KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) has urged the government to immediately issue the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the tourism and hospitality sector with interstate travel set to resume tomorrow.
Its deputy president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel, in a statement today said this would ensure the smooth operations of hotels and other tourism-related activities without last minute glitches.
"We call on all hotel operators to always ensure that the SOP is strictly followed to avoid any action (against them) under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
""In addition, we would also like to call on our Keluarga Malaysia to always follow the SOP by the government without trying to violate any rules issued by the relevant agencies that will cause both parties to be involved in legal action," he said.
Sri Ganesh said the resumption of interstate travel would provide some breathing space for the hotel industry that has been struggling to stay afloat.
"The hotel industry is still in need of assistance to ensure the continuity of their businesses and the interstate travel permission will only contribute a small increase to the industry's recovery.
"The government, especially the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, must immediately resolve the threats on the industry for us to see a significant recovery of the hotel and tourism industry," he added.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that fully vaccinated individuals can make interstate travel without obtaining police permits starting tomorrow.