The Malaysian Budget Hotel Association (MBA) said that, although new incentives were announced for the tourism industry as part of the Pemerkasa stimulus package, more support was needed to keep the sector's operators afloat.

While thanking Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the measures announced which include tax deferments, one-off grants and aid payments, MyBHA has called for more holistic and effective actions by the government to benefit people in the industry.

MyBHA national deputy president Sri Ganesh Michiel, urged the government to speed up lifting interstate borders, which he said is one of the main factors that affected the industry at this moment.

“Efforts implemented by the federal government has to be followed through by all state governments and government agencies who can also contribute or take the initiative to give more attention to the hoteliers and those in the tourism industry, for there to be a more meaningful impact towards efforts to revitalise the hotel and tourism industry.

“The government has to be aware that the closure of state and international borders has become the factor that contributes to the absence of local tourism and the lack of hotel guests.

“Therefore, we hope the government can immediately consider and allow domestic travellers to travel interstate in hopes to revive the hotel and tourism industry,” he said.

He also urged the government to be more sensitive and concerned about hotel and tourism players, and proposed that a specific package should be developed for them.

This after Muhyiddin announced benefits for all tourism firms such as extended tax incentives until 2022, late income tax deductions for cinema and spa operators from April till December, and exemption on entertainment taxes for operators of theme parks, stage performances, sporting events and competitions, and for movies played in cinemas in the Federal Territories.