GEORGE TOWN, October 9 – Incompliance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and health protocols will not be tolerated by the Penang State Government, warns Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Yeoh Soon Hin. Yeoh said that with interstate travel activities imminent, it is the duty of all to ensure proper compliance and enforcement of the necessary protocols.
“We believe that the permission of interstate travel activities will kickstart economic reboot in the state’s tourism industry. However, it must be highlighted that the cooperation of all parties in complying to the SOPs is pivotal,” he added. Yeoh said that according to Tourism Malaysia’s hotel survey, Penang’s hotel guests recorded a decline of 34.03% for domestic travellers in 2020
“According to the statistics provided, Penang recorded a total of 3,541,246 Malaysian hotel guests in 2019, as compared to 2,336,054 in 2020. The pandemic has indeed incurred huge economic losses to the industry,” he added. He also said that other states such as Malacca, Selangor, Perlis, Seremban, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak recorded greater decline in Malaysian hotel guest rates as compared to Penang.
Yeoh believes that many industry players are no longer able to stomach the prolonged period of economic downturn. “Therefore, it must be pointed out that incompliance of protocols will backfire our efforts and potentially cause irreversible outcomes such as unemployment and continued economic decline,” he said. Yeoh also emphasized that PETACE and Penang Global Tourism have been working closely with online travel agencies and relevant partners, to maintain Penang’s tourism brand in the international arena for the state’s tourism recovery.
