THERE are numerous aspects in which Penang and Kedah can complement each other to jointly promote tourism.
Kedah Tourism general manager Mohd Zaidy Omar said while Penang offers beaches, heritage, culture and great food, Kedah can offer agro-products, hills, exotic Malay cuisine, rivers and beaches too.
Zaidy was leading a business-to-business delegation to visit Penang with the help of Tourism Malaysia's northern region, led by its director, Abdul Hadi Che Man.
Hadi noted that the international airport in Bayan Lepas is the main gateway to the northern region, covering Penang, Kedah and Perlis.
"There is a market for both states to tap. The inbound market where foreign tourists brought in by Penang travel agents can be encouraged to visit neighbouring Kedah for a day or overnight packages, including adventure tours," said Hadi.
Zaidy said that to encourage the link-up, Kedah Tourism will work with its Penang counterparts to develop joint packages to offer more alternatives to tourists.
Kedah's tourism is not just confined to Langkawi; there are many interesting landmarks to explore on the mainland of Kedah, such as in Sik and Baling.
Last year, Kedah recorded some seven million tourists, with more numbers expected this year as this is the "Visit Malaysia Year 26" campaign, said Zaidy.
Zaidy said that Kedah Tourism and the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) are working together to launch a campaign called "We Care Langkawi," to ensure that there is no profiteering among the travel trade community.
The campaign will also combat the misperception of the island resort as expensive and restrictive in terms of tourism products, said Zaidy.
He added that the travel community is keen to network with their counterparts in Penang to ensure a win - win status for both states, and importantly, to ensure that tourists enjoy a good time when they explore both states. - July 1, 2026.
