Tourists sightseeing along the heritage enclave in Armenian Street. - Filepic
GEORGE TOWN: Hotels in Penang are facing the possibility of a temporary or permanent closure in the next few weeks following the latest movement control order.
Malaysia Association of Hotels Penang chairman K. Raj Kumar said the situation looked extremely bleak for hoteliers as MCO 3.0 would last until June 7.
“It is too early to say which hotel would succumb to the impact but this could happen after the festive celebration, whether it’s temporary or permanent.
“The nationwide MCO took us by surprise as a lot of us are still sorting through many things.
Holidaymakers at the Batu Ferringhi beach where many
hotels are found along the popular tourism belt in Penang during the last Christmas holidays. – Filepic
STAYCATION packages are just not cutting out as a way for hotels in Penang to stay afloat, said Malaysia Association of Hotels Penang chairman Raj Kumar.
Despite attractive packages to lure local folks to get a dose of some hotel luxury, he said, the market remains largely unmoved and the hotels badly need interstate travel to be allowed again.
“Most hotels came up with staycation packages at really low rates. But as guests are limited to only locals and many hotel facilities cannot be open, the response wasn’t good.