To further galvanize the confidence of travelers to Penang, Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) has joined forces with the office of the Penang Tourism and Creative Economy.
TSAM consists of the four major players in the tourism, business events and airline industry, namely, Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (MACEOS), Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and airlines under the Malaysian Aviation Group (MAG) consisting of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings.
Present to officiate the ceremony was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin.
Also lending support was MATTA president, Datuk Tan Kok Liang, MAH president Dato N. Subramaniam, MACEOS president Francis Teo and the Group Chief Executive officer of MAG, Captain Izham Ismail.
“Penang has been a forerunner in Malaysia’s tourism landscape and has led the industry in many ways. Recently, we have been ranked as the third best island in the world to retire by International Living Magazine.
“I am glad to see that our accreditation programme initiative has now been to a national scale,” said Yeoh in his speech.
He also added that the accreditations will give visitors end-to-end safe travel solutions which allows Penang as a responsible tourism destination.
Visitors will enjoy peace of mid and know that their safety are in good hands because hygiene protocols are well put in place.
With an increased attention to hygiene, health and a safe environment, vendors in the tourism, hotel and business events industry in Penang have enhanced health and hygiene protocols.
Also there was Rajiv AG, Commodities & Certification Director, Bureau Veritas (M) Sdn Bhd, Malaysian Airlines Berhad, Philip See CEO Firefly, OoI Chok Yan, Ceo Penang Global Tourism, Senior Manager for Group Communications, Noraishah M S, Penang Director for Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Jonathan Freddy Bagang, Siti Hajar (Tourism Malaysia), Nigel Wong (MATTA), Christina Tan (DOSM G Hotel).
Also present was the CEO of MAH Yap Lip Seng, MAH National Vice President, Khoo Boo Lim, MAH Penang chairman Raj Kumar, MATTA Penang chairman Vergis Mathews, Lisa Wong (MAS Area Manager Northern Region), G Hotel general manager Michael Hanratty, Eastern & Oriental Hotel GM, Allison Fraser, Sunway Hotel Penang GM Prakash Kumaran, Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa / Golden Sands Resort Marcom Manager, Fiona Lee,
Meanwhile, Captain Izham hoped that the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) would be opened between Singapore and Penang soon.
“Likewise for the Singapore / Langkawi route. We will seek for the relevant approval, however, we will have to wait for the Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin for the final announcement,” he said on the sidelines of the event.
He also added that they are excited to collaborate with their counterparts in Penang as it continues to be a key domestic market, this evident with the recent launch of the Penang Kuching and Kota Kinabalu flights from Penang International Airport (PIA).
