Matta hopes for bigger stimulus package than previous ones

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) is hoping the government will introduce a bigger economic stimulus package to assist sectors affected by the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.

In 2003, the government rolled out a RM8.1 billion economic package to help Malaysians mitigate the impact of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak and in 2009 announced a RM60 billion stimulus package in the wake of the global economic downturn.

“Matta is hopeful the economic stimulus package to be announced soon would far exceed the RM8.1 billion growth plan or the RM60 billion stimulus package announced in 2009,” said its president Datuk Tan Kok Liang in a statement yesterday.

He said Matta, with key industry stakeholders, had a series of meetings with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Health and Tourism Malaysia to come up with strategies to tackle the sudden and significant drop in travel to Malaysia due to the viral outbreak.

The association according to him, has proposed forward-looking recovery measures.

These include an increase in promotion and marketing initiatives for domestic and inbound tourism as well as easing the criteria and requirements for matching grants under “Galakan Melancong Malaysia”.

Tan had also proposed a review of the Tourism Tax rate to encourage more tourists to choose Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination.

He said various ministries could also reduce or waive contributions and taxes such as those mandatory for the Employees Provident Fund,

Human Resources Development Fund, tourism tax, road tax, and fees for various company licences and vehicle permits.

He also hoped for an easing of visa restrictions for India (and later for China) and more government events and functions to be held in hotels.

Financial institutions could also offer special loans, reduce interest rates or allow deferment in loans repayment as tour buses are being idled more often, said Tan.

Meanwhile, the hotel industry is looking forward to initiatives proposed in the recent Tourism

Recovery Action Committee meeting and is ready to lend support towards the betterment of tourism.

“We are confident with regard to the combination of government policies and private sectors’ efforts in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, and Malaysia remains safe for tourists,” said Malaysian Association of Hotels president Kamaruddin Baharin.

“The tourism industry, which employs more than 3.5 million people or 23.5% of Malaysia’s total employment is critical to our nation’s economy and wellbeing.” – Bernama