THE occupancy rates in hotels nationwide are expected to continue to increase next year when the recovery movement-control order (RMCO) is lifted end of this year.

Tourism Malaysia Domestic & Events Division, senior director Ammar Abd Ghapar said the agency was targeting an increase of 20%, but did not state the current occupancy rate.

He said the increase in bookings was also, among others, driven by the launch of the Malaysian Holiday Special Package for Civil Servants in September to encourage the public to go on vacations in the country.

“We request these civil servants, who may have been less affected economically – and some of them also get bonuses – to travel and help the country’s tourism industry,” he told reporters in Lumut today.

Ammar also reminded hotel and resort operators to conduct disinfection exercises to boost tourists’ confidence.

“We will not compromise and insist that standard operating procedure (SOP) should always be adhered to,” he said. – Bernama, December 27, 2020.