PENANG is expected to welcome more domestic tourists after the state has been declared free of Covid-19 by the Health Ministry.
State Tourism Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin lauded the announcement by the health authorities.
He said the state has now returned to the green zone and hoped that more people would make a visit to the northern state.
“Penang is to attract more people to its places of interest but with a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) imposed.
“Let us take this as an opportunity to position Penang as one of the top domestic destinations even when international tourism resumes.
“Penang is a destination, which does not lose out to many international destinations. It has many undiscovered sides, which include Balik Pulau and Seberang Perai attractions,” he said in his speech after attending the Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) networking session in the St Giles Wembley Hotel.
Yeoh added that many would have been aware that the recovery movement control order (RMCO) has been extended until Dec 31 this year.
“This would mean that we can’t travel abroad at least until the end of this year. Hence, let us take this opportunity to explore domestic tourism in our country, especially Penang,” he said.
Yeoh also extended his warm welcome to all the 47 MCTA members from Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Johor for attending the networking session.
He said this would be a fruitful session as a total of 40 organisations from the Penang hotels and attractions’ representatives were present to meet with MCTA travel agents.
Also present were Penang Global Tourism (PGT) chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan, national MCTA president Datuk Albert Tan and MCTA Penang Chapter chairman Andy Chuah.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan