Penang to finally welcome international cruise, two years after Covid-19

 

GEORGE TOWN: Royal Caribbean's vessel Spectrum of the Seas, which will set sail between Singapore and Penang, will anchor at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) here on July 2.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, who took to his Facebook page to announce the matter, said this was good news for the tourism and services sectors in the state.

"Spectrum of the Seas was initially scheduled to anchor here on June 18. However, there were several issues with the Immigration Department. Now, everything have been properly arranged.

"Since March 18, 2020, following the lockdown imposed by the government due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no international cruises have anchored here.

"As such, Spectrum of the Seas, which will anchor here on July 2, is an opportunity long-awaited by the industry, which has been hoping that visitors will increase their businesses," he said.

According to Tan, PPC is fully prepared in efforts to render cooperation when the vessel arrives.

He said two meetings involving several departments were held recently.

They included the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, state government agencies, state port health department, Immigration Department, Customs Department, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Marine Department (northern region), state police, Penang Global Tourism (PGT), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and others.

"Both meetings were aimed at coordinating preparatory works prior to the arrival of the vessel.

"Besides that, thorough checks on the port operations have also been carried out to ensure that when the giant vessel arrives, visitors will be greeted warmly.

"After this, Spectrum of the Seas will anchor in Penang twice weekly," he added.

Tan said this was good news for the state's economy and would further spur the growth of the tourism industry.

He said, after the reopening of the country's borders, industries related to tourism were slowly bouncing back.

"With the arrival of the international vessels, this will breathe life to the market," he said.

During the recent state legislative assembly sitting, the Penang government urged Putrajaya to allow international cruises to enter the country as soon as possible.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin had said that the federal government's decision not to reopen its seas to international cruises would hurt the country's tourism industry.

International tourists have been allowed into the country since April 1, but only by air or overland travel.

-nst online.