MALAYSIA Association Tour Agency (MATA) applauded the Government’s recent announcement that Malaysia will allow interstate and international travel to resume from Oct 11 after more than 90% of adults across the country were fully vaccinated.
Association president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun described the announcement as an opportunity for tourism industry players to breathe again after more than two years of ‘paralysis’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am confident that all association members will resume operation in the new normal in accordance with the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) that have been set,” he told FocusM.
Mohd Khalid further proposed that those involved in the hospitality industry to screen their employees at least once a week to ensure that their hostels continue to remain free from COVID-19.
“The same can be said for all other industry players who have direct interaction with tourists,” he added.
Mohd Khalid further commended the Government’s decision to scrap the MyTravelPass system.
In an earlier interview with FocusM, he had described the scheme as “very complicated” and “it takes the authorities 14 days before approving or otherwise”.
The MyTravelPass scheme was implemented at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, where travel abroad was deemed highly risky, especially when local infections then was low and no vaccines were available.
However, circumstances have changed since then as the risk of foreign-borne infections are today far lower than local infections rate.
“The scheme is a hassle for Malaysians who want to travel overseas for work or study. Alhamdulillah, our voice has been heard by the Government,” Mohd Khalid remarked.
He went on to urge Malaysians to self-test for COVID-19 before commencing their plans to travel whether within the country or internationally, calling for those who are displaying symptoms such as fever, cough and breathlessness to delay their travel plans.
“The recent announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob concerning the resumption of interstate and international travel is evidence that the coronavirus is here to stay.
“The situation not only demands Malaysians to continue adhering to SOPs but also to increase self-assessment in order to continue keeping everybody safe,” he concluded. – Oct 11, 2021
