Coronavirus: food stalls, durian sellers in Malaysia hit hard as Chinese tourists stay away
- Food stalls and hotels have reported a dramatic fall in business as tourist numbers dwindle amid the coronavirus outbreak
- In Penang, an oversupply of premium durian has concerned sellers who depend on a clientele of tourists from China, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong
Tan Chong Kim, 61, the owner of Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul, said his food stall had been left “deserted” of its usual long queues, with only a few patrons waiting to have a taste of their famous cendol dessert since the outbreak.
“It was already bad for me with the current economic situation in the country being stagnant, but with the spread of Covid-19, things became worse,” he said.
“We used to have Chinese, Singaporean and Indonesian tourists coming over here in big groups. Most of my customers are also locals, including those who come from other states in the country,” he said, adding that his business has dropped by about 60 per cent.
Saik Kong Leong, 30, who sells traditional toast bread in a shop nearby, also shared the same sentiment and expressed worry over the situation.
