Tourism forum postponed

This is to accommodate the mayors of Ho Chi Minh City and Vladivostok, Russia, who are unable to attend the two-day forum beginning Sept 5.

Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) president Patahiyah Ismail said the forum, where local government officials from 68 cities would meet to discuss tourism issues, would also be attended by 32 Non-Governmental Organisations and industrial players.

The forum will be held at the Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Batu Ferringhi.

"There will be a gala dinner hosted by the MPPP, a cruise dinner on the ferry, a heritage tour on trishaw and releasing turtles at Golden Sands Beach Resort," said Patahiyah.

"The mayors attending the forum will also plant trees in the new Friendship Park at Lebuh Farquhar to mark our ties as members of TPO," she said.

State sports committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi said the state had lobbied to host the TPO Forum since 2009, competing with 67 other cities including Ipoh, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu.

"It was not easy to convince the TPO Secretariat in Busan, South Korea, to let us host the forum. This will be a great platform for us to exchange our knowledge and expertise," said Ong.

State local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the event would showcase George Town to TPO members from Russia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Souce - nst.com.my