GEORGE TOWN, March 15 – Penang ‘s tourism economy is set to receive significant boost following the launch of the Penang-Singapore Vaccinated Travel lane (VTL) starting March 16 2022. The VTL initiative would allow fully vaccinated travellers between Penang and Singapore and vice-versa with participating airlines under the VTL without being required to undergo mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
The Penang-Singapore VTL will commence with weekly flights from Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines and Scoot Tigerair. The Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) Committee Chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said he has done an inspection at Penang International Airport earlier this month to make sure the airport had put in place all the necessary preparations for the launch of the Penang-Singapore VTL.
The VTL scheme plays a pivotal role prior to the full resumption of international tourism as it will serve as the benchmark for future international travelling activities. We will keep an open channel of communication with airline representatives as well as the airport staff members to ensure the seamless launch of VTL,” he said.
Yeoh urged all airport personnel, airline staff and incoming tourists to abide and strictly observe all the necessary health protocols. The VTL was first initiated between Changi Airport and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) route on Nov 29 last year. As of Feb 28, 2022, it has served 82,906 arriving passengers from Singapore.
For the past two years, Malaysia Airports has been improving its facilities and services in the aspect of health and safety protocols particularly in regard to passenger processing to ensure the best guest experience for travellers. Penang International Airport has received the global Airport Health Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI), that certifies airport health and safety measures are at par with international standards.
These measures are in the areas of cleaning and disinfection, staff protection, physical layout, passenger flow and communication as well as health safety technology enhancement. In addition, the airport operator has ensured that all airport staff are fully vaccinated. The VTL was first initiated between Changi Airport and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) route on Nov 29 last year.
As of Feb 28, 2022, it has served 82,906 arriving passengers from Singapore. In assuring the safety of travellers while ensuring the sustainability of Penang’s travel industry, the state government has launched the “Penang Responsible Tourism” campaign and the “COVID-19 Safety Accreditation Programme” last year to strengthen preventive measures undertaken by Penang’s tourism industry players.
Taking a step ahead during the recovery period, Penang is the first state in Malaysia to kick-start the initiatives by the Penang State Government and lead by PETACE. The Penang Responsible Tourism campaign unveiled in July last year was to remind all tourists and tourism industry players to stay compliant with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
This is very important in raising the travel safety benchmark as well as to provide solid assurance to travellers that the Penang government puts travel safety topmost on its agenda and welcomes tourists to its shores for worry-free holidays. Penang has long been instilling the importance of standard operation procedures (SOP) compliance among industry players and members of the public, which is evident through the Responsible Tourism campaign.
The campaign educates all stakeholders on their respective roles in making sure that tourism activities are conducted in an orderly and more importantly, responsible manner,” he said. Other than that, the “COVID-19 Safety Accreditation Programme” was to emphasise the importance of safety and hygiene – the two important elements to instil traveller’s confidence in the long-term.
At present, a total of 65 Penang’s tourism industry players from hotels, attractions and shopping malls have been granted the certification. The PETACE office has also initiated a vaccination programme for trishaw peddlers and taxi drivers as the Penang state approaches herd immunity. The programme has benefited about 300 individuals.
As the tourism industry moves towards the new norm and gets set to welcome tourists, these preparations and practices will be key to accelerate the tourism economy recovery efforts. Penang is the second highest state in vaccinations under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, with 86.2% of population having received their jabs as of 9 March 2022.
This percentage puts Penang at the second highest position in vaccination in Malaysia. The vaccination rate has reached a satisfactory level for the international borders to reopen. Two UNESCO-designated sites which are the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site and the recently recognised Penang Hill UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, quirky street art, legendary street food, 130-million-year-old virgin rainforest, and diverse natural landscapes of hills and beaches make Penang one of the most iconic destinations in the world.
Yeoh said visitors would be encouraged to discover the state’s equally amazing hidden holiday gems on the island and Seberang Perai. Brochures on the ‘Other Side of the Island, Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau’ and ‘Opposite Side of the Island, Seberang Perai’ were launched in Kuala Lumpur during “Experience Penang” campaign to help visitors to experience everything the state has to offer.
This is in line with Penang’s aspiration to become a premier, sustainable, and diversified tourism destination as outlined in the Penang Tourism Master Plan and Penang2030 vision to create a variety of quality tourism products across the island and mainland.
Of course, besides Penang famous street food, your trip to Penang is incomplete without visiting two UNESCO-designated sites. Penang is the only one in the peninsular to boast two UNESCO sites; the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site and the newly recognised Penang Hill UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Best of all, due to the close proximity of the city centre to the hills, one can enjoy a morning hike through the ancient rainforest of Penang Hill and spend the rest of the day soaking in the old-world charm of George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site,” added Yeoh.
Penang has been listed by CNN Travel as one of the 22 best destinations to visit in 2022, The Times of India listed George Town, Penang amongst the finest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, and ranked 3rd in ‘The 15 Best Islands in the World to Retire On in 2021’ by International Living.
