THE PENANG STATE TOURISM LAUNCHES “EXPERIENCE PENANG” CAMPAIGN | The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur

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Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic wave hits us and it comes as no surprise that the pandemic has affected many lives globally, pushing everyone to accept a new norm of masks, SOPs, and lockdowns. Every MCO since then has been associated with negatively impacting people’s mental health, reducing earnings in households and poverty, amongst other things.

The first MCO has also affected the tourism industry, suffering losses of RM45 million in tourist expenditure. With all economic losses combined across industries during MCO 1.0, Malaysia suffered a total of RM2.4 billion per day.

But considering we are almost achieving herd community, Malaysia is gradually reopening its borders and remains open for business. Safe Travel is an initiative by the government to ease the business travellers’ movement into Malaysia while ensuring their safety and health.

From L-R :  Mr Raj Kumar, Mr Ooi Chok Yan,YB Yeoh Soon Hin, Mr Ch’ng Huck Theng,Mr Andy Lau Eng Leong

Being said that, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) YB Yeoh Soon Hin, who also heads the Penang State Tourism, along with Mr Ooi Chok Yan, CEO of Penang Global Tourism has taken the steps to promote Penang as part of the Penang State Tourism which leads to the launching of “Experience Penang” campaign at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur on the 14th of December 2021 to promote the state as a destination of choice and to spur its tourism industry as more people are vaccinated, restrictions are lifted, and travel resumes in the country.

What is “Experience Penang”

The “Experience Penang” campaign aims to drive domestic and international visitors to its shores with endless enriching experiences and features locations across the island and mainland that are bound to satisfy one and all. The adverts for this campaign remind visitors of the state's incredible attractions, from its 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 that make Penang one of the most iconic destinations in the world.

It encourages visitors to discover the state's equally amazing hidden holiday gems on the island and Seberang Perai. Furthermore, brochures on the 'Other Side of the Island, Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau' and 'Opposite Side of the Island, Seberang Perai' are also launched alongside the campaign to help visitors to experience everything the state has to offer. All of these are 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.

Other than advertisements and brochures, the campaign is bolstered by value-for-money promotions and deals on the campaign's website, penangtraveldeals.com. Visitors can browse attractive deals such as Best Hotel Deals, Best Attraction Deals,  Best Tour Packages, Best Essential Travel Deals, Best Penang Products, Best Takeaway/Delivery Deals, as well as Best Wedding Deals.

These promotions offer visitors different experiences and substantial savings on accommodations, attractions, and tours. Additionally, the “Experience Penang” campaign is also featured on e-commerce platforms such as Klook and Shopee with ongoing promotions till year-end, boasting irresistible travel packages.

"The "Experience Penang" campaign is an important step for us to take to rebuild tourism by attracting more domestic tourists to visit Penang. Thankfully, visitors are still keen to visit Penang even though the pandemic may have made Malaysians more cautious of crowded places. A recent survey by an online travel booking platform revealed that Malaysians are still keen on well-known domestic tourist spots, and Penang is one of the top five most booked destinations. That's because the urban settings of Penang offer all the sights and sounds of contemporary life while maintaining its historical charms.” said YB Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE).

 

“Although Penang remains a popular tourist destination, we must still keep on improving and creating new tourism products for visitors to see and explore so that they can spend more days in Penang. For instance, instead of staying for two days and one night, tourists can choose to stay for three days and two nights – or maybe more – to explore Balik Pulau, Teluk Bahang, and Seberang Perai.

The charming countryside of Balik Pulau packs an assortment of treasures for nature lovers, from remote beaches to traditional kampung houses, plantations, fishing villages, animal farms, and paddy fields. Visitors can look forward to enjoying a scenic ride through Balik Pulau's tranquil rural landscape on bicycles and discover the village's folk industries, farms, plantations, and beaches at their own pace.”  he added.

Teluk Bahang stands out as a unique playground for naturalists and adventure junkies. Teluk Bahang’s forest is home to a string of modern ecotourism attractions such as Boulder Valley Glamping, Tropical Spice Garden, ESCAPE Theme Park and Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm. Those looking to go off the grid without sacrificing modern comforts can do so at Boulder Valley Glamping, a luxurious paradise nestled within the Teluk Bahang rainforest. The glamping spot offers luxurious accommodations with ensuite bathrooms and a priceless opportunity to wake up to the sounds of chirping birds or to snuggle up under the stars by the campfire at night.

Visitors can also spice up a nature-filled itinerary at Tropical Spice Garden, where they can stroll under towering nutmeg trees and relax by scenic ponds with floating water lilies and swimming koi fishes. Those who are on a mission to check two man-made marvels off their “7 World Wonders of Penang” bucket list can head over to ESCAPE Theme Park and Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm.

The world's longest water slide with a Guinness World Records title at ESCAPE Theme Park promises a thrilling four-minute joyride that zigzags through natural forest and tree canopies and stretches a whopping 1,111 meters long. Meanwhile, the world's first tropical butterfly and insect sanctuary — Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm — is where some 15,000 free-flying butterflies flutter and fly! Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm also has an indoor discovery centre featuring two floors of learning exhibits and activities, allowing visitors to self-explore the world of invertebrates through various interactive edu-stations.

There are also plenty of hidden gems to discover in Seberang Perai, namely the Butterworth Art Walk, Pulau Aman, Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam, Frog Hill, and Kampong Agong. Visitors can walk down the small alley in Jalan Bagan Luar known as Butterworth Art Walk. The eye-catching murals and installations serve as colourful backdrops for photo ops while educating visitors about the mainland's agricultural economy and history.

Meanwhile, the outlying islet of Pulau Aman offers visitors serenity and splendid vistas, thanks to its colourful fishing boats, historical sites, beautiful beaches, and vast offerings of seafood dishes. Other than that, there are also interesting activities for the adventurous such as kayaking, fishing, jungle trekking, camping, and more in Pulau Aman.

Visitors can also make their way to Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam, which is famed for a giant 'mengkundu' tree estimated to be over 80 years old. The tree is so big at its buttress roots it needs about 20 people joining hands to encircle around it. Those who enjoy taking Instagram-worthy photos must make a stop at Kampung Agong in Penaga. Located in Bakar Kapur in Penaga, the countryside theme park's coconut trees, paddy fields, traditional wooden houses and Instagram-ready piano, swings, and giant nests have been setting social media ablaze since 2018, making it worth the hour's drive from Penang Island.

Meanwhile, Frog Hill (also known as Bukit Katak) is a favourite spot for naturalists and avid shutterbugs and is dubbed as Penang's answer to China's well-known Jiuzhaigou. Located just a short drive away from Kampung Agong, Frog Hill promises visitors dramatic views of turquoise-coloured pools and the occasional sightings of wild water buffaloes wallowing in the water.

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.

“With so many places of interest to discover all over Penang, and coupled with attractive discounts and deals under this campaign, I urge Malaysians to come to discover a nearby world-renowned tourist destination this year-end holiday —  Penang is just a flight or a road trip away.” said YB Yeoh Soon Hin.

Nu Sentral

L-R]:Mr Ch’ng Huck Theng, Mr Raj Kumar,YB Yeoh Soon Hin, Mr Ooi Chok Yan, Mr Andy Lau Eng Leong.

The “Experience Penang” advertisements were unveiled yesterday and earlier this morning within KL's city centre. The advertisements are featured on the Cosmic Towers LED screen panels at the KL Sentral-NU Sentral junction and the Giant Cube located in front of the Lot 10 shopping centre. These locations are chosen based on KL's city centre reputation as the main tourist hub in the country and to maximise the campaign's effort in driving domestic and international tourists to Penang. 

Social quarantine or more popularly known as lockdowns coupled with social distancing has become an almost standard protocol in the control of COVID-19 spread across the world. And to assure safer travels to visitors while sustaining the state's efforts to revive Penang’s travel industry, Penang 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.

These initiatives are the first-of-its-kind in Malaysia, aimed to instil confidence in travellers when visiting Penang. Visitors must check in and out via MySejahtera and comply with temperature checks, regular sanitisation, physical distancing, and double masking while visiting Penang to ensure a safe vacation during their visit to Penang.

Click HERE to read more about the “Penang Responsible Tourism” guidelines.

So there you go, get your luggage ready and mark your calendar. Make your Penang trip much more wholesome, adventurous while exploring and “Experience Penang” in a whole new perspective. Remember to implement SAFE TRAVEL, Follow the S.O.P and most important is HAVE FUN exploring, uncovering and appreciating all the beautiful natures, historical sites, delicious foods and amazing communities in Penang.

Take care, Stay safe and “Experience Penang” - The Diversity of Asia

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