As tourism picks up across Malaysia, Tourism Penang and Travel Safe
Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) have formed a partnership to attract travellers
to the state.
TSAM,
launched in October 2021, comprises the Malaysian Association of
Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), Malaysian
Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel
Agents (MATTA) and airlines under the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG),
which include Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings.
The safety of travellers remains a key priority as the state leads
efforts to boost economic recovery and uphold hygiene standards across
hotels, food establishments, convention centres, tours, and
transportation.
Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy,
notes safety standards in place such as Penang’s industry-specific
safety accreditation programme and TSAM's travel solution certified by
Bureau Veritas Certification Malaysia.
"This provides solid assurance to travellers that the Penang State
Government puts travel safety top-most on its agenda and welcomes
tourists to its shores for peace-of-mind holidays," he said.
Industry players are committed to upholding travel safety as well.
The TSAM will promote Malaysia as a “travel-safe destination”, said
Datuk Tan Kok Liang, President of MATTA. “Travel safety and hygiene have
become one of the top concerns for travellers worldwide today. TSAM
will set the bar in first-to-last-mile travel standards, and accredited
Malaysian tourism stakeholders will definitely have a keener competitive
edge when it comes to competing for market share in various key source
markets."
In addition, the Clean & Safe Malaysia certification, the
first-ever industry-wide hygiene and safety label for hotels launched by
MAH in July 2020, has become a benchmark of hotel safety standards, and
a key component in TSAM, noted Dato' N. Subramaniam, MAH President.
MACEOS President Francis Teo also believes that industry-wide
implementation of consistent safety standards was necessary to
strengthen Malaysia's tourism industry, saying: "TSAM looks forward to
seeing a wider acceptance and implementation of its certification
programme among the island's tourism industry players.”
Members of the tourism industry can instil confidence in travellers
by subscribing to the TSAM certification programme endorsed by PETACE.