STAN URGES GOVT TO INTERVENE IN LOAN MORATORIUM EXTENSION FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY

14 JAN 2021

SANDAKAN: In view of the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) for the second time in Sabah since Wednesday, the Sandakan Tourism Association (STAN) has urged the government to intervene in extending the loan moratorium by banks for all tourism industry players until June.

Its president Teo Chee Kim said this was because the tourism industry was the hardest hit by the MCO.

“Since the first MCO back in March last year, the tourism industry virtually came to a standstill as international borders continue to be closed, while interstate travel is currently not allowed. "For an industry that brought in billions in revenue annually and provided thousands of jobs, I think the industry merits every bit of immediate government intervention to keep it alive,” he said in a statement here today.

Teo pleaded with the government to help the tourism industry face financial pressure during the pandemic before it suffers a total collapse.

He also hoped the government could provide more incentives for tourism players that had suffered massive losses to re-skill in order to survive the pandemic. -Bernama