KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) and Bureau Veritas Malaysia (BVM) have signed the "Travel Safe Malaysia" Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label agreement to support operational restart activities for the travel and tourism industry.
Matta president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said new tourism strategies must be implemented to create travel demand in accordance with the government's safety and health protocols.
"Putting greater focus on health and safety in travel demands could be significant to all stakeholders, as it can be an opportunity for reflection and reinvention towards a better and more sustainable tourism future.
"The positioning of Malaysia as a safe country will encourage future travellers to choose Malaysia, once travelling resumes with borders being opened to international visitors," he said in a statement today.
BVM country chief executive Datuk Mohd Nizam Abdul Malik said Malaysia's tourism industry, which places hygiene and safety as its highest priority, will bring comfort to travellers from around the world.
"This will surely benefit local tourists as well, as they will know that their service providers are certified and follow the highest hygiene and safety standards in relation to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
The programme, supported by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac), will be offered to all Matta members in Malaysia through field audits to ensure appropriate health, safety and hygiene procedures and processes are followed in line with globally recognised practices to ensure safer business restart after the Covid-19 lockdown period.