GEORGE TOWN – Penang is expecting at least 50,000 domestic tourists this weekend following the lifting of the interstate travel ban for fully vaccinated individuals.
State tourism, arts, culture and heritage exco Yeoh Soon Hin said all stakeholders in the travel sector, especially hotels and restaurants, have been preparing to welcome tourists.
“Penang is indeed a tourism destination of choice, and we are targeting at least 50,000 tourists to visit this weekend.
“We would like to advise tourists to adhere to the standard operating procedures,” he told a press conference at the Tropical Spice Garden here today.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the interstate travel ban will be lifted starting today for individuals who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Yeoh said hotel bookings are expected to increase by up to 60% this weekend.
“We are confident that the hotel industry in Penang will begin to recover with the resumption of interstate travel. The state government is also expecting the tourism industry to fully recover by next June.
“We expect international tourists to return next year. This expectation is based on the current global situation, and we hope all parties will continue to maintain the SOPs.” – The Vibes, October 11, 2021