MELAKA, April 22 — The Melaka state government today disbursed one-off assistance totalling RM253,500 to 199 tourism industry players in the state who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said they comprised 120 travel agencies which received RM1,000 each, nine homestay operators (RM2,000 each) and 67 Bumiputera chalet operators (RM1,500 each).
He said the Melaka Tourism Association, Malaysia Association of Hotels (Melaka chapter) and Melaka Budget Hotel Association also received RM5,000 each.
“The assistance will be channelled directly to their bank account. Although the amount is not that much, we hope it could help alleviate their burden,” he told reporters after the handing over of assistance to the state’s tourism industry players here, today.
Also present were the state Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis and state Tourism Promotion Division managing director Sa’ari Basiron.
Sulaiman said under the Melaka Budget 2021, the state government has also provided various incentives for tourism industry players such as the entertainment duty exemption to three water parks, namely A’Famosa Water Theme Park, Bayou Lagoon Resort and Melaka Wonderland Water Theme Park throughout this year.
Besides that, the service tax exemption for the hotel sector effective from March until December this year, he said.
Meanwhile, the chief minister said about 70 per cent or 500 tourism premises and facilities in Melaka have obtained the COVID-19 SOP Compliance and Practice Certification, in an effort to increase tourists’ confidence to visit the state.
