About time to open Penang’s international borders: Yeoh

GEORGE TOWN – Penang is targeting to open its doors to international tourists beginning next year.

Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said that he wants to see a rebound in the state’s tourism industry with the opening of its borders and the soon to be opened international borders.

“It is not for me; it is for the people because tourism will regenerate the economy.

“Therefore, it is pivotal that we play our role and do our part, so Penang is a safe destination for tourists to enter,” Yeoh said during the guidelines for the resumption of tourism activities launch at Angsana Teluk Bahang here today.

National president of the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association Datuk Albert Tan Sam Soon, who attended the event, said that the federal government must push for the reopening of international borders to leverage on tourists who are looking to escape the winter’s cold and vacation at equatorial regions like Malaysia.

“We need to be ready because the winter season is coming.

“During this time, international tourists usually come to Penang and stay for a minimum of two weeks to three months to escape the winter,” he said.

Tourism industry players said that incoming international tourists should not only be shouldered by Kuala Lumpur International Airport and klia2.

“Instead of having a bottleneck and congestion at these two international airports, other international airports like Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kuching International Airport and Miri International Airport should be allowed to welcome international flights directly.”

International tourists will also be able to increase hotel occupancy during the weekdays as compared to domestic tourists who crowd holiday destinations mostly during the weekends. – The Vibes, October 21, 2021