GEORGE TOWN – The custodians of Unesco-listed zones in Langkawi and Penang signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to mutually help tourism grow and foster collaboration between the two northern leisure islands.
The auspicious event was witnessed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and state executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin at The Habitat on Penang Hill here.
Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Mutalib and the Penang government’s deputy secretary (management) Datuk Ahmad Rizal Mohd Hanapiah signed the MoU documents.
Yeoh, who oversees the state’s tourism portfolio, told the media later that the MoU is intended to activate mutual initiatives with Langkawi in tourism and to leverage on the global Unesco status for both destinations.
Langkawi bears the status of Unesco Geopark which it had earned in 2007. It is the first geopark in Southeast Asia inscribed by the world body.
Penang houses two Unesco zones – the World Heritage Site in George Town earned jointly with Melaka in 2008, and Penang Hill which was adjudged as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 2021.
Penang Hill’s zone covers 12,481 hectares of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the northwestern part of the island. It is among a distinguished global network of 714 Unesco-listed biosphere reserves across 129 countries.
Yeoh hopes that both Langkawi and Penang can develop fresh packages for tourism, while also lobbying for more attention in their northern region projects.
“We should put more emphasis on shared prosperity so that everyone can enjoy the ripple effects of tourism, including the government, industry players and tourists,” he said.
Penang is also enjoying record numbers of tourists this school break with hotels recording encouraging occupancy rates while attractions record brisk sales, although it has come at the expense of worsening traffic congestion. – The Vibes, September 8, 2022.
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