STATE Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin is looking forward to an increase in the hotel occupancy rate in Penang as the tumultuous year is heading to a close.
According to Yeoh, the beach hotels recorded more than 90 percent of hotel occupancy rate while the city hotels recorded 60 to 70 percent of occupancy rate last weekend.
“With the interstate travel being allowed, we are hoping for a growth in terms of the hotel occupancy rate in Penang, more so during the year end.
“We also believe that the presence of the international tourists also plays a significant factor when it comes to the occupancy rate for hotels which rely heavily on backpackers. These backpackers are mostly from the Western countries.
“We hope that once the Covid-19 situation is under control, we can open our borders to the international tourist.
“The reopening of the international borders can help the concerned hotels to sustain, especially during the weekdays.
“As for now, the domestic tourists occupy the hotels only during the weekends,’’ Yeoh said when he visited the Hotel Malaysia and Hotel Hong Ping today.
Yeoh said Hotel Malaysia and Hotel Hong Ping are among the oldest hotels in Penang that offer quality accommodation with a reasonable price.
“Hotel Malaysia was established in 1971 while the Hotel Hong Ping has been operating since 1972 which is almost 50 years ago.
“Thus, today we are here to visit these hotels and I was informed that the management of both the hotels had conducted renovation works during the Covid-19 pandemic to enhance their facilities as well as their services,’’ Yeoh added.
Yeoh also reaffirmed the importance of restoring the tourism sector as many other service sectors are dependent on it.
“Apart from hotels and tourist attractions, we need to know that the tourism sector also helps to provide employment and business opportunities for many other service sectors as well,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Hoteliers Association (PHA) chairperson Datuk Lim Mee Lee, who is also the chairperson for Malaysia Budget and Business Association Penang Chapter, said an average of 50% of occupancy rate was recorded for budget hotels during last weekend.
Others present during Yeoh’s visit were Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekaran, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) Penang director Jonathan Freddy Bagang and Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan.
Hotel Hong Ping managing director Datuk Loh Nam Seng and Hotel Malaysia managing director Loh Peng Hong were also present at their respective hotels during Yeoh’s visit.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting