SIBU, Oct 14: The hotel industry is not experiencing immediate benefits with interstate travel now allowed and police permits no longer required for inter=district travel.
Sarawak Central Region Hotels Association vice-chairman Lang Jai Lee reckoned that it will take a few months before hoteliers start to receive room bookings related to tourism.
“We have not receive any bookings for rooms following the announcement on interstate travel and also when inter-district travel can be done freely without having to apply for the police permit. I believe it will only be next year when we can receive guests,” he said today.
He added that at this moment, most people still do not want to travel for tourism as the Covid-19 pandemic is still present.
While interstate travel is now allowed, there are still a number of restrictions that also affect people’s decision to travel, including the standard operating procedure for dine-ins where the number of people allowed to sit at a table is based on the table size, Lang said.
The other requirement is that people still need to apply for permits to enter the State via enterSarawak and to show proof of completed vaccination status and negative RT-PCR or antigen test results verified by health clinics or laboratories (valid for three days) and submission of other relevant personal information.
Lang added that with schools reopening, parents are busy tending to their children’s education and as such are not thinking of going out for holiday.
For those able to travel, they also do not want to take chances as they fear they might get stuck at their destinations as the Covid-19 situation remains unpredictable.
“Hotels here are receiving one to two bookings with the highest of up to five only. But they are from people who come here for specific reasons only and not for holidays, such as on medical ground or to visit their aged parents as they were unable to meet them previously due to the closure of the border,” he said.
As for the hotel restaurant business, Lang noted that public response remains lukewarm.
“Newly wed couples are not holding their wedding receptions at hotels now as a precaution against the coronavirus. Instead they are having just one to two-table dinners at home with their parents minus their siblings,” he said. — DayakDaily
