After more than a year of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel and hospitality industry has never had the chance to recover as a result of this. In Malaysia itself, we’ve seen some well-known businesses closing their doors permanently.
Unfortunately, Melaka’s Jonker Street, which was once a bustling attraction, wasn’t spared from the effects of Malaysia’s Movement Control Orders (MCOs), and lockdowns. According to Melaka Hari Ini, many businesses at Jonker Street in Malacca are permanently closing down.
According to The Sun Daily, Melaka State Executive Council Member Datuk Gan Tian Loo said 95% of the shops at Jonker Street and those around it have been closed for more than 8 months.
Out of 100 local shops, only 5% of them are operating as usual but are still struggling to keep afloat. It is only a matter of time before these businesses will have to close for good too.
However, he added that it isn’t the end of Jonker Street as he was confident traders would return to the site once the street is bustling again. Gan said only the businesses and eateries renting shops along the street have decided to give up, but traders and hawkers in the night market are holding on to their lots until today.
With interstate travel still banned, the once busy Jonker Street has transformed into a ghost town with little to no visitors since the third implementation of the Movement Control Order.
Hopefully, as vaccination rates increase throughout the country and when the situation gets better, Malaysians can support the local tourism industry once again and bring it back to its glory days.
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Feature Photo Credit: Malaysia Business For Sale
