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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: COVID: Malaysia Tourism
HEADLINE: Malaysia Tourism: Some Businesses Succeed, Many Still Struggle
TEASER: Some businesses successfully pivot but others still struggle in pandemic climate
PUBLISHED AT: 1/28/2022:
BYLINE: Dave Grunebaum
CONTRIBUTOR: Dave Grunebaum
DATELINE: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Dave Grunebaum
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, cobus
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X__ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
Notes: Accompanying web script, photos for slideshow))
((INTRO))
[[Travel restrictions due to the pandemic have put immense pressure on the tourism industry around the globe. In the Southeastern nation of Malaysia it’s a tale with two stories: Businesses that have found ways to pivot and succeed but many more that still struggle. Dave Grunebaum has our report.]]
((video showing staff putting food into high tea sets, shots of food matches what I say—when I talk about the food I need the extra words such as “tasty meats” and “fresh baked treats” to make sure the shots are visible long enough for the viewers))
(NARRATOR)
At the W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, high tea sets are prepared for delivery to customers celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Tasty meats such as rolled smoked duck and tiger prawn sliders are being offered, as well as fresh baked treats like red date cheesecake and chocolate tarts.
This five-star hotel now relies on home delivery.
(Christian Metzner, W Kuala Lumpur Hotel General Manager)
“Delivery was something new and we hadn’t considered it really prior to the pandemic.”
(video of hotel exterior, check in area, guest rooms, pool and food being loaded into a delivery car)
(NARRATOR)
Because of travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the hotel began targeting potential clients living in Malaysia.
Hotel managers say business has dropped 25 percent in recent months compared to pre-pandemic times. But they add the hotel has still been able to make a profit delivering food and drawing guests for a local getaway.
(Christian Metzner, W Kuala Lumpur Hotel General Manager)
“Just to stay in the game we had to actually connect and open our channels, open our mind to other channels to sell our products and sell our experience”
(NARRATOR)
(video of hotel bar area, bartender wiping bar when I say “wiped away”)
Prior to the pandemic, tourism was more than 15-percent of Malaysia’s GDP.
But much of that business has been wiped away in the last two years. The W’s success story is a rare one, according to Malaysia’s hotel association.
(Yap Lip Seng, Malaysian Association of Hotels CEO)
“You need to be creative. You need to set yourself apart from the pack, First your competition is with the stand-alone restaurants outside and second you have to compete with the same grade of hotels within that area.”
(video of Langkawi beach showing the waves reaching the shore)
(NARRATOR)
Langkawi is a popular vacation destination in northern Malaysia.
(natural sound, Khalid talking to customers)
“O-K what time is your flight leaving?”
(NARRATOR)
Oli Khalid and his wife run a cafe here called the Red Tomato.
(quick natural sound pop, food sizzling)
(video of cafe and food being prepared, shots of the food mentioned)
(NARRATOR)
It’s a well-known gathering spot for foreign travelers who come for fresh baked bread, eggs benedict and warm hospitality.
(Oli Khalid, Red Tomato Manager)
“They come as strangers, travelers and they leave as friends.”
(video showing Malaysian customers followed by video of beach and shops)
(NARRATOR)
Despite a recent uptick of customers, Khalid says business is still half of pre-pandemic levels.
In November, the government started a tourist bubble to draw vaccinated foreigners to Langkawi, but local stores and restaurants say it hasn’t made much difference.
(Oli Khalid, Red Tomato Manager)
“We do have sleepless nights thinking, ‘what are we supposed to do? What’s going to happen?’”
(NARRATOR)
The Malaysian government is considering additional steps to bring more foreign tourists into the country. The return of international visitors would bring a needed boost to both small and large businesses that rely on tourists to stay afloat.
For VOA News, Dave Grunebaum Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Topic TagsCOVID, Malaysia, tourism
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
BylineDave Grunebaum
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America, Voice of America - English
