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PENANG is hoping that the Guar Kepah Archaeology Site in Kepala Batas will become a major tourism attraction for the mainland when it is officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim next month.
To underline its importance, state executive councillor for tourism, Wong Hon Wai revealed plans are afoot to upgrade the site into a national heritage site under the Heritage Act (Act 645) 2005.
"The site showcases the Bukit Cangkerang Kepah where the neolithic community resided some 5,000 years ago. It is a historical saga which we must conserve," said Wong.
It is also the first archaeological site which received attention from western archaeologists from 1863 until 1936 where the skeletal remains, stone age ware, food residue, beads and pottery were uncovered, Wong noted when opening the state heritage forum at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here.
Such rich findings can help galvanise the Kepala Batas district into a major tourism draw, he said.
The site can also be a reference area for more research to be conducted in the area, which is regarded as the second richest archaeology area after the famed Bujang Valley and Sungai Tua archaeological district in neighbouring Kedah.
The gallery which anchors the site, has skeletal remains brought back from the Netherlands and the historical narratives can generate interest among tourists, Wong said, as Penang moves to ensure the entire state becomes tourism-friendly.
Currently, the island outshines the mainland when it comes to attractions due to the presence of beaches, eco-tourism and the Unesco George Town World Heritage site.
Penang is on track to register the highest tourism arrivals this year since tourism was reopened when the Covid-19 pandemic shifted into an endemic status in 2022. - October 30, 2024
