RESORTS and hotels on Terengganu’s islands are only expecting an increase in foreign tourists from next month onwards, even though the country’s borders have been opened since April 1, local tourism players said.

The government’s move to further relax some Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) from May 1, such as allowing quarantine-free travel to Malaysia for the fully vaccinated, will help to bring back foreign visitors, they said.

Redang Pelangi Resort manager Ee Lin Foo said the resort has now received several bookings from European travellers for June and July.

“When the border opening was first announced, the response from foreign tourists was very slow. But now, it seems to have increased. We received many requests for this June and July. There are even tourists who want to stay for a month.

“In addition, July is usually the summer holiday (for westerners). Another pull factor is the announcement of SOP relaxation such as optional masking outdoors, and removal of mandatory MySejahtera check-ins,” Ee said.

Effective May 1, check-ins on MySejahtera were done away with, as well as mandatory outdoor masking. Masks however, are still compulsory in indoor settings and on public transport.

The easing of curbs were in line with Malaysia’s transition into the endemic phase, given that more than 82% of the total population are vaccinated with two doses.

Ee said the Redang Pelangi Resort also received a sharp increase in room bookings from local tourists following the SOP relaxation.

“Soon after the government’s announcement on SOP relaxation, many domestic tourists immediately called and asked if the resort still required things like pre-arrival Covid-19 testing.

“People are feeling more calm about the situation as there are now fewer rules and additional costs to worry about.”

Terrapuri Heritage Village owner Alex Lee Yun Ping also expects more foreign tourists to arrive beginning next month.

However, he said tourism players on Terengganu’s islands will likely benefit the most, compared with those on the mainland.

“Recovery of the tourism sector may be concentrated on the islands first.

“For tourism on the mainland, I think we are still in a difficult situation,” said Lee, whose heritage village comprising restored classic Malay homes faces the South China Sea on Pantai Penarik.

Abdul Aziz Che Abdullah of the Pulau Perhentian Resort and Tourism Operators Association said foreign tourists currently make up about 30% of arrivals to the island. He also expects the figure to increase next month.

Domestic tourism is also very encouraging, he added, as most hotels, resorts and homestays on the island are booked full until the end of the current season, which lasts until the end of October when the monsoon season usually begins.

However, there are still issues operators on Pulau Perhentian face, which he said the association has raised with the state government previously.

These include disruptions to electricity and piped water supply, as well as poor telecommunications connectivity.

Aziz said this has cost tourism operators, who are mostly local villagers, to incur extra costs.

“When there are lots of tourists, the infrastructure and utilities cannot cope and there are more frequent disruptions.

“Just days ago, we had a power outage seven times in a day. We have raised these issues with the state government many times previously.

“The state should be helping the tourism industry by improving infrastructure. Otherwise, without state support, tourism in Terengganu cannot grow.” – May 11, 2022.