Penang and Langkawi enters a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for UNESCO  Designated Island SIstership to cement promising tourism growth and prospective collaboration in both destinations. 

The MoU was inked this afternoon at Penang Hill between the Deputy  Secretary to the Penang State Government (Management) YBhg. Dato' Ahmad Rizal bin Mohd. Hanapiah and Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) General Manager Nasaruddin bin Abdul Muttalib, and was witnessed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and Penang State Executive Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Yeh Soon Hin.

According to Yeoh, this MoU is the fruits of labour and a follow-up to his previous mission to the island-destination of Langkawi, in which he represented the Penang State Government in signing a Letter of Intent with LADA on 20 June 2022.

"This MoU reflects the tremendous progress Penang has made in our pursuits to establish more linkages and bridges with our tourism  counterparts, including a tourism powerhouse like Langkawi,

"We look forward to activating our cooperation with Langkawi in many areas ranging from tourism promotion, connectivity, cultural exchanges to geotourism," he said in a statement today.

Yeoh believes that the tourism power couple can emulate each other's  success stories to inspire greater achievements and milestones between both parties .

"It is also important that we leverage on our respective UNESCO inscriptions to yield benefits not only for the authorities, but also for industry players and
visitors,

"We should put more emphasis on shared prosperity where everyone can enjoy the ripple effect of tourism, including the government, the industry players, and our fellow tourists," he added.

Yeoh  also said that Penang will continue its aggressive outreach efforts to tap into existing and new markets, for both leisure and business tourism.

He emphasised that he will continue to lead Penang to seal more deals with local, regional and international authorities so the Pearl of Orient can maintain at the forefront of Malaysia and Southeast Asia's tourism landscape.