THE state-level National Security Council has given the green light to wedding planners in Penang to organise indoor and outdoor photography and videography, says state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin.
This move, however, he said only applies to couples who have been fully vaccinated.
“My office had recently held a discussion with NSC on this matter, and I am glad to announce that wedding planners are now allowed to organise the shootings.
“I would like to remind all the bridal houses to fully comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in their resumption of wedding photography and videography services,” Yeoh said during a virtual press conference today.
On top of this, Yeoh added that the Penang Wedding Professionals Association (PWPA) has been working closely with his office on additional SOPs, specifically for the wedding industry as a whole.
“After sharing the proposed SOPs to NSC, they have also agreed for PWPA to enforce it.
“Before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, wedding tourism, which integrates the elements of wedding and tourism, played an important role in diversifying the tourism market and in turn has greatly contributed to the state tourism economy.
“Although it has been over a year now living in the presence of the virus, PWPA did not rest on their laurels.
“Instead, they took this opportunity to plan and had drafted SOPs in preparation for the resumption of wedding tourism,” he added.
According to the SOPs, those present during the photo and video shoots must at all times wear their face masks. Only couples are allowed to take off their face masks during the shoots.
Besides that, hand sanitisers must also be made available at all times (prepared by the wedding planners), physical distancing of one-meter except for the make-up artist and bride, as well as gowns, suits and other accessories must be sanitised after every use or trial.
There must also be temperature check for all present during the shoots while crowded places must be avoided.
Also present during the virtual press conference was PWPA president and co-founder Low Chin Siang.
According to Low, there are a total of 60 companies (photography and videography) under PWPA.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis