TERENGGANU’S tourism sector wants the government to promote awareness of the reopening of Malaysia’s borders, scheduled on April 1, to attract tourists.

They said there was a lack of promotion of the reopening of borders as well as insufficient guidelines on how to welcome tourists.

Pelangi Resort manager Foo Ee Lin on Pulau Redang said there did not seem to be awareness that Malaysia was reopening its borders.

“I can say that there has been no real response. So far the resort has only received one foreign booking.

“There have not been any enquiries either. I think this is due to the lack of promotion to announce that we are reopening the borders,” he said. 

Fear of Covid-19 infections was also a reason for the lacklustre response, he added.

He said the situation was worrying for the industry.

“Business is difficult, we are still struggling. Fifty per cent of our business comes from foreign tourists.

“But there are not many tourists now. The economic situation is not so good as people do not have much money and they’re more focused on saving and only spending on what they need,” he said.

The government announced earlier this month the reopening of the borders on April 1 after a two-year closure.

Last January, Tourism Malaysia Eastern Region director Zuraini Abdul Ghani said the recovery of the tourism sector in Terengganu was expected to be slow as local tourists were still worried about the spread of Covid-19.

Tourism is Terengganu’s second engine of growth but the sector has been badly affected by the pandemic. 

In 2020, Terengganu received 2.7 million domestic tourists compared to 5.9 million the year before. Data for 2021 is unavailable.

In early January, state tourism exco Ariffin Deraman set a target of three million tourists for Terengganu this year.

Terengganu was struck by the worst flood disaster in its history in February.

Lack of guidelines

On Pulau Perhentian, resort owners said news that Malaysia was reopening its borders had received an encouraging response.

However, Pulau Perhentian Resort and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association chairman Abdul Aziz Che Abdullah said many hotels and tour operators unable to take bookings because of a lack of health guidelines.

“We are confused. We only know that the government wants to open the borders, but that’s it. We don’t know all the details, such as whether tourists must have insurance as a condition to come to Malaysia.

“We have received non-stop enquiries from foreign tourists. They ask us when they can come to the island or what are the SOPs they need to follow, but we can’t answer them,” he said.

He appealed to the government to immediately release the guidelines for visitors as any delay would cost the tourism sector.

“Pulau Perhentian is highly dependent on foreign tourists. More than 70% of tourists in Pulau Perhentian are foreigners.

He said as Ramadan nears, it is crucial that foreign visitors are allowed as there will be fewer local tourists.

Following the announcement of the reopening of the borders, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has stated that foreigners can travel in and out of Malaysia without having to apply for the MyTravelPass.
 
Quarantine is also not required for fully vaccinated people, who will only be required to test for Covid-19 two days before departure and again within 24 hours of arrival.

The Health Ministry will announce the requirements for travel for the unvaccinated.

Redang Bay owner Lim You Jing is unable to accept bookings for now the resort was badly damaged in the February floods.  

“We need maybe a good two weeks for repairs,” he said. – March 21, 2022.