PETALING JAYA: It may be Hari Raya Aidilfitri, but the long holiday starting this weekend will see Malaysians of all races taking the opportunity to travel to their favourite destinations.Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datuk N. Subramaniam said there would be a mix of balik kampung crowds this festive season with those opting to stay with relatives and others in hotels.

       “In general, an increase in bookings for holiday periods is expected, especially for the upcoming Labour Day and Hari Raya stretch.

       “Prior to April 1, the average occupancy at hotels had been hovering between 30% and 40%, fluctuating between peak weekends and holidays and normal weekdays, and with popular domestic destinations faring better than others.

       “While the reopening of borders has yet to see an influx of international travellers, the average occupancy during the Labour Day and Hari Raya holidays is anticipated to be 40% to 45%,” he told The Star.

       When asked if neighbouring Singapore would join in the festivities, he said that with the relaxation of the standard operating procedure, many Singaporeans would take advantage of the holidays.

       He added that the hotel occupancy rate in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur was also seeing an uptrend, with a significant number of bookings coming from Singapore.

       He said hotels in the east coast and Melaka were also expected to enjoy higher occupancy during the Hari Raya period with an estimate of 60% to 70%.

       “Popular destinations such as Langkawi and other beach and highland resorts will also see a significant uptick,” he noted.

       Malaysian Association Of Tour And Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang agreed that many people would be taking a much-needed break during the upcoming holidays.

       He said the recent MATTA Fair had helped to spur the tourism industry and allowed people to grab various deals.

       “Malaysia is very fortunate to offer various attractive destinations and places of interest ranging from beach offerings and nature to food.

       “Malaysians were able to grab various deals during the first fair held earlier this month.

       “The tourism industry saw a great boost with the announcement of the reopening of the borders on April 1 and the transition into the endemic phase.

       “Based on the International Air Transport Association report, the total gross sales of tickets almost doubled in February and March.

       “With the removal of most restrictions between the Malaysia and Singapore land border, more travellers by land are expected in the coming months,” he added.

       But Tan said air travel between Singapore and Malaysia as well as Indonesia and Malaysia would remain sluggish due to the standard operating procedure imposed when travelling to Malaysia.

       He said Malaysia was one of the last few countries that still required a pre-departure test as well as a RTK test upon arrival, and insurance requirements.