THE Escape Theme Park in Penang became the first theme park in Malaysia to reopen today, allowing visitors to have fun activities except at its water-based attractions.
State Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin visited the theme park in Teluk Bahang to give his morale support to the operator, Sim Leisure Group, after quite a long lockdown and also to ensure the standard operating procedures were complied with by the operator and the visitors.
Some of the activities that the visitors are allowed to take part include Slingshot, Tubby Racer, Monkey Business rope course, chair lift and Aerobat while water-based rides that are not allowed include Twister slide, Megadrop, Wave Pool and Banana Flip.
Most famous of them all, of course, is the world’s longest tube water slide over 1,111 metres that was officially opened in November last year.
By lunchtime, the park has attracted over 70 visitors and the operator expected the number to go up to about 100 later today.
Heavy rain fell earlier in this morning. But the sky brightened up just before the reopening of the theme park.
As Yeoh commented later, the rain was like a shower of blessings for the theme park as it was followed by blue skies.
“I believe visitors’ confidence will increase. We’ll definitely focus on domestic tourism because Penang has all the while been the locals’ preferred destination,” Yeoh said in his speech.
“On top of our existing attractions, we’ll try to explore new attractions. Something innovative to attract more travellers to Penang.
“We can explore activities like bird watching in Seberang Perai or promote hidden gems in maybe Balik Pulau.
“We’ve to understand travellers (in the new normal) and we foresee they prefer low-density and open-air areas, not crowded places.”
Also present were Malaysian Association of Amusement Theme Park & Family Attractions (MAATFA) president Tan Sri Richard Koh, Sim Leisure chief executive officer Sim Choo Kheng and Sim Leisure special events consultant Chris Gan.
Yeoh also applauded tourism operators for their preparedness to restart their businesses very quickly after obtaining the green light.
He said he found them to be very committed to maintaining their premises well during a series of engagements he had with stakeholders, like associations, hoteliers and shopping malls, and during his site visits.
Yeoh said Penang would also be the first state to introduce an accreditation system whereby operators who comply with the SOPs would be given a certificate.
“Their names will be listed on the government website. This is to motivate them and also to let visitors have a trust in them so that they would revisit Penang. This system has been implemented in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia,” Yeoh said.
He added that incentive programmes would be announced soon for operators to boost tourism in the state.
Sim thanked Yeoh for his personal efforts in getting approval from the Federal Government to allow the theme park to operate except for its water-based activities.
He said Escape Theme Park would now take in a maximum of 1,000 tourists per day under the SOP. It had drawn 3,000 as its biggest capacity thus far before the movement control order began on March 18.
“I’m confident our form of theme park will pick up very soon. People need to get out after the lockdown is over. More so, we need to reconnect with nature.
“We don’t live in kampung anymore; we live in apartments and condos. So, there is a natural desire to be out in the nature.”
Talking about reconnecting with nature, Sim said they have a promotion for a two-day package for visitors to camp at the theme park as well as to enjoy its facilities. It costs an average of RM180 per person, inclusive of entrance ticket, for the two-day and one-night stay.
Koh also commended Yeoh and the state government for being pro-active and taking the lead in several initiatives. The toursm industry not only in Penang but also in other parts of the world has taken a bad hit because of the Covid-19 crisis.
“The state has organised the ‘Penang Lang’ offer up to 50% discount to revive tourism. I appreciate the effort done by YB Yeoh,” Koh said.
“Shanghai Disney has reopened with great success, having between 4,000 and 5,000 people a day. Bangkok and Hong Kong theme parks are going to reopen next week.
“Penang Hill too has reopened very successfully. I heard last weekend, there were 2,000 people. It’s very encouraging; people are tired of staying at home.
“I hope the Federal Government will let theme parks to reopen throughout the country as it continues to promote Cuti Cuti Malaysia.”
Among the visitors to the park today were three friends – graphic artist Venise Lee, digital illustration artist Stephen Chu and music teacher Nathan Karthik.
They had a ball of a time, especially at the Aerobat where they swung through the air and performed acrobatics.
“I would like to compliment the instructors. They are very passionate about their job. This is the thing I like about this place. Passionate means you make customers feel very safe and secure,” commented Lee, who enjoyed three attempts at the Aerobat.
For Chu and Nathan, after experiencing an adrenaline rush during the high swing and acrobatic moves, they intended to come back for more after trying out other activities.
The 29-acre park is certainly a good escape from the hustle and buzzle of city life.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
