TRISHAW riders are expecting the arrival of more international tourists to Penang, which they hope would help restore their livelihoods.
They are keeping their fingers crossed since the country’s international borders have reopened on April 1.
Below are the views shared by several trishaw riders when Buletin Mutiara approached them this morning.
A 63-year-old rider who only wants to be known as Ah Tan said that only a few visitors were seen on the streets due to the Ramadan month.
“On average, I would have made three to five trips per day, but it is much reduced now. In fact, I did not have any customers at all for three to four days in a row.
“Sometimes, the frequency of my trips also depends on my physical capacity as peddling a trishaw needs a lot of strength. Being a senior citizen myself, I at times need to take intervals in between my trips.
“I hope that during the Hari Raya festivity, I will be able to earn more as many visitors are expected to throng this place.
“There are approximately 80 trishaw riders covering two main areas, namely Armenian Street and Penang Road.
“Thus, for us to make our living, we are dependent mainly on the international tourists and we hope to see them coming in big groups soon,” he said.
Another rider, Tan Hay Eam, 73, hopes that the Swettenham Pier will resume its operation soon and bring in the international tourist to the George Town area.
“The lack of international tourists has affected our businesses. Apart from that, the electric scooter service had also given us tough competition.
“But I was told that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has now prohibited the public from using this service (electric scooter),” he added.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Mohamed Sultan, 50, is looking forward to the arrival of international tourists via the Swettenham Pier and Penang International Airport.
“Usually, the international tourists will not miss the trishaw ride throughout their stay here. Some will take the ride with their family while others will just like to unwind themselves with the trishaw ride after strolling around the streets of George Town.
“We are waiting for the arrival of the international tourists, both through land and water,” he said.
Kamarudin Mohd, 33, is also hoping for an influx of tourists.
“Currently our businesses are bad since this is a Ramadan month. On normal days, however, it will be slightly better. But we will have to wait for the international tourists to come here in big numbers,” he said.
In a related development, M Summit 191 Executive Hotel Suites yesterday launched its Penang on 3 Wheels (P3W) trishaw ride programme to help promote the charming heritage attractions in George Town and also to support the livelihood of aging trishaw riders after they were badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The P3W initiative is part of the hotel’s Stay & Ride package, offering a two-hour leisurely ride that takes guests around the beautiful enclave of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site.
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter