THE Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has urged the travel trade industry to tap the potential of school and alumni reunions, which are growing in numbers as the country matures into an ageing nation.
MAH vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim said such reunions are increasing yearly, especially from established schools such as St Xavier's Institution, Penang Free School, Methodist Boys School, Chung Ling High School and Han Chiang High School, besides schools on the Prai Mainland such as Bukit Mertajam High School and Jit Sin High School.
There is also the growing alumni gatherings for institutions of higher learning from Universiti Sains Malaysia to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and colleges such as Inti, Segi and Disted.
Khoo said that the spillover impact from such events and gatherings can be traced to high hotel occupancies, tour packages, transport rental and visits to landmarks, not to mention the often-organised dinners and luncheons.
Khoo said that special rates can be accorded to organisers holding reunions and retreats, while there could be efforts to increase the frequency of such gatherings.
Another hotelier also suggested that the hospitality industry sponsor an establishment to house the various academic and social organisation reunions hosted in Penang.
Penang is an ageing society with approximately 7.7% of its population aged 65 and above, making it the second-fastest ageing state in Malaysia.
Driven by declining birth rates and longer life expectancies, projections indicate that Penang will have the highest proportion of senior citizens in the country by 2040. - June 18, 2026.
