INTERNATIONAL events organisers have said that Penang must begin prioritising targeted and high-end tourism over mass tourism, which could potentially lead to the destruction of its heritage and identity.

Known as one of the region’s top tourist spots, Penang has recently set its sights on branching out to build a name for itself as a destination for business events – MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions).

But to do so, the state government would need to transition from bucket-and-spade tourism to business tourism, said international events specialist CAT Publications’ managing editor Martin Lewis.

“It is great to have tourism revenue, but you cannot bring people in and justify the income when the destination suffers negative impact.

“The state needs to take stock of what it wants to be as a destination,” he told The Malaysian Insight on the sidelines of the BE @ Penang 2017 conference at the Spice convention centre today.

The two-day conference co-organised by the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and Meeting Partners by Anderes Fourdy ends today and was attended by over 200 delegates from the business events industry in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines among other countries.

Lewis, who is also managing editor of Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine in the UK, earlier moderated a session titled “Trends in Experiential Travel”, where panellists spoke of the potential of eco-tourism in attracting high-end business travellers or MICE participants to Penang.

Industry players at the session also expressed concerns about the impact of mass tourism to Penang’s identity.

A panellist, Katharine Chua of the Tropical Spice Garden, an eco-tourism attraction in Teluk Bahang, said while streets murals had put Penang on the map, it was a product that could also  damage the state’s identity.

She said to sell Penang to high-end international tourists, the state needed to promote its authenticity, to be truly Penang and Malaysian.

“Penang is in danger of losing the high-end market with the burgeoning of quick-buck selfie culture.

“We should aim for the tourist arrivals but it cannot compromise our assets,” she said, answering Lewis who had asked her if Penang could maintain true to its identity when the island expected tourist arrivals to double with the plan to expand the Penang International Airport to accommodate 12 million passengers.

Chua was also concerned about the rapid depletion of hills, coasts and water catchment areas in the state.

“I am not against progress and change, but we just have not done enough with what we already have,” she said.

She had in her presentation highlighted Penang island’s great potential in eco-tourism, as 70% of the island was still covered by forests.

She said the state must protect the forests, hills, turtle hatching sites, mangroves, and coastal shorelines, which would in turn preserve the traditional trades like the fishermen.

Chua also highlighted the potential of paddy fields, spice and fruit farms, old cottage industries that make belacan, bedak sejuk and salted fish as experiential travel attractions, which would showcase Penang’s history, heritage and culture.

“Our pillars of strengths are culture and arts, heritage and history, and eco-tourism. Penang has such diversity to offer. You cannot have one and not the other.”

Another panellist, Sim Choo Kheng, chief executive officer of Sim Leisure Group, which opened the Escape water and adventure theme park in Teluk Bahang, said policymakers must “put things in the right direction” and guide the development of tourism in the state.

“Do we want Penang to be like Singapore and Hong Kong? We don’t want Penang to become a concrete jungle, but to be greener and more successful.

“We also should not go after those who come to Penang for char koay teow in their cars. We need to do some self-evaluation.

“I feel we should move towards eco-tourism. People won’t want to come to a destination where the sea is not clean enough to swim in and where hills are being cleared,” said Sim.

In another talk titled “The Great Turnaround: Navigating the Malaysian Business in Current Affairs”, Malaysia Airlines chief operating officer Arved Von Zur Muehlen said Malaysia as a country was in a unique position, and it had not made the mistakes other nations had done.

“Others are overdeveloped, but in Penang, you still have your old jungle, which is amazing.

“You need to find that right balance between nature and tourism development. Tourists will come to enjoy natural attractions,” he said.

The session moderated by Penang Institute executive director Ooi Kee Beng also touched on anti-tourism movements that were happening in other popular cities, like Barcelona where tourism grew so well with cheap flights and home-sharing platforms like Airbnb that the influx of visitors irked locals.

“The key is finding a balance and focusing on the right type of tourists,” Ho said, adding that authorities and stakeholders needed to engage with the local communities.

Malaysia Association of Hotels Penang chapter chairman Khoo Boo Lim said Penang, a popular leisure tourism destination, had not reach the stage where there was an anti-tourist movement.

“We go on social media and there are people complaining about the traffic jams because of tourists but many others are reaping benefits from the tourism growth.

“We don’t have an anti-tourism agenda at the moment,” he said. – December 8, 2017.