ALTHOUGH interstate travel is now allowed, Terengganu’s tourism sector still needs funding from the federal government to help it bounce back, local players said.

Resort and homestay operators said they are still struggling to recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 epidemic, despite pick-up in bookings and sales with the arrival of more domestic tourists.

Homestay operator Tengku Aswadi Tengku Ibrahim said he hopes the federal government will provide cash injections to help him overcome his cash-flow problems comfortably until next year.

“The revenue we are making now is encouraging but it’s not enough for us to cover losses incurred during the lockdowns.

“The challenge (financially) is when I fully reopen for business after the monsoon season ends,” said Tengku Aswadi, who has been operating a homestay for more than 10 years in Redang.

For the time being, his homestay is not operating at 100% capacity as there are not enough resources, since he laid off several workers during the lockdowns.

“We are unable to operate at full capacity as the lift on the travel ban came as a surprise, so we are not prepared and we don’t have enough workers.

“During the MCO (movement-control order) I laid off some of my workers and I didn’t have time to call them back to work, so that’s why I’m waiting until next year to be fully operational.”

State tourism culture and digital technology committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said Terengganu lost out on 500,000 tourists last year due to Covid-19.

He is however confident the state will be able to attract around 1.5 million tourists by the end of the year with state borders having reopened on October 11.

The MCO also had an adverse effect on traders at the Payang market, which is a tourist attraction.

Siti Laksamana, 60, who runs a stall selling batik, said she had to close for six months during the MCO before resuming business after the travel ban was lifted.

Even though the Payang market is now bustling with tourists again and her sales have gone up, it is still not enough to recover her losses.

“Although there are now many tourists, it will take at least another six months before my business fully recovers.

“That is, if things remain consistent and there are no more MCOs and interstate travel bans,” she said.

Siti Laksamana, a second-generation batik seller, said in the first three weeks since she reopened, she has been able to make RM2,000 in sales.

“Actually this is the same amount I used to make pre-Covid. Hence, even with so many tourists it doesn’t mean we will recover soon,” she added.

Meanwhile, Redang Bay Resort will remain shut despite the travel ban being lifted, owner Lim You Jing said.

“I will only open if there is a request for a private group of not more than 10 people.

“This is my stand as I don’t want to face any issues with the authorities or be fined for having too many people at the premises. I don’t want to take that risk,” he said.

Lim said he will only fully reopen next year after the monsoon season ends.

Lim, who is also the secretary of the Redang Island Business Association, hopes the government will continue giving them incentives and aid to speed up recovery of local tourism.

“We don’t know what will happen next year or what the situation will be.

“We have not been opened for a long time so the incentives and aid are much needed to help us restart our business, which requires substantial funding.” – October 21, 2021.