GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has submitted an application for the Penang-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL).
MAG group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said the application to travel between Penang and Singapore was submitted several months ago.
This follows the success between the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore VTL late last month.
"We hope to replicate the success for the Penang-Singapore VTL.
"For now, we are still awaiting response from the regulators of both countries and the feedback has been encouraging," he said at the launch of the Covid-19 Safety Accreditation Programme to provide end-to-end safe travel solutions to travellers yesterday.
Present were state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin and Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Datuk N. Subramaniam.
Elaborating, Izham said there were also plans for VTL between other states in Malaysia and Singapore as well as other Asean countries.
"All these are being planned and we will wait for Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to announce it at the right time," he added.
Meanwhile, Izham said MAG was very bullish of next year, but remained cautious of the environment.
Both Malaysia and Singapore agreed to the setting up of a VTL between the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Changi International Airport.
The VTL would allow people who were fully vaccinated to travel between the two countries and be subjected to Covid-19 tests in lieu of quarantine or stay-home notices.
Meanwhile, Yeoh said Penang is expecting some 30,000 visitors to throng the state until year-end for the holiday season.
Nevertheless, he added, there may be some who cancelled their holiday plans due to the floods in the Klang Valley.
The Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) has joined forces with the Penang government to raise the travel market confidence in Penang state.
TSAM, which was launched in October this year, comprises four major players in Malaysia's tourism, business events and the airline industry, namely 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) consisting of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings.
With tourism activities gradually picking up, the joint partnership is seen as a timely move by Penang to lead efforts in tourism and economic recovery, where safety and hygiene aspects are prioritised across the industry including for hotels, food establishments, convention centres, tours, and transportation.