VACCINES FOR ALL TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY FRONTLINERS

OYO welcomes the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC)’s recent media statement reiterating its commitment to collaborate with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) to prioritise the vaccination of frontliners from Malaysia’s tourism sector who are working during the Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0.

- TAN MING LUK

While we appreciate the Ministry’s efforts to champion the needs of the approximately 3.6 million people who are employed in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia, we are cognisant of the fact that for this to have any effect on the industry’s recovery, ALL frontliners across all sectors in tourism, hospitality and travel need to be vaccinated, and not just those who are serving during MCO 3.0.

With the pandemic continuing to show little sign of abating amidst a resurgence in some states and tight border restrictions remaining in place, vaccination plays a hugely significant role in ensuring the recovery of the sector which had contributed an average of RM80mil annually to Malaysia’s economy during the pre-pandemic years.

OYO sees the blanket administration of vaccines for all industry frontliners, and not just those operating in businesses earmarked as essential services during MCO3.0, as equally essential to the industry’s survival and recovery.