Redang Bay Resort owner Lim You Jing said the Covid-19 outbreak, which has affected the country for almost two years, had forced him to sell four of his 16 boats to cover his daily expenses because the resort has zero income now.
“I sold the boats (a cargo boat and three tourist boats) for less than RM300,000. It can to some extent cover our daily expenses, such as food and resort maintenance.
“Before the pandemic, the resort earned about RM12,000 a day with the presence of around 120 visitors daily. Now, we have to be thrifty and also sell our assets,” he said.
Due to the absence of visitors, Lim said he connects the electricity supply at the resort for only 10 hours a day, from about 7pm to 5am, to save on the electricity bill, compared to 24 hours a day previously.
Lim said he previously had almost 100 employees but the Covid-19 situation had forced most of them to return to their hometowns and they would only be called back to work when the tourism sector reopens.
“I also give the employees who still live at the resort food but no salary. I will only be able to pay their salary arrears when the resort has an income later.
“They understand my situation and have chosen to stay at the resort because if they return to the mainland, it will be difficult to find a new job now.
“If they live in Kuala Terengganu, the expenses will be higher,” he said.
Lim, who is also secretary of the Pulau Redang Resort Entrepreneurs Association, hopes the government will lift travel restrictions on individuals who are fully vaccinated so that they can travel inter-district and inter-state and enable the tourism sector to reopen.
“Residents, employers and workers in Pulau Redang received their first-dose vaccination on Friday and Saturday, while the second dose is expected to be given in mid-August. So, we really hope inter-district or inter-state travel will be allowed in September,” he said.
He said this was because all 10 resorts on the island would not be able to operate starting December due to the monsoon season and it would cause operators to incur more losses.
“Usually, strong waves during the monsoon season will only hit in mid-December, so we are hoping for a reopening of the resort in September to November.
“If visitors are worried about doing activities at sea and on the beach, we will also offer land packages such as jungle trekking,” he added.
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