GEORGE TOWN: Penang will use the three-week buffer period to ensure everything is in place to welcome international visitors to the state next month.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently announced that Malaysia was finally ready to reopen its international borders -- which had remained close for about two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic — as it enters a transitional phase into endemicity from April 1.
The governments of Malaysia and Singapore had also reached an agreement to expand the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) by air to serve the Penang-Singapore route starting March 16.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang government, through the state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, had started making the necessary preparations more than two months ago.
He said Yeoh held numerous stakeholder engagement sessions with related agencies, visited the Penang International Airport (PIA) as well as ensure proper standard operating procedures (SOP) in place for the borders reopening to be done in a safe manner.
"This three-week buffer period is extremely important for all states to prepare well for the border reopening.
"This is to ensure that the necessary processes and procedures are smooth when the time comes," he told newsmen here today.
Elaborating, Chow said besides the state government, airline companies would also need to rearrange their schedules.
"So, everyone has an equally important role to play as we move forward," he added.
Chow said, although the necessary preparations are in place, it would also depend on international tourists and whether they are willing to enter the country or not during this period.
Asked on the status of the Penang-Singapore VTL with the borders reopening, Chow said it was no longer necessary.
"However, for countries which still regard the VTL as important, it will still be there. It really depends on the protocol of the respective countries.
"Only for countries without restrictions, then the VTL is not necessary," he said.
Earlier, Chow chaired a press conference to announce programmes and activities under the Penang Harmony Week 2022.
The Penang Harmony Week 2022 is held in conjunction with the Penang Harmony Corporation (Harmonico)'s 1st anniversary and the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
A total six programmes and activities have been lined up between March 14 and 21.