Penang ready for 17,000 cruise ship passengers

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is gearing up for the arrival of some 17,000 passengers from five cruise ships which are scheduled to make a port call at the Swettenham Pier on March 13.
First up is the Penang Port where a spokesman told theSun cruise operators are expected to be using the "tandem-boat" method to let passengers to disembark.
He said this meant the ships will be anchored in the middle of the Penang channel while smaller crafts will ferry passengers who wish to go on land and disembark at the Pier.
He said another disembarkation method was to let the cruise ships take turns letting passengers leave the vessel and that the ships would leave the Pier and be anchored at sea until it was time to return to pick up their travellers.
He nonetheless said this depended on the "window" as there may be passengers who wanted to return to the ship earlier than the time allocated.
"The Port is prepared," he said when contacted today.
Cruise ships Superstar Gemini, Superstar Libra, Diamond Princess, Star Clipper and Mein Schiff 1 are scheduled to make their call that day.
The state is a popular tourist destination with the added lustre of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site and was name the second top tourist destination for 2017 by CNN this month.
When contacted, Penang Hawkers Association chairman Lim Dong Ying said members were happy with the coming influx of visitors.
He said hawkers in the popular tourist areas were now planning to ensure they did not run out of food to feed the tourists.
"Of course they will be stocking up in preparation (and) I also want to remind them not to take advantage by hiking up the prices," he added.
theSun understands the Penang government is going to hold discussions with the relevant authorities for traffic management that day.
On Sunday, when some 5,000 passengers disembarked from the Mariner of the Seas and AIDAbella, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, where the entrance and exit of the Pier is, was turned into a one- way street to facilitate traffic movement.
In welcoming the visitors then, State Tourism Development Committee chairman Danny Law said authorities were also going to turn the road into a one-way street on March 13.
When contacted meanwhile, Penang Tourist Guides Association (PTGA) president Chin Poh Chin said it was a good sign for the industry and welcomed those coming.
She said there was enough tour guides to guide tours but urged the PTGA be given enough notice so arrangements could be properly done.
She also said there should be proper traffic arrangements for that day and to ensure sufficient parking spaces were allocated for tour transportation.
"It is important the state arranges with police and Rela to manage the traffic on that day," she added.