GEORGE TOWN: All hotels in Penang have resumed their operations and are ready to serve fully vaccinated guests.

       State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said more than 300 hotels in the state which are still in operation have reopened.

       “As of now, excluding those that have already closed down, most of the hotels are operating,” he said when commenting on the reopening of local hotels to vaccinated Penangites during a press conference at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa at Batu Ferringhi.

       He said in the meantime, the state government is waiting for the interstate travel ban to be lifted to revive its domestic tourism.

       “Industry players in Penang such as the hoteliers and tourist attraction operators have already equipped themselves with strict standard operating procedures, and are waiting to welcome domestic tourists.

       “We do not expect there to be any further announcements on domestic travel bubbles such as the reopening of Pulau Langkawi.

       “Instead, I believe that once we are able to reach our vaccination goal, interstate travel will be allowed,” he said at the event where he launched the Shangri-La Group’s “StaySurance”, the hospitality group’s personal accident coverage programme for its guests.

       He applauded the Shangri-La Group for their forward thinking when offering the free coverage to guests as an extra assurance.

       “This will surely give guests confidence and peace of mind when staying here. This is definitely a good move to complement the gradual recovery of Penang’s tourism industry,” Yeoh said.

       StaySurance offers personal accident coverage to domestic guests with hospital cash benefits of up to US$100 (RM418) per day in the event of testing positive for Covid-19 during their stay in the property.

       The coverage starts from 6am or upon check-in, whichever is earlier, to 6pm or upon checking-out, whichever is later.

       Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa communications director Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman said apart from Covid-19 and hospitalisation due to accidents, the insurance covers other infectious diseases such as Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome, dengue fever, chikungunya, malaria, yellow fever, Zika, as well as the hand, foot and mouth disease.

       This coverage is offered for all fully-vaccinated guests at the seven properties under the Shangri-La Group in Malaysia.