Malaysia Tourism industry wants local community to benefit from George Town Festival

Published on : Tuesday, August 26, 2014

tourism-malaysia-300x164As the George Town Festival this year has drawn much international publicity and audiences for its events, tourism performers in Penang say more need to be done to make it economically beneficial to local community.
 
According to Penang Tourist Guides Association chairman Chin Poh Chin there has been minimal rise in the arrival of visitors specifically for the festival, and more effort was required to promote the event early with the tourism industry.

 

She said tourist guides also needed to know the necessary details of the events for them to “bring more life” by disseminating correct information to visitors. The “minimal economic benefits” to the local community would be from the demand for services such as accommodation, meals, and transportation or leisure activities, she added.

 

Chin lamented that the festival’s press conferences covered more on the performing artists than George Town and its heritage issue.

 

The acting chairman of the Penang chapter of Malaysian Association of Hotels, Khoo Boo Lim said while the festival helps to attract visitors, there was a need for early packaging and promotion. The international media coverage this year has helped to improve Penang’s
image, and there has also been some positive effects brought about by iconic elements like the popular street murals that have sprung up around George Town, he added.

 

Ch’ng Huck Theng, chairman of the Association of Tourism Attractions Penang (ATAP) and president of Penang Art Society, said the festival has become mature and well-organized, and definitely has an impact on the tourism sector.
 
The month-long festival is held by the Penang government in July every year to honor the naming of George Town as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in July 2008. The event is held in August this year due to the Ramadan fasting month falling in July.
 
The current edition of the festival features 147 events, of which 64% will be open to the public free of charge. A total of 84 events feature local productions.

 

 

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