PENANG will continue to focus on domestic tourism next year in its effort to revive the state’s tourism industry.
State Tourism and Creative Economy (Petace) Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said most countries are still focusing on domestic tourism rather than international tourism.
“We will try to restart those programmes that we had planned in 2020 and implement them next year (2022).
“Tourism was the key generator for the state’s economy before the Covid-19 struck. Now, the state’s tourism has to restart, and I have confidence that Penang’s tourism will bounce back very soon,” Yeoh told reporters after announcing the upcoming Penang International Travel Exchange (PITE) business events tradeshow at Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang today.
Yeoh said the hotels’ occupancy rate in Penang could register up to 70% this weekend, after interstate travel nationwide resumed from Oct 11 onwards.
He said that Penang tourism was ready to bounce back.
“Importantly, we need to continue to educate the people and urge them to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs). Covid-19 has not ended,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan