KUALA LUMPUR – Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing must ensure that the “threats” faced by the hotel industry are resolved first if he wants to propose that hotels allow 23-hour stays, says the Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (MyBHA).
MyBHA’s president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel said there are three challenges faced by the hotel sector that Tiong has yet to address, among them the shortage of foreign labour.
Speaking to Scoop, Ganesh said that budget hotels in this country have long struggled with inadequate numbers of foreign workers.
The situation is worsened by red tape in the labour recruitment process, as relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture “are not working in sync” to facilitate labour recruitment.
“(Tiong) needs to resolve this issue first. We want results from his actions, which means foreign workers are already coming into the country, and we can get them to work in the hotels,” Michiel said.
The second unresolved “threat” is the selling price of packages offered by online travel agencies (OTA), which requires regulation.
Tiong recently called for hotels to adjust their check-in and check-out times to allow for nearly a full day’s accommodation, stating that he advocated for this change during a meeting held with hotel industry association representatives in Parliament on October 17.
In a Facebook post, Tiong said that a 23-hour policy is common internationally, with check-in typically at 2 p.m. and check-out by noon or 1 p.m. the following day, without compromising cleanliness or quality.
On OTAs, Ganesh said these unregulated platforms compete among themselves to attract customers and earn commissions without considering hotels’ income.
As a result, hoteliers lose profits and cannot increase their manpower.
The third “threat” is short-term rental accommodations (STRA), which Michiel pointed out are not being regulated as well. These accommodations impose check-in and check-out times at their whim, with zero adherence to standards imposed by the hotel industry, he said.
He also noted that STRAs are not bound by strict laws and regulations adhered to by licensed hotels, which involve safety, hygiene, and service quality. Such practices by unregulated STRAs have led to tourists being unaware of which accommodation services are legal or illegal, ultimately harming licensed hotels.
“Therefore, my word to the minister is for him to keep his promise to resolve the threats facing the industry before we can improve our services.
“He must show that he can settle these issues. Only then will we be able to assist the public in enjoying a 23-hour stay.
“If we don’t have workers to clean the rooms, how are we going to allow guests to check in at 2 p.m.?” Michiel said. – October 20, 2024