Teamwork: The TSA launch and MOU signing. — Photo from social media

       PETALING JAYA: A Travel Safe Alliance (TSA) has been formed by the nation’s four major tourism groups in preparation for the liberalisation of travel.

       The collaboration will see the introduction of accredited travel labels to boost travellers’ confidence with the reopening of interstate and international borders.

       “This collaboration is a key move that will set Malaysia on the path to tourism and business event recovery.

       “TSA Malaysia will provide unequivocal assurance to travellers and business event delegates that Malaysia is safe and ready to welcome international visitors to our shores,” Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (Maceos) president Francis Teo said at the virtual launch of the TSA in Langkawi yesterday.

       The event saw Maceos, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and airlines under the Malaysia Aviation Group – Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings – sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide travellers with a first-to-last mile safety assurance via a label system.

       Accredited by Bureau Veritas Certification Malaysia, the labels are ‘Travel Safe’ for travel and tour arrangements, ‘Clean & Safe Malaysia’ for hotels, and ‘SafeBE’ for business events and convention venues.

       MAH president Datuk N. Subramaniam said there was great potential for the labelling system.

       “Our Clean & Safe Malaysia hotel label is the sign to look for, it is an added assurance given to our guests for a worry-free stay be it for leisure or business,” he said.He said MAH introduced an independently certified hygiene and safety label for hotels in July last year with over 150 hotels on the programme presently.

       MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang noted the changes in behaviour of travellers due to the pandemic.

       “Current travel trends have indicated that travellers are placing a much greater emphasis on safety and hygiene,” he said.

       Malaysia Airlines said it will continue to be the flagbearer for a seamless, safe and hygienic travel experience in line with its Fly Confidently campaign.

       Its group chief executive officer Capt Izham Ismail said the national carrier has scheduled three flights weekly between Langkawi and Singapore.

       This comes in the wake of the success of the Langkawi tourism bubble project launched in mid-September.

       Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri lauded the private sector initiative, adding that the move would help rebuild trust among international travellers.