KUCHING: More funding is being made available to help tourism players quickly get back on their feet after the two-year Covid-19 enforced lull in the hope of reviving the industry.
“This initiative is an impetus to revive the country’s tourism sector as soon as possible,” said Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said assistance was being given to licensed tour operators and travel agencies (TOBTAB), MM2H companies, tour guides, spas, foot massage centres (PUK), and homestays licensed and registered under the ministry.
“On the basis of concern, the budget this time is larger with the expansion of the scope of the target group,” she said, adding that a total of RM85 million was approved, 40 per cent more than the previous year.
She said this during the presentation of the financial assistance to tourism players under MOTAC at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here today.
In the said ceremony, a total of 20 recipients of the financial assistance were invited as representatives of the Sarawak tourism industry.
Nancy disclosed that a total of RM9,000 was donated to TOBTAB and MM2H companies; RM3,000 for spas and PUK; RM1,500 for tourist guides; and RM1,800 for homestay operators.
“These payments will be implemented twice starting March and May this year,” she said.
Apart from the financial assistance initiative, the government has also allocated a matching grant of RM30 million for the purpose of repairs to budget hotels with orchid status registered under MOTAC and repair grants to homestay owners.
On top of that, she stated that a total of RM50 million Tourism Sector Matching Grant (GSSP) and Cultural Sector Matching Grant (GSSK) are provided to assist in organising arts and cultural tourism events or programmes.
“To ensure that these grants initiatives can be best utilised by industry players, MOTAC has held a nationwide roadshow on the grants which is scheduled to end on Apr 7 this year.
“Through the roadshow sessions, information was given to the tourism industry on the eligibility requirements, implementation mechanism and application procedures to ensure no party is left behind,” she stated.
At the roadshow session held on Saturday, she disclosed that a total of 109 budget hotels and 568 Malaysian Homestay Experience Programme operators in Sarawak were present and were eligible to apply for this grant assistance subject to the conditions set.
“In this context, I hope that the incentives provided can help reduce the burden of the affected industry players.
“I also hope that this grant can be announced to other entrepreneurs to ensure that the opportunities can be optimised as best as possible,” she said.
In 2021, MOTAC channelled financial assistance to tourism industry players through several initiatives such as Economic Protection and People of Malaysia 2021 (PERMAI), Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (PEMERKASA), People Protection and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) 2021 and Special Concern Grant 2021.
The financial assistance has benefited a total of 20,000 tourism industry players involving an allocation of RM61 million.
