PENANG HAS THE POTENTIAL

Penang has the potential to become a tourism leader because of its accessibility and numerous tourism products but is lagging behind Malacca.

Malacca recorded 8.9 million tourist arrivals last year compared to Penang’s 5.96 million.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the statistics “speaks for itself”.

“Penang has dropped from 6.3 million in 2008 according to the statistics from our research division.

“With 191 international flights per week from 12 international airlines, no other destination, except Kuala Lumpur, has such a big number of flights,” she said after the soft launch of the Penang Hill funicular train upgrading project at the lower station in Air Itam here yesterday.

Stand back: Yen Yen attending the soft launch of the Penang Hill funicular train project in Air Itam, Penang yesterday.

Asked what could be done to improve the situation, Yen Yen said the state could hire more specialised tourist guides.

“The ministry is currently holding meetings with the Penang Heritage Trust for a Penang heritage co-curriculum to cater for the training of specialised heritage guides,” she said.

The ministry will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the handing over of the upgraded hill railway project to the state government within the first quarter of next year.

Yen Yen said the new policy (of signing an MoU) was an effort by the ministry to make sure that projects handed over to state governments were “up and running” as soon they were completed.

“The upgrading of the funicular train service is expected to be completed by December or January.

“The new system will be more user-friendly for the elderly, disabled and parents with children.

“Also, they no longer have to change to another train at the middle station.

“The Penang Hill Corporation will then have to improve the hilltop facilities, and also the cafes and inn, otherwise there’s no point in having a good train to take tourists up there.”