KUCHING: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sarawak Chapter says it is vital to reopen the country’s borders as soon as possible.
Agreeing with the National Recovery Council’s (NRC) suggestion to reopen borders in stages, Sarawak Matta chairman Oscar Choo said setting up a definite timeline would give business owners something to look forward to.
“This is important as it allows sectors to plan ahead,” he said on Friday (Feb 4).
He added that labour shortages remained a key challenge and the lack of capital to resume business would prove difficult for a post-recovery phase without government support.
“As the region presses ahead to fully normalise in 2022 with countries like Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand going full speed ahead with quarantine-free entry programmes, it is crucial that Malaysia move in the same direction.
“Contact-based economies, especially tourism, account for a large share in Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and with the Omicron variant derailing efforts of a calibrated Southeast Asian recovery, we believe that by taking a bold move, a definite timeline coupled with standardised entry protocols and entry requirements will boost our ailing economy.”
Most importantly, Choo stressed that the definite timeline would assist businesses to start with capacity building to get their manpower and assets ready.
On Feb 1, NRC chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the council had recommended for the reopening of the country’s borders in stages, beginning last month, however, the borders had yet to be opened.
