The Penang state government urges the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin to consider including tourism players as one of the economic frontliners alongside other economic sectors in the vaccination rollout.
The call was made by the State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Yeoh Soon Hin.
“We have compiled a name list consisting of 4,678 tourism frontliners in Penang through the tourism associations and have submitted the list to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister for consideration.
“Following YB Khairy’s recent announcement disclosing that the government will expedite the vaccination drive, it is important to take into account the badly-affected tourism industry to ensure an accelerated and holistic recovery, apart from allowing us to better compete with neighbouring destinations,” he said.
“To ensure the hospitality industry remains viable and sustainable, and to also help achieve herd immunity against Covid-19, the Federal Government can place the frontliners in the hospitality industry for vaccination, after medical frontliners, the elderlies as well as other high risk and vulnerable groups,” said Yeoh in a press statement.
He also added that various popular tourist destinations such as Phuket and Maldives have already explored the possibilities of re-welcoming tourists, in which Penang as a forerunner in South East Asia’s tourism should also implement similar strategies to remain relevant.
“Preparations need to start soonest so our tourism can catapult and achieve a V shape recovery. A delayed vaccination programme for tourism players will threaten their future livelihoods and the industry as a whole, especially Penang which is heavily reliant on tourism as one of its economic contributors.
“On another note, we need to make sure that our tourism frontliners are ready and safe before we officially welcome tourists back to the Pearl of Orient. Therefore, an effective vaccination approach involving our frontliners in the tourism industry is crucial.
“Once our tourism frontliners are fully vaccinated, Penang will gain traveller’s trust and faith and be positioned as a 3R destination – ready, responsible and reliable,” added Yeoh.