MELAKA: Budget hotel operators urged the Melaka government to come up with a "progressive" way to help the hospitality industry to revive the industry to the pre-pandemic era.

       Malaysia Budget Hotel Association’s (MyBHA) Melaka chapter president Sazali Sabri said the industry needed the support of the state government to outline more impactful publicity campaigns in order to woo tourists to the state.

       "We need more tourists now, as that would translate to higher occupancies for us.

       "We are in need of support from the state government to come up with more positive ideas," he said in an interview here on Thursday (April 7).

       Sazali said halal certification was an area that hotels needed help in.

       "Getting a halal certification is not an easy procedure and the state government must help us in applying for the status," he said.

       Sazali said the relevant authorities should provide guidance and assistance for hotels in the state to obtain the certification.

       "Hotels here are Muslim-friendly, as we need to cater the needs of our patrons.

       "Most of the hotels also employ Muslim chefs and kitchen staff," he said.

       Sazali said there were over 100 hotels here with in-house restaurants and only 14 had the halal certification.

       "The relevant authorities should facilitate and make it easy for the remaining hotels to apply for the certification," he said.

       Sazali said it’s unfair for hotels to be told not to advertise Ramadan buffets if they do not have halal certification at the eleventh hour.

       He said most hotels had done their preparation for the Ramadan month since the beginning of the year and would be affected.

       Sazali added that the state government should look into ways of promoting tourism through positive publicity to woo more tourists.

       On April 3, the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) prohibited hotels without certification from using phrases such as Ramadan buffet and Iftar Ramadan when promoting their buffets on any pamphlets, posters and banners.

       JAIM director Datuk Che Sukri Che Mat said that it’s not compulsory for hotels or premises selling food to acquire the halal certification, but they cannot use these phrases in their Ramadan buffet ads as this is deceiving patrons.