Matta calls for tourism relief under Budget 2021

KUCHING: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents ( Matta) is calling upon the government to act boldly and decisively, through the National Budget 2021, to bolster a floundering Malaysian tourism industry during this time of economic adversity.

Matta president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said, “This National Budget must provide solid relief programmes and substantial spending to stimulate the economy and livelihood of the people. The Budget 2021 must then be reviewed periodically.

“The government has to focus on protecting jobs and businesses through a more effective wage subsidy programme and moratorium extension amongst other relief support. The moratorium should be extended till at least June 2021 as the tourism industry has been crippled and are unable to repay loans.

“Many businesses and individuals will suffer and will probably be declared bankrupt without a moratorium extension. The government has to make firm decisions and instruct the banks and other finance and leasing companies to extend the moratorium period to help the economy as a whole.”

“The current measures rolled out to provide temporary relief such as the Penjana Tourism Financing (PTF) and related facilities are not effective as prudent SMEs are cautious on future repayments during this period of uncertainty.”

As for an effective wage subsidy programme, Matta is in agreement with the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) on a proposed two-tiered wage subsidy system which is similar to the system used in Singapore, Canada, Australia and the UK.

The tiered system specifically calls on the government to provide a 50 per cent subsidy for employees earning up to RM4,000 and 30 per cent for those between RM4,001 to RM8,000. The wage subsidy programe should also be extended till at least June 2021, Tan said.

“The Covid-19 pandemic also provides opportunities to reset tourism and implement structural changes both in the private and public sectors,” he continued.

“We ask for sufficient funding for tourism businesses to invest in digitalisation and for the government to support local online platforms instead of relying on foreign platforms.”

“As the national tourism association, we ask for a special grant of RM20 million to further enhance the MATTA online platform and e-hailing platform for the market place.”

Tan added that the government should further incentivise domestic travel through a special personal income tax relief of RM8,000 per person for domestic travel packages purchased through licensed travel agencies or tour operators inclusive of components such as accommodation, ground transportation and tours.

The effective tax savings for an ordinary Malaysian is only RM1,680 based on average taxpayer bracket of 2 per cent. Cost of air tickets is also claimable and includes travelling for spouse, and children of the taxpayer.

“Matta’s Budget wish list also includes tax reliefs for businesses and individuals, to provide double tax deductions for all costs for employees’ local company trips (tour packages), and reliefs to companies who are willing to send their employees to local MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) events. These will encourage companies to retain and reskill their employees during this difficult period.

“We propose measures such as a tax holiday for individuals, sales tax reduction or exemptions to encourage consumer spending and a reduction in the corporate income tax rate particularly for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“These tax reliefs have also been proposed by other associations and economists, and we fully support it; the reliefs are essential to provide businesses and individuals with more money to be used within the economy.”

Other reliefs proposed include granting full exemption for import and excise duty, allowing the importing of CBU coaches and higher-end tourism vehicles, extending tax incentives granted for inbound and domestic tour companies to 2023, extending the Human Resources Development Fund ( HRDF) levy exemption to December 2020 and a bigger budget for upgrading tourism infrastructure; working capital for promotions and marketing (Matching Grant) and business adjustment post Covid-19.

This National Budget must provide solid relief programmes and substantial spending to stimulate the economy and livelihood of the people. The Budget 2021 must then be reviewed periodically. Datuk Tan Kok Liang