promote holiday and hotel packages.

• Collaboration with Malaysia Budget Hotel Association to assist selected budget hotels (3 stars and below) nationwide with emphasis on those registered with MOTAC through the ‘Jom Nginap’ and ‘Malaysia Welcomes You’ campaigns.

• Cuti-Cuti Malaysia’ campaign with the cooperation of airline companies such as Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Firefly, Air Asia and Malindo Air to increase travel connectivity within the country.

• Collaboration with the service and transportation sector such as Prasarana to promote inter and intra travels and increase the use of public transport service.

• Partnership with Karyaneka to offer discounts on craft products to increase demand for Malaysian crafts.

Vouchers, discounts, cash rebates will be offered for the programmes while the use of digital technology through mobile applications, online purchase and e-vouchers will also be encouraged for ease of all parties.

Green Travel Bubble

To further promote domestic tourism, MOTAC has also introduced the “green travel bubble” that lifts up a few restrictions for Malaysians to travel.

• Individuals are allowed to travel within green zones without permission from the police.

• They are, however, not allowed to make any stops other than in green zones. Should travellers from green zones cross a red zone, they must obtain police permission.

• The three-per-car rule will be lifted and full capacity in private vehicles and tourist buses are allowed.

• Travel permission applications can be made in bulk to the police by individuals from travel agencies registered under MOTAC.

• Tourists from green zones must register their health status through MySejahtera app, along with proof of booking accommodation, tickets, travel itinerary or any other document determined by police.

Malaysians, not from green zones, are forbidden from using domestic tourism to travel without authorisation.

The impact of COVID-19

The nation’s travel industry has suffered tremendously throughout the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Malaysia recorded 4,233,425 tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 36.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

Meanwhile, tourist expenditure for the first quarter amounted to RM12.5 billion, a decrease of 41.5 per cent compared to RM21.4 billion registered for the same period in 2019.

Since the enforcement of MCO in March, a total of 204 tourism and hotel operators have shut their businesses.

Based on data released by the Companies Commission of Malaysia, the number comprised 109 entities in the hotel sector including hotels, resorts, motels, homestays and chalets, while 95 others were tourism agencies and tourism activities operators.

MOTAC hopes, through its programmes, the worries of tourism service operators such as hotels and resorts, tourist guides and more, who have lost their sources of income during the difficult period will be alleviated.