GEORGE TOWN – Penang is on the right track towards recovery in the tourism circle some three years after the state reopened the sector after waging a battle against Covid-19.
The state’s newly installed executive councillor for tourism and creative economy, Wong Hon Wai, said that tourism growth is expected to be higher in the coming years.
Wong said the sector has experienced a “V- shaped recovery” following the pandemic but cautioned on the need to keep up the standards of pursuing the tourist dollar aggressively.
“I envision that the sector will achieve new heights within the next few years. The indicators are showing that our tourism sector is healthy and getting stronger. New hotels are being set up in the state, while those that were previously shut during the pandemic are also reopening.
“The hotel industry is expanding, and this is a good sign that tourism in Penang is growing stronger,” Wong told journalists here.
He added that the cruise industry is also recovering with ships visiting the port in George Town again.
He noted that Penang International Airport is also scheduled to undergo an expansion drive to accommodate more passengers and flights alike.
Meanwhile, veteran travel agent Eric R. Sinnaya said that while tourism is showing signs of recovery, it needs to be more well spread, as some groups, particularly those in the budget travel segment, continue to struggle against escalating operating costs.
There is also a need to fill many vacancies in the industry – and switching to migrant labour is only a temporary respite, said Sinnaya in an interview.
He said that the industry needs to adopt a progressive wage structure to lure back local workers, especially those who have relocated to other countries in the region due to better pay. – The Vibes, August 28, 2023
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