GEORGE TOWN: Fully vaccinated trishaw riders are looking forward to the lifting of the interstate travel ban so that more tourists will visit the city.

       Kong Fook Meng is hopeful that domestic tourists will return to Penang as the number of daily Covid-19 cases were decreasing lately.

       “The locals here seldom ride on a trishaw. We usually depend on foreign and outstation tourists for business.

       “Since the first movement control order was implemented in March last year, I have had only a handful of customers.

       “Now that most trishaw riders are fully vaccinated, we hope tourists will feel safer and more confident,” the 58-year-old said when met at Armenian Street.

       “I will ensure that all customers adhere strictly to the standard operating procedures and put on their face masks throughout their ride.”

       Another trishaw rider Surinder Singh, 58, said the safety and well being of his customers would always be his priority.

       “Prior to the pandemic, I use to bring my customers around the George Town heritage enclave and shared with them the history of our city.

       “I usually charge them about RM45 an hour and the rate is negotiable,” he said.

       “When interstate travel is allowed and outstation tourists are back again, I will ensure that my customers wear their masks at all times.

       “I will also sanitise the trishaw thoroughly after every ride,” said Surinder, who has been in the trade for about three decades.

       Khaw Hooi Beng, 66, who has received both his vaccine shots, said since the MCO last year, he has had only four customers.

       “Since business has been bad, I depend a lot on charity and public donations for food.

       “Luckily, the state government gives us RM100 allocation a month but out of this, RM50 goes towards the trishaw rental,” he said.

       State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said some 140 trishaw riders have received their second vaccine dose in August, paving the way for Penang to embark on a long-term rebranding strategy for one of the state’s iconic symbols.

       “My office is mapping out a series of measures to rebrand Penang’s iconic trishaw riders.

       “We want to ensure they embrace post-pandemic tourism trends with the necessary competency.

       “This vaccination initiative is part of our long-term plan which aligns with the state’s Responsible Tourism campaign that was launched to position Penang as a responsible destination for all visitors,” he said.

       Yeoh expects a spike in demand for trishaw services when the borders reopen as the trishaw riders constitute a part of the city’s heritage fabric, having dominated Penang’s transportation system in the 1950s.

       “Experiential tourism is expected to be a trend in the future.

       “We envisage tourists to be keen on seeking Penang’s heritage authenticity with immersive cultural experiences, especially when George Town is a Unesco World Heritage site,” he said.