Penang revives fam trips, readies for return of tourism business

 

Penang kicked off her first trade and media fam trip conducted since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with participants coming from Singapore and the programme being supported by Tourism Malaysia, Singapore office.

The fam trip, which started on March 29, was attended by six media representatives, four travel agents, a representative from Tourism Malaysia, Singapore office, two representatives from Tourism Malaysia headquarters, and one representative from Air Asia.

Tourism Malaysia, Singapore office facilitated Penang’s first post-lockdown fam trip this week

Speaking at a press conference at The Prestige Hotel, Yeoh Soon Hin, head of Penang State Exco for Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage, said there was a need to gradually revive the industry and put in place initiatives to generate economy activities that support the tourism industry.

Yeoh noted that recent measures to allow domestic travellers to visit Penang as well as Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane with Penang, launched March 16, have led to stronger tourism performance for the destination.

“Penang is home to us Penangites, yet it is also a destination filled with the known and unknown treasures to be discover by visitors. That is why Penang remains one of the top destinations for travellers throughout the years,” he elaborated, adding that Singapore is Penang’s second biggest arrival market just after Indonesia.

-TTG Asia.

Pembukaan Sempadan Negara Dapat Memperkasakan Kembali Sektor Pelancongan Antarabangsa

 

9 Mac 2022 - Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya (MOTAC) menyambut baik pengumuman yang dibuat oleh YAB Perdana Menteri berhubung pembukaan sempadan negara bermula 1 April 2022, selaras dengan situasi negara yang akan memasuki Fasa ‘Peralihan Ke Endemik' juga pada tarikh yang sama.

Pengumuman ini merupakan satu berita gembira buat penggiat industri pelancongan kerana ia dapat memberi kelegaan dan sinar buat mereka dalam menjana semula ekonomi melalui sektor pelancongan antarabangsa setelah dunia dilanda pandemik COVID-19 sejak dua tahun yang lalu, menyebabkan pintu sempadan negara ditutup kepada pelancong luar.

Pengumuman yang dibuat adalah melibatkan perkara-perkara berikut:

Rakyat Malaysia yang mempunyai dokumen perjalanan yang sah kini boleh keluar masuk negara seperti biasa serta dibenarkan untuk pergi ke mana- mana negara yang turut membuka pintu sempadannya kepada pengembara luar.

Rakyat negara luar dengan dokumen perjalanan yang sah juga boleh melakukan pergerakan keluar masuk ke Malaysia tanpa perlu lagi memohon MyTravelPass yang akan dimansuhkan. Sebaliknya, hanya perlu muat turun dan mengaktifkan aplikasi MySejahtera serta melengkapkan Pre-Departure Form melalui fungsi Traveller dalam MySejahtera.

Individu yang telah menerima vaksinasi lengkap, tiada keperluan untuk menjalani sebarang tempoh kuarantin dan hanya perlu melalui ujian pengesanan COVID-19 RT-PCR dua hari sebelum berlepas serta ujian RTK- Ag (profesional) dalam tempoh 24 jam selepas ketibaan. Walau bagaimanapun, bagi status vaksinasi lain seperti tidak menerima vaksin atas sebab perubatan dan tidak menerima sebarang vaksinasi, akan diperincikan prosedurnya oleh Menteri Kesihatan; serta

Bagi negara yang masih menutup pintu sempadannya, rakyat masih boleh memanfaatkan kaedah Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) yang telah dipersetujui Kerajaan Malaysia dengan negara-negara yang terbabit.

YB Dato' Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya berkata, keputusan pembukaan sempadan negara kepada pelancong luar ini berupaya merancakkan kembali pemulihan ekonomi negara pasca COVID-19, terutama yang melibatkan keseluruhan rantaian pemain industri pelancongan, seni dan budaya di negara ini. MOTAC kekal optimis industri ini akan kembali bangkit dan berupaya menjadikan Malaysia kembali popular dalam kalangan pelancong antarabangsa.

Adalah dinasihatkan agar seluruh penggiat industri pelancongan dan kebudayaan untuk melakukan persediaan awal dalam menerima kemasukan pelancong dari luar. Pemain- pemain industri diseru untuk terus mempergiatkan promosi serta lebih kreatif dalam memasarkan produk dan lokasi pelancongan Malaysia di mata dunia.

MOTAC juga akan sentiasa memberikan kerjasama dan menyokong segala usaha yang dilakukan oleh seluruh agensi kerajaan yang terlibat dalam menjayakan pembukaan semula sempadan negara bermula 1 April nanti.

-MOTAC.

Malaysia working to ease VTL-Land implementation with Thailand, Singapore, Brunei

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia hopes to resolve issues on the implementation of the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land) between the country and Thailand, Singapore as well as Brunei before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration in May.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Health Ministry was looking into several recommendations proposed by the Cabinet to ease cross-border movements by land between the four countries.

Apart from accelerating the recovery process of the tourism sector, Ismail Sabri said VTL-Land would also help boost bilateral trade and allow family members in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei to get together.

"The Health Ministry is finding the best approach to ease the implementation of VTL-Land, not only between Malaysia and Thailand but also with Singapore and Brunei.

"For example, there are almost 200,000 people commuting between Malaysia and Singapore.

"As for (the VTL-Land between Malaysia and) Brunei, people from Limbang have to pass through Brunei to travel to Lawas in Sarawak.

"I hope issues revolving the VTL-Land between Malaysia and Thailand, Singapore and Brunei can be resolved immediately, since it is not only important to boost tourism sector and stimulate the economy but it is also equally important to reunite families who are staying apart," he said.

Ismail Sabri said this during a press conference with the Malaysian media at Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) in conjunction with his two-day working visit to Thailand.

"We also want to resolve all issues related to the implementation of VTL-Land immediately to enable all people (Malaysians working and residing in Thailand, Singapore and Brunei) to return home for the Hari Raya celebration," he said.

It was reported that Malaysia and Thailand is targeting to increase their bilateral trade to US$30 billion (RM126 billion) by the year 2025 as they prepare to resume cross border movement for vaccinated travellers between both countries through the implementation of VTL by land, sea and air.

Both countries registered US$23.64 billion (RM99.29 billion) in bilateral trade last year, with almost 50 per cent or US$10.5 billion (RM44.10 billion) contributed by trade activities along the Malaysia-Thailand border.

"The reopening of border (cross border movement) is important for Malaysia and Thailand," he said.

Asked about a specific timeline on the implementation of the VTL by land, air and sea between Malaysia and Thailand, Ismail Sabri said: "Soon."

The implementation of VTL, said Ismail Sabri, was among several important matters discussed during his meeting with his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan o-cha at the republic's Government House yesterday.

To facilitate and accommodate the implementation of Malaysia-Thailand VTL, Ismail Sabri said both countries had agreed to recognise the digital Covid-19 vaccination certificates in Malaysia and Thailand.

"This will be supported with the integration of the Malaysia's MySejahtera application and Thailand's Mor Prom application to facilitate cross border movement among travellers between the two countries," he said.

Other matters discussed during his meeting with his Thai counterparts included on cooperation on the development of Covid-19 vaccines between Malaysia and Thailand.

To enhance land connectivity between the two neighbouring nations, both leaders also agreed to expedite the constructions of roads linking the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Sadao.

Other new opportunities explored by the two leaders included carrying out a survey for the construction of high-speed rail (HSR) project linking Kuala Lumpur and Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).

"Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to carry feasibility study on the development of such project in which we will instruct the respective ministries and departments to take immediate actions," he said.

-nst online.

Sarawak targets 1.2 million visitors this year

 

KUCHING: Sarawak is targeting to receive 1.2 million visitors and generate RM3.2 billion tourism receipts this year.

Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah said visitor arrivals increased by 453.62 per cent in January this year to 72,331 as compared to the corresponding period in 2021.

He said as the international tourism slowly bounced back as borders started to reopen, domestic tourism would continue to drive the sector's recovery in an increasing number of destinations.

"Domestic travel is fuelled by demand for destinations which are closer to home and have low population density, as tourists look for open-air activities, nature-based products and rural tourism," he said.

"Most experts also believe international tourism will not return to 2019 levels until 2024 or later," he said at the Sarawak Tourism Steering Committee Meeting (STSC) 2022 held here today.

Karim said the Sarawak government had engaged with the Transport Ministry to establish a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Singapore and Kuching.

"My ministry has engaged closely with SDMC (Sarawak Disaster Management Committee) regarding our border opening which is in line with the latest development tentatively to be opened in the second quarter of 2022.

"Besides VTL with Singapore, Malaysia is also discussing quarantine-free travel with Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand as announced recently by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob," he said,

Karim hoped that all the policies, directions and strategies would not only help the tourism industry players ,but also transformed into opportunities for the local communities to benefit in the future.

He said the local communities could participate in community-based tourism such as homestay, local hosts, craft and souvenirs making activity to reap the benefits from tourism and increase their household income

The ministry, he said, would continue to provide annual grant of RM100,000 to the Sarawak Tourism Federation being the umbrella body for the Sarawak Tourism Industry to facilitate its role to be the bridge between the authorities and the tourism industry in Sarawak.

Karim also launched Sarawak's Tourism Quick Fact Book 2021 and Calendar of Event 2022 in both electronic form at https://mtcp.sarawak.gov.my and printed copies at the event.

-nst online.

MAG harap VTL antara Pulau Pinang-Singapura dapat dilaksanakan

 

GEORGETOWN: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) berharap program Laluan Perjalanan Lengkap Vaksin (VTL) udara antara Singapura dan Pulau Pinang dapat dilaksanakan dalam tempoh terdekat bagi mempercepat proses pemulihan ekonomi republik itu dan negeri ini.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan MAG, Kapten Izham Ismail berkata, permohonan cadangan VTL udara antara Singapura dan Pulau Pinang itu telah dikemukakan beberapa bulan lalu, namun keputusan mengenai pelaksanaannya masih belum diputuskan.

“Kami melihat adanya permintaan daripada pelanggan bagi pelaksanaan VTL antara laluan udara Pulau Pinang dan Singapura.

“MAG telah mengemukakan permohonan agar VTL dilaksanakan bagi laluan udara antara Pulau Pinang dan Singapura, namun ia memerlukan keputusan serta penelitian daripada kerajaan kedua-dua negara,” katanya.

Beliau ditemui selepas menghadiri majlis pelancaran kerjasama antara Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) dan Pejabat Pengerusi Pelancongan dan Ekonomi Kreatif (PETACE) di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir, Pengerusi Pelancongan dan Ekonomi Kreatif (PETACE), Yeoh Soon Hin.

Sebelum ini, Malaysia dan Singapura melancarkan laluan perjalanan vaksinasi (VTL) bagi pengembara antara kedua-dua negara yang menggunakan mod pengangkutan udara.

VTL antara Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Changi dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) itu bermula pada 29 November lalu.

Menurut Izham, kejayaan pelaksanaan VTL udara sebelum ini di beberapa lokasi wajar diambil kira sebagai indikator untuk pelaksanaan VTL udara antara Pulau Pinang dan Singapura.

“Selain itu terdapat juga rancangan untuk melaksanakan VTL antara negeri lain serta Singapura dan negara ASEAN lain, namun ia masih dalam peringkat perancangan,” katanya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Soon Hin berkata, TSAM telah dilancarkan pada Oktober tahun ini dan terdiri daripada empat pemain utama dalam industri pelancongan negara iaitu Persatuan Penganjur dan Pembekal Konvensyen dan Pameran (MACEOS), Persatuan Hotel Malaysia (MAH), Persatuan Ejen Pelancongan dan Pelancongan Malaysia (MATTA) dan MAG.

“Dengan aktiviti pelancongan yang semakin meningkat pada masa ini, kerjasama dengan TSAM merupakan langkah yang tepat untuk Pulau Pinang menerajui usaha memulihkan ekonomi serta pelancongan di negeri ini.

“TSAM memainkan peranan penting dalam mempromosikan Pulau Pinang sebagai destinasi selamat untuk pelancongan,” katanya.

-Utusan Malaysia.