Metro

Saturday July 4, 2009

State to allocate more money for tourism promotion

By CHRISTINA CHIN


PENANG will increase its tourism budget as the annual RM3mil allocation is insufficient to promote the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state would spend more despite the economic slowdown but declined to reveal any figures yet.

“Tourism is an important income generator to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of the service sector.

“By 2020, we expect the sector to contribute 75% of the state’s GDP - an increase from last year’s 56.9%.

“To do that, we need tourists who come here to also recommend the place to their friends. So, we must give them the best prices, services and experience,” he said at the opening of the 13th Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair at the Penang International Sport Arena (PISA) yesterday. He also said the state would reveal a new direct flight route soon.

“Let it be a secret for now. This route is in addition to the upcoming one to Chennai, India,” he said.

In her speech, Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC) chairman Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen said tourism industry players must be “pro-active and pragmatic” in harnessing all their resources in light of challenges like the haze, (A) H1NI influenza and global recession.

“We are a value-for-money tourist destination unrivalled anywhere in the world.

“Where else can you get a meal, drink and dessert for a mere one Pound Sterling?” she said, adding that focus must be given to untapped niche markets.

“We can come up with packages for the physically challenged, youths and music lovers,” she said.

Kee also expressed hope that the upcoming expansion of the Penang International Airport would include the construction of separate arrival and departure areas.

“Malaysia Airports Berhad has been given RM250mil to improve the airport and we can look forward to improvements,” she said.

The fair, which started yesterday, will open from 10am to 9pm today and tomorrow.

There will be a total of 274 booths with 83 exhibitors at the fair.

Besides great bargains for both domestic and international destinations, there will be lots of goodie bags (while stocks lasts) and lucky draw prizes to be won at two-hourly intervals.

Up for grabs will be about 40 tickets from Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Silk Air, Air China, China Airlines and Firefly.

The official newspapers for the fair are The Star and Kwong Wah Yit Poh while Leisure Travel Magazine is the official travel magazine.

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