KOTA BHARU, July 27 — Beginning in August, the Kelantan state government will be giving away hotel vouchers totaling RM150,000 to 5,000 guests on a first come first served basis at 50 hotels.
According to Unity, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Committee chairman, Major (R) Datuk Md. Anizam Ab. Rahman, each hotel will be given 100, RM30 vouchers to lure holidaymakers to the state.
“The allocation is the state government’s effort to boost the domestic tourism industry which has been impacted by COVID-19.
“However, hotel guests must follow the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Security Council (MKN) standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent the spread of infection,” he said after launching a 2020 Tourist Accommodation Premises Disinfection Programme today in the presence of Kota Bharu Fire and Rescue station chief, deputy enforcer Zukeri Shafie.
He said the program is a collaborative effort by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Kota Baru Islamic City Municipal Council (MPKB-BRI), Kelantan Health Department, and Kelantan Hotel Association, with RM27,500 given to 55 hotels for the disinfection procedure.
“Some 17, four-star and below hotels, and 38 budget hotels, have received RM500 each for sanitation.
“We hope confidence in knowing that the hotels are safe will entice more people to book a stay,” he said.
Based on current information, no tourist premises has been forced to close shop because of the pandemic, and despite the drop in tourists, the state government is maintaining its 5.5 million tourist target for Visit Kelantan Year 2020 (TMK 2020), said Md. Anizam.
Sources: BERNAMA