A 40 per cent discount will apply to all tour operators and licensed tour guides who were issued a compound penalty before December 31st of this year by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC).

The Ministry said in its statement today that the compound payment period was extended to December 31 for all compound fines imposed on companies or licensed tourist guides.

Tour operators and tour guides who fail to renew their licenses, due to the Movement Control Order (MCO), will also be given a compound exemption within the stated duration.

"It is provided that a complete application must be submitted within 60 days after the MCO is lifted," it said.

It said the initiative is to help ease the burden of tourism industry players affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

"However, failure to settle the compound fines could result in prosecution action against the company or tourist guide," the statement said.