KUALA LUMPUR: Occupancy rates of hotels around Subang, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam are expected to rise as more airlines return to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport).
Responding to the announcement that six airlines will begin operations in Subang from Aug 1, Malaysian Hotel Association president Datin Christina Toh said the move would boost intra-Asean travel for business and leisure purposes, create opportunities for the incremental growth of medical tourism and encourage family travel.
“It will be good business for hotels near Subang, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam to expand their services and amenities to meet the growing demand.”
“This includes offering special packages for medical tourists, enhancing facilities for families and providing convenient options for business travellers,” she told SunBiz.
Late last month, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that six airlines would resume narrow-body operations at Subang Airport on August 1.
The six airlines are Firefly, AirAsia Malaysia, Batik Air Malaysia, SKS Airways, Transnoosa and Scoot Pte Ltd.
Toh said hotels should consider partnering with local tourist attractions and transport services to provide guests with a holistic travel experience.
Government and private transport providers need to work together to further strengthen and provide more transport options in anticipation of the influx of traffic into the region.
“For example, train and light rail transport services from the airport into the city will provide a seamless travel experience for visitors who choose to travel via Subang Airport.
“Current transportation options are limited to e-hailing services, taxis and car rental services,” Toh said.
When asked about the forecast trend in tourist numbers, Toh said Malaysia is expected to see a steady increase in tourist numbers towards the end of the year, especially as global travel continues to recover.
She said airport expansion, including the revitalisation of Subang Airport, would be crucial to the growth of the hospitality industry.
“These developments will increase air capacity and improve regional connectivity, making Malaysia more accessible for tourists from key ASEAN markets and beyond.”
“The introduction of new air routes will further strengthen this trend, catering to the needs of leisure and business travellers, while also supporting niche sectors such as medical tourism.”
“These combined efforts are expected to boost short-stay tourist numbers and strengthen Malaysia’s position as a leading travel destination in Southeast Asia for years to come,” Mr Toh said.
Mercure Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie general manager Fariz Victor said businesses in and around Subang needed to take advantage of flight frequency to capitalise on the influx of travellers using Subang Airport.
He said local businesses should step up promotions and raise their service levels to meet the new demand.
“For example, Mercure Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie Shah Alam’s guests are a mix of business and leisure travellers from regional markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and China, who directly benefit from the convenience of travelling to and from the hotel.
“As the only international hotel brand closest to Subang Airport, we are hopeful at the prospect of these flights operating from Subang Airport again,” he said.
Fariz said Subang Airport would once again become a prime destination for business travellers travelling between Malaysian cities and across borders.
“Leisure travellers using KL Sentral as a base to explore tourist attractions around the country will also prefer the option of Subang, which is less than an hour away,” he said.
