Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) has collaborated with the Penang State EXCO Office for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) to increase safety in the face of COVID-19 infections and raise the travel market confidence in Penang, a Malaysian state with over 220,000 residents.

TSAM, which was recently launched in October this year, is a cooperation between 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 the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG). 

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 prioritized across the industry including for hotels, food establishments, convention centers, tours and transportation.

Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin, said: "As the Penang State EXCO for Tourism & Creative Economy, spearheading necessary efforts to ensure everyone's safety is also essential to me. We have and will continue to work hard to ensure that Penang can safely receive tourists to revive the economy."

Safety and hygiene standards developed by the partners include:

• Clean & Safe Malaysia: Compliance monitoring for Malaysian hotels that meet or exceed local and international hygiene and safety standards
• MHFlySafe: Incorporating safety and hygiene into all end-to-end consumer touchpoints in airports and onboard aircraft, beginning from the check-in counters, lounges, onboard its flights and through to point of arrival

With year-end travel to Penang expected to rise due to pent-up demand and attractive holiday offerings, tourism industry players can instill confidence in the traveling public by subscribing to the TSAM certification program endorsed by PETACE.