Travel agencies keep busy planning for industry rebound

The tourism sector is expected to bounce back in six month’s time. - NSTP/File pic

KUALA LUMPUR: DUE to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), many tour agencies are uncertain about reopening.

However, they are slowly planning to prepare for the recovery of the tourism sector, which is estimated to bounce back in six months' time.

"Although the government allowed us to operate during the CMCO period, we can't plan any trip for clients until next year," said Herritage G Tour director Gokilan Sathasivam.

"We do not want to repeat the same oversight we did when the MCO was announced, which forced us to fix the changes and get refunds, especially for transportation and flights."

He said most of his clients had either cancelled or postponed their trips to next year.

He said that his team was working on re-strategizing the marketing plan for next year.

"This year is all about sustaining the industry."

For that, he said, he was connecting with travel industry players around the world through an online tourism talk series, which has been held nightly since the second phase of the MCO.

"The tourism series gives us ideas on the industry around the world as well as information and motivation on travel in the future."

The series, he said, had more than 30 participants from at least 10 countries. 

Among the topics discussed are how to use social media influencers and YouTube to promote destinations, as well as how to monetise through online platforms.

Ping Anchorage Travel and Tours chief executive officer Alex Lee Yun Ping said the firm had ventured into promoting its products through YouTube to tap the local market.

"Many of us do not know much about our traditional arts, culture and heritage, which is why we decided to focus more on storytelling as the initial step to revive the travel sector," said Lee, who is the founder of Terrapuri Heritage Village in Penarik.

He said the company posted a short video about Terra Resorts on YouTube, which has gained more than 400 viewers in three days.

The three-minute video, which talks about the philosophy behind Malay wood carving, is one of the many projects by his team to introduce its products to locals.

Other topics in the pipeline include hand-written batik, as well as royal and traditional recipes.

He said the firm was planning to publish short videos on heritage at least twice a week to attract Malaysians to Terengganu once the government lifted the ban on tourism activities.

Lee has a side business selling batik, keropok lekor and ikan bilis on e-commerce platforms to help small-town entrepreneurs in the region.

The Kuala Terengganu-based agency is planning domestic packages by working with hotels and resorts to offer post-pandemic promotions.

WHE Mumtaz Travel marketing manager Mohd Farid Abdullah said there were too many restrictions and grey areas for it to resume operation as the industry had many parties, including transportation and hotels.

"As a travel agent, it's not easy to plan and operate now when the supporting parties have yet to operate," he said, adding that the economy had to recover before the travel sector could pick up the pace.

He said the government should take part in networking plans to boost tourism.

"The tourism industry is the most affected during and after the pandemic, not only in Malaysia but also worldwide.

"Many have lost their income and it might take time for people to travel again."

He said most people would probably opt for domestic travel post-pandemic, which would help Malaysia's travel sector recover.

-nst online.