THE Penang Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage (PETACH) Committee, together with several partners and hoteliers, are stepping up their efforts to boost domestic tourism in line with Experience Penang 2020 and Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaigns.
PETACH chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said they would hold a roadshow in Kuala Lumpur on March 12 to unveil an Outdoor Advertising Campaign at covered walkways.
Just recently, the Association of Tourism Attractions Penang (ATAP) kicked started the promotional efforts with the support of PETACH by launching the ‘Cuti-Cuti Penang – Penang Lang 50% Off’. This campaign offers great deals to Penangites from March 15 to May 15.
“For a period of 12 months, the advertising campaign in Kuala Lumpur will feature Experience Penang 2020, with the theme ‘The Diversity of Asia’ coinciding with Visit Malaysia Year 2020.
“We’re the first tourism board to advertise on these covered walkways in Kuala Lumpur City Centre where its main objective is to encourage domestic tourism.
“Experience Penang will be featured on the covered walkways along Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Raja Chulan, located in front of Wisma Genting and Wisma Cosway respectively,” Yeoh told a press conference at The Top in Komtar today.
Yeoh said he would also head a Penang delegation comprising 24 establishments, which are mainly from hotels and attractions, to carry out a B2B session with local media and travel operators at Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel & Residences on March 12 from 2.30pm.
The delegation members include Iconic Hotel Penang, Clans Kongsi Georgetown, Travelodge Georgetown, Vangohh Eminent Hotel & Spa, Grand Orient Hotel, Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Design Village, Hotel Equatorial Penang, Tropical Spice Garden, Royale Chulan Penang, The Top Penang, The Habitat Penang Hill, The Gravityz, Angsana Teluk Bahang, Jazz Hotel Penang, Parkroyal Penang Resort, Flamingo Hotel By The Beach, Penang Wedding Professionals Association, Hotel Penaga, Vouk Hotel Suites, Ghost Museum, Sunway Hotel Georgetown, The Prestige Hotel and Hotel NEO+ Penang.
“Penang is relatively a safe place to visit despite concerns over Covid-19. We want to build the confidence, especially during this coming school holidays in March. I urge all hoteliers to maintain their quality.
“During this roadshow, we will enlighten them on some of Penang island and Seberang Perai’s undiscovered and hidden holiday gems.
“We want to show there’s much more to Penang than just its well-known icons.
“At the same time, we will also highlight the many attractions of Penang, especially the ones with world unsurpassed titles such as The Habitat’s – World’s Highest Altitude Stressed Ribbon Bridge, Escape’s World’s Longest Water Slide and The Top Penang’s World’s First Tower Curved Skywalk.”
Yeoh added that the walkway ads would include Penang’s popular street art to allow people to take photos with them and also feature Penang’s quarterly calendar of events.
Besides hotels, he said representatives from the Penang Wedding Professionals Association (PWPA) would be taking part in the roadshow.
PWPA held a photography contest which ended yesterday for their members. They would showcase the works of 20 finalists with the highest votes at the KL Roadshow. The main winner, who will be determined by B2B participants during the roadshow, will receive a cash prize of RM1,000.
To further promote Penang, Yeoh said PETACH would take part in the national MATTA Fair at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from May 1 to 3 where they would be going with a delegation of 16 hotels and attractions.
Also present at the press conference were Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan, ATAP treasurer Allen Tan, Malaysian Association of Hotels (Penang Chapter) committee member James Chang and representatives of several other hotels.
Tan, who is also the Habitat Penang Hill manager director, felt the screening measures taken at The Top, for instance, inspired confidence while Chang, who is also the Grand Orient Hotel manager, thanked the state government for supporting the many promotions to boost business.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan