NOT all is lost for George Town, a Unesco World Heritage Site inscribed on July 7, 2008, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Though it has taken a rough beating due to closed borders, both at the international and state levels, George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GWTHI), the agency formed to protect and promote the city, believes it is still thriving, because it is a living cultural site.
According to the general manager of GWTHI, Dr Ang Ming Chee, the tourism sector may have suffered the worst during this time, but food, product distributors and retailers can maintain their businesses.
Digital transformation is seen as the answer during these dire times.
While critics are quick to point out that heritage trades in George Town are fast dwindling, Ang said that all trades activities fluctuate daily, and it is part of the economic ecology. To survive, they will have to keep up with the times and expand their customer base by going online.
GWTHI has also announced a list of cultural heritage recognition and awards recipients on April 21, 2021, to recognise these trades that are moving within their capacity to innovate, adapt and react to market demands. Taking advantage of this opportunity is the key to more successful trade activities.
“For example, Kwongtuck Sundries & Liquors Sdn Bhd was established by the late Woo Fook Yin (胡福英) circa 1836 - they remain an important household name in Penang (and Malaysia) today with good quality of products. They managed to put their products online and expand their customer base.
“You will see a healthy pattern through the studying the management and operations of long term trades such as Ghee Hiang Manufacturing Co. Sdn Bhd (c. 1856), Hameediyah Restaurant (1907), Ng Kee Cake Shop (c. 1928) and Cheng Woh Medical Hall (c.1933), among others.
“The expansion of e-commerce was quickly adopted by traders in the city (as well as throughout the country), and cultural heritage professionals are exploring online platforms as their new stage,” she said.
Her team has also organised a community-based approach to build a strong relationship with the local community. It has proven to be a success in terms of discussing problems faced by the community and offering mitigation suggestions.
“Since March 2020, we have been collecting information from the stakeholders on the issues they faced and discussed potential solutions with the focus on the cultural heritage sector.
“GTWHI launched the George Town in the New Normal initiative on July 8, 2020, to assist the local community and in particular the cultural heritage sector’s transition to the New Normal through three components: Support Local Business, Heritage Repair, or Heritage Video,” she added.
These three initiatives are running with the sole purpose of empowering cultural heritage practitioners to expand their market in the digital world.
“We provided assistance for digital transformation, registering for e-Wallet service providers, producing videos on their craft and knowledge, applying for permits to repair their heritage premises, connecting them with other stakeholders, and much more.
“We also help the elderly in the community to register for email accounts, download the MySejahtera mobile app and help them with the registration of related services, and continue checking in with them to understand their latest condition.
“We also took note that many elderlies living here are unable to reunite with their families who live outside the state. As the custodian for the site, we also took up additional responsibility to care for them.”
When comparing with other Unesco Heritage Sites worldwide, Ang states that the Covid-19 impact is different in each place.
“George Town is a living cultural site that consists of a diverse group of stakeholders: building owners, business operators, workers, residents, and other users (market, food stall, or religious institutions). So we remain very much alive during this difficult time, as compared to many other heritage sites.
“Covid-19 may be creating a lot of challenges for all of us, but it also reminded us to do more for others, which includes bridging opportunity, channelling encouragement, and proactively offering a helping hand, in particular, those who are more vulnerable due to Covid-19.
“’When God closes a door, He opens a window’, so George Town is experiencing a new transformation and transition too.”
2021 marks the 11th anniversary of the establishment of GTWHI as the Site Manager for George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. – The Vibes, May 9, 2021.
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