AFTER successfully uplifting the state’s tourism with numerous tourism campaigns, Penang is now leveraging the benefits of digitalisation.
The latest initiative – a 10-episode video series – would showcase three aspects of tourism in Penang.
The three aspects are – Food and Lifestyle; Nature and Adventure; and Culture and Heritage.
The effort was made possible through the support of the Penang Tourist Guides Association.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said a variety of tourism products and sites were included in the videos.
“New and distinctive tourism products are also being introduced.
“The videos allow viewers to have a better understanding of what Penang has to offer.
“This initiative echoes one of the aspirations outlined in the Penang Tourism Master Plan, which is to transform Penang into a Smart City destination that incorporates traditional tourism approaches and digital tourism through technology and innovation,” Yeoh said before launching the ‘Penang Virtual Tour Series’ at Hotel Neo+ Penang yesterday evening.
Yeoh said key locations and attractive tourist destinations featured in previous tourism campaigns such as ‘The Opposite Side of the Island – Bukit Mertajam’ and ‘The Other Side of the Island – Balik Pulau and Teluk Bahang’ were included in the latest video series.
“This is to provide alternative tourist attractions to our visitors,” he said.
Yeoh said by incorporating traditional and new media, Penang would be able to cater to the different needs of the tourism market, hence, uplifting the state’s tourism to greater heights.
Separately, Yeoh said Penang had participated in tradeshows and roadshows which helped the state to reconnect with the international market.
“The recent ‘Experience Penang’ roadshows in Bangkok and Hatyai have received an overwhelming response from participants in the country and we are tremendously motivated to continue the effort.
“So, we will be promoting Penang to Singaporeans through the ‘Experience Penang’ roadshow and an outdoor advertising launch during the ITB Asia in Singapore,” he said.
Yeoh added that the state was also actively participating in tradeshows and roadshows organised by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC).
Several key players in the tourism industry attended the launching ceremony of the ‘Penang Virtual Tour Series’.
Among them were Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (Motac) Penang director Jonathan Freddy Bagang, Tourism Malaysia northern region deputy director Siti Hajar Mohd Yunus, Penang Tourist Guides Association chairman Clement Liang, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim, MAH Penang chapter chairman Tony Goh, and Hotel Neo+ Penang general manager Datuk Gulab Mahatam Rai.