In a bid to provide Malaysia’s hotel industry with a benchmark for hygiene and safety standards, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has launched the Clean & Safe Malaysia certification programme; the first industry-wide initiative to offer assessment and certification to hotels and resorts nationwide. The campaign is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia.
Devised and implemented in full compliance with both local regulatory requirements and international standards, the campaign is an effort to raise health and safety standards in tourism accommodation across the country, in order to safeguard against COVID-19 and restore traveller confidence.
“The Clean & Safe Malaysia hygiene and safety label extends beyond base regulatory requirements, with the ultimate goal of not only ensuring its implementation, but also continuous compliance for peace of mind of travellers staying at certified hotels,” says Yap Lip Seng, who is the CEO of MAH.
Hotels that apply for certification will be inspected by an independent auditor, called Bureau Veritas Malaysia (BVM). Each property will receive its own QR code for referencing and verification purposes, so the general public can access information about these hotels on the BVM website. Hotels and resorts that pass the BVM safety standards audit inspections will be permitted to display the Clean & Safe label and certification to show they have met the requisite standards.
Malaysia is currently operating under moderate travel and business restrictions, known as the ‘Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO)’. This recovery phase officially began on 10th June and is expected to remain in place until 31st August. During this interim period, almost all social, educational, religious and business activities are permitted, while Malaysia’s economic sectors have also begun a process of reopening in phases. Interstate travel is now allowed under the RMCO measures, although Malaysia’s international borders remain closed for the time being.
With hotels, operators and attractions all getting their house in order, a full return to international travel operations is thought to be just around the corner in Malaysia. To follow the latest news with us, and to get all the latest updates from the tourism sector in Southeast Asia, head over to our social media channels for more information.
