KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's proposal for hotels to provide guests at least 23 hours of stay a day has faced backlash from housekeeping and hotel groups.
The Malaysia Association of Housekeepers and Malaysian Association of Hotels cited impracticality and potential negative impact on service quality.
Malaysia Association of Housekeepers president Ava Tan Mei Hooing said the hotel occupancy rate of 55 per cent and staffing challenges made rapid room turnovers difficult.
"Luxury hotels have a staff-to-room ratio of 10 to 12 rooms per staff member.
"Other hotels may require one staff member to manage 15 to 25 rooms in high-demand situations. This makes it hard to maintain quality under the proposed policy."
The industry is grappling with staffing issues, particularly in hiring and retaining workers, with salaries for room attendants averaging at RM2,600 monthly, compared with RM3,500 for foreign workers.
Tan said foreign labour was necessary due to the skillsets needed, including cleaning knowledge and customer service skills.
Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh said the proposal could compromise cleanliness and safety standards, especially during peak seasons.
She said a rigid 23-hour stay policy would pressure hotels to take operational shortcuts, which would negatively affect guest experience.
"While flexibility is offered during promotional campaigns, a standard 23-hour stay is not common practice internationally."
Consumer groups also raised objections, with Tarmizi Anuwar from the Consumer Choice Centre arguing that the proposal limited flexibility for travellers.
He said short-stay guests preferred accommodations that fit their needs rather than being bound by a minimum stay requirement.
"This policy can reduce consumer choice and complicate check-in and check-out schedules, potentially leading to inefficiencies that raise room prices."
On Sunday, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing defended the proposal, saying that a 23-hour stay was standard in many countries and would not compromise cleanliness or service quality.
He said customer satisfaction was paramount and hotels should strive to boost the value offered to guests.
In light of the feedback, stakeholders are advocating for flexible check-in and check-out models, similar to those implemented in Japan and parts of Europe, which allow guests to pay for the exact duration of their stay.
This approach would empower consumers and improve satisfaction while maintaining operational standards within the hospitality industry.