MATTA: Help us cushion lockdown impact

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) has called on the government to put in place necessary mitigation measures following the total nationwide lockdown on Tuesday.

According to the association, tourist arrivals to country fell by 83.4% in 2020, with Malaysia’s tourist receipts plunging by 85.3%, from RM86.14bil in 2019 to RM12.69bil last year.

“Most of the tourists, or 4.23 million in 2020, arrived before the borders were shut on March 18.

“The industry suffered losses of over RM100bil in total,” said its honorary treasurer Faeez Fadhlillah in a statement yesterday.

It also called on the government for initiatives to cushion the economic risks of the lockdown, mainly, an automatic loan moratorium for industry players, extension of wage subsidies until the end of the year, cancellation of the Travel & Tour Enhancement Course (TTEC), and financial assistance for travel agents.

This is because they are highly affected by the continuous movement control order and closure of state and international borders.

MATTA, he said, is also urging for the loan moratorium with zero interest until Dec 31 with the extension of the wage subsidies programme.

“MATTA is supporting the proposal by the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations, where a 70% wage subsidy is given for all staff earning less than RM4,000, and a 30% subsidy (capped at RM3,000) for those who earn above RM4,000.

“MATTA is urging the government to come up with a tourism recovery plan for the private sector,” he said.

Faeez said MATTA and the travel industry have always supported the government throughout the pandemic, and it is time the government does the same to save the industry that employs millions.