PENANG is determined to spread its wings in the tourism sector by having more direct flights and better cruise connectivity between the Inter-Islands Tourism Policy (ITOP) member regions.
State Tourism Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said that Penang and several ITOP member regions had agreed in principle to set up a working committee to explore the idea of having more direct flights and enhancing cruise routes between the islands.
“The member regions are from Okinawa (Japan), Southern Province (Sri Lanka), Jeju (South Korea), Hainan (China), Bali (Indonesia) and Penang.
“We will be able to bring a strong economic impact on the region if we are able to implement these initiatives,” Yeoh told a press conference after the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at The Wembley Hotel Penang on Oct 24.
Yeoh said that through this MoU, the member regions should cooperate, share knowledge and promote culture, art and nature in relation to island tourism.
“The member regions shall encourage various stakeholders in the tourism industry to promote ITOP Forum destinations.
“We shall also work together to develop various cooperative programmes to elevate and promote culture, arts and the natural wonders of ITOP Forum destinations,” he added.
The state was hosting the 22nd ITOP Forum, themed ‘Connecting Culture, Arts and Nature’.
The ITOP Forum has 13 member regions and Penang is a member since 2013.
Other member regions include Zanzibar (Tanzania), Hawaii (United States), Phuket (Thailand), Cebu (the Philippines), Kampong Cham (Cambodia), Prince Edward (Canada) and Gotland (Sweden).
The delegates shared their experience and challenges they faced in the tourism industry during the two-day forum which ended on Oct 25.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis