The Government of Pahang is developing initiatives to support budget hotel operators in the state for whose businesses were affected by the Movement Control Order.

State Committee Chair Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said one of the initiatives takes was to offer discount vouchers for reservations made through the 'Pahang Go' online portal of the Pahang government. The initiative will concentrate on the discount voucher for hotel reservations.

"For budget hotels, we understand that they (operators) cannot reduce their hotel room prices to entice customers as they have already offered affordable room rates.

"So we have asked the Pahang Go to provide vouchers worth RM20 to RM30 on a first-come-first-serve basis to those who are using the portal (to make bookings),” he said.

Mohd Sharkar said that every month between April and June, the tourism industry in Pahang lost 1,05 million on international arrivals, as more than 500 hotels in the state, which offers around 38,000 rooms, were unable to operate normally during the period.

In the meantime, Pahang Malaysian Budget Hotel Association chairman Pajan Singh welcomed the initiative he described as being timely and willing to support approximately 180 budget hotels in the state.

"It's a good initiative as currently, budget hotels are forced to compete with five-star and four-star hotels that offer various attractive deals including low room rates to attract guests," he said.