Latest news with #MyBHA
Daily Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Hotel operators want DBKK to address two-tiered system
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 Text Size: Ganesh and Harold posing in a group photo. Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) wants Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) to address what it calls a two-tiered system that disadvantages legitimate hotel operators while allowing illegal accommodation providers to operate freely. The association pointed out a major unfairness in the system whereby licensed hotels have to pay hefty fees and pass regular government inspections, while unlicensed Short-Term Residential Accommodation (STRA) operators face no such costs or checks. 'It is unacceptable that while licensed hoteliers pay high fees and comply with safety regulations, illegal STRA operators are allowed to operate unchecked,' said MyBHA's National President Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel. 'This creates an unfair and unsafe tourism environment for both businesses and tourists,' he added. MyBHA said many unregulated STRA units listed on digital platforms lack basic fire safety, security and emergency protocols. The association expressed concern that tourists may unknowingly book unsafe accommodations with little recourse in case of incidents and is thus calling on DBKK to implement several measures, namely, tiered licensing structure, fee review, transparency, enhanced enforcement and public awareness. 'Review and introduce a tiered hotel licensing fee structure that includes a lower rate for budget accommodations particularly those serving domestic travellers and Sabahans visiting Kota Kinabalu,' the association said. 'This approach recognises their vital role in supporting local tourism and ensuring affordable lodging options for all segments of society. 'Reconsider the recent increase in hotel licensing fees and explore alternative models of tourism taxation such as a nominal tourist tax or bed levy paid directly by tourists upon check-in which is a more equitable approach commonly used in other global destinations. 'Ensure transparency by disclosing how licensing revenue is reinvested into tourism development and safety and deploy more tourist police in key areas to strengthen visitor confidence and handle tourist-related issues. 'Establish a dedicated enforcement unit within DBKK to clamp down on illegal STRA operators and protect consumers, launch public awareness campaigns to tourists can easily identify licensed vs unlicensed accommodations. 'Work closely with industry stakeholders, including associations like MyBHA, to co-create policies that drive equitable and sustainable tourism,' they said. Sabah MyBHA Chairman Harold Chung said every cent collected through licensing should be accounted for and channelled back into tourism infrastructure, safety and promotion. The association also praised the recent Community-Based Tourism Conference and Expo 2025, held at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, which showcased how local communities can drive tourism innovation. MyBHA reaffirmed its commitment to working with DBKK and other agencies to create what it calls a vibrant, regulated and competitive tourism industry where tourists feel safe and operators feel fairly treated. The association represents licensed budget and business hotels under three stars throughout Malaysia and is a member of both the Malaysian Tourism Federation and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
30-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
DBKK urged to rectify tourism, hospitality industry imbalance
Ganesh (second right), Harold and delegates at the Community-Based Tourism Conference & Expo 2025, held at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall. KOTA KINABALU (June 30): The Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) is urging Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to take immediate and balanced action in addressing two critical issues affecting the tourism and hospitality sector: the excessively high hotel licensing fees and the lack of enforcement on illegal short-term residential accommodation (STRA) operators. Currently, licensed hotel operators are subject to hefty licensing costs, mandatory inspections and strict compliance requirements. However, many unlicensed STRA operators continue to function without regulation undermining the industry, evading local taxes and jeopardising tourist safety. 'It is unacceptable that while licensed hoteliers pay high fees and comply with safety regulations, illegal STRA operators are allowed to operate unchecked. This creates an unfair and unsafe tourism environment, not only for businesses but for the tourists themselves,' said Dr Sri Ganesh, the national president of MyBHA. These unregulated STRA units, frequently listed on popular digital platforms, often lack basic fire safety, security and emergency protocols. Tourists may unknowingly book unsafe accommodations and in the event of incidents, there is little accountability. To address these concerns, MyBHA calls on DBKK to: • Review and introduce a tiered hotel licensing fee structure that includes a lower rate for budget accommodations, particularly those serving domestic travellers and Sabahans visiting Kota Kinabalu. This approach recognises their vital role in supporting local tourism and ensuring affordable lodging options for all segments of society; • Reconsider the recent increase in hotel licensing fees and explore alternative models of tourism taxation such as a nominal tourist tax or bed levy paid directly by tourists upon check-in which is a more equitable approach commonly used in other global destinations; • Ensure transparency by disclosing how licensing revenue is reinvested into tourism development and safety; • Deploy more tourist police in key areas to strengthen visitor confidence and handle tourist-related issues. • Establish a dedicated enforcement unit within DBKK to clamp down on illegal STRA operators and protect consumers; • Launch public awareness campaigns so tourists can easily identify licensed vs unlicensed accommodations; • Work closely with industry stakeholders, including associations like MyBHA, to co-create policies that drive equitable and sustainable tourism. 'Sabah's tourism potential is immense, but it must be supported by a regulatory framework that upholds safety, fairness and quality, Every cents collected through licensing should be accounted for and channelled back into tourism infrastructure, safety, and promotion,' said Harold Chung, chairman of MyBHA Sabah. MyBHA would also like to congratulate the Sabah Tourism Board, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN), Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) and all involved for the successful organisation of the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Conference & Expo 2025, held on June 28–29 at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall. With the theme 'Building Resilient and Sustainable Communities that Innovate and Transform Tourism,' the event was a powerful showcase of how local communities can drive meaningful change in the tourism sector. As Sabah including Kota Kinabalu continues to position itself as a leading tourism destination, DBKK is encouraged to recognise and support the diversity of tourism sectors including CBT, urban tourism, and licensed budget accommodation through inclusive policies that ensure growth, safety and sustainability for all. MyBHA reaffirms its commitment to working collaboratively with DBKK and other agencies to create a vibrant, regulated and competitive tourism industry where tourists feel safe, and operators feel fairly treated.
Daily Express
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
DBKK urged to tackle illegal STRA, review high hotel licensing fees
Published on: Monday, June 30, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 Text Size: Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel (President MyBHA National) second from right. Harold Chung (Chairman MyBHA Sabah) second from left. KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) has called on Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) to act urgently against illegal short-term residential accommodation (STRA) operators and review what it deems excessive hotel licensing fees. MyBHA President Dr Sri Ganesh said it is unacceptable that licensed hotel operators are burdened with high fees and strict compliance while unlicensed STRA units operate freely without regulation or accountability. 'This creates an unfair and unsafe tourism environment, not only for businesses but for the tourists themselves,' he said. The association proposed a tiered licensing system, lower fees for budget hotels, a tourist tax alternative, and better enforcement against illegal STRA. It also called for more transparency in how licensing revenue is used and urged DBKK to work with industry players to create fair, sustainable tourism policies. Sabah MyBHA Chairman Harold Chung added that licensing revenue should be reinvested into infrastructure, safety, and tourism development to truly benefit the sector. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malaysiakini
03-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Unregulated rentals, online sales of illegal stays a threat to VM2026: Group
The Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) has raised concerns over the authorities' lack of control over unregulated short-term rental accommodations and unchecked online sale of unlicensed lodgings ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026). MyBHA national president Sri Ganesh Michiel claimed that lax regulations have led to a 'parallel and illegal' accommodation economy. 'Unlicensed and unregulated short-term rental units,...
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt urged to address unlicensed lodging or risk Visit Malaysia Year 2026's integrity
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to address the issue of unregulated short-term rental accommodations (STRA) and the unlicensed sale of lodging options through online travel agencies (OTAs) and social media platforms. Malaysian Budget and Business Hotel Association president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel warned that failure to act immediately could jeopardise the integrity, sustainability and overall success of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026). "The presence of unlicensed and unregulated STRA units, including apartments, condominiums and private residences converted into transient lodging, has created a parallel and illegal accommodation economy. "These entities operate outside any legal framework, do not pay licensing fees or taxes, are not subject to safety inspections, and undermine legitimate hoteliers and tourism players who have invested significantly in complying with national and local laws and regulations," he said in a statement yesterday. Ganesh said five key issues stem from the lack of regulatory oversight, including safety risks to tourists due to non-compliance with fire safety and health standards, as well as disturbances to residential communities caused by unchecked transient occupancy. Other concerns include loss of tax revenue for local councils and the federal government, distorted market pricing, disadvantageous law-abiding hotel operators and weak consumer protection, leaving tourists vulnerable to scams and unsafe premises. He said despite multiple complaints and discussions, unlicensed accommodations continue to be openly promoted and transacted online, including via major OTAs, classified sites and increasingly on social media platforms. Ganesh said MyBHA is calling for the setting-up of a high-level inter-ministerial task force led by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to introduce and enforce immediate regulations for all short-term rental accommodations. "This includes empowering local authorities to consistently and firmly enforce regulations and laws without negatively impacting licensed and registered hotel businesses and establishing minimum safety and operating standards for all accommodation providers," he said. Ganesh also wants the Digital Ministry and Communications Ministry to hold digital platforms and OTAs accountable for listings published on their portals, and enforce legal responsibilities for verifying licensing status before allowing listings. He also proposed the introduction of digital governance standards and penalties for platforms that facilitate illegal accommodation listings, including measures to prevent social media from becoming black markets for unlicensed stays, such as blacklisting, banning, and removing non-compliant (non-hotel) properties from digital platforms.
