INNVOVATIVE TOURISM PRODUCTS AND EXPERIENCE: THE KEY TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

The second edition to Tourism Selangor’s e-Travel Talk Series went live on Friday on the State’s Official Tourism Promotion Agency’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook page. The 1-hour virtual session was moderated by Puan Khuzaimah Jamaluddin, Tourism Selangor’s Manager of Promotions.

Useful insights have been shared by 3 panellistson tourism innovation topic; Mr Zung Heng, a professional photographer and owner to Ninja Private Kitchen, Mr MohdRezwan Bin Alias, Deputy Chairman of MATTA Selangor Chapter, and Ms ShazniShazwani, a travel enthusiast who is also working as a Flight Attendant at a local airlines.

Innovation can be regarded as a change, amendment, revamp or revolution of / onto a particular matter in the attempt to increase its appeal. Hence, innovation in tourism, is the edge needed to boost and enhance the industry, especially in Selangor. In coping with changing market demands and tourists’ expectations, new and existing tourism operators need to have a change in game-plan; to innovate and introduce products which are exciting with out-of-the-box concept.

Ninja Private Kitchen which offers a dining experience with scrumptious spread by mesmerizing paddy field of Sekinchan, Sabak Bernam is climbing on the popularity among travel enthusiasts and social media users. Mr Zung Heng, owner of Ninja Private Kitchen shared, “Tourism operators have to push themselves to the limit, in introducing new ideas and concepts to attract visitors. They should only take international tourism products as reference and not directly copy them. They play the role in boosting tourism, raise its standard and help people to appreciate what are the things we have around us including nature, culture and traditions”.

In further enlightening innovation in tourism, Mr MohdRezwanshared, “Tourism packages in Selangor need to attractively-match market demands, and offer optimal travel experience. Products with instagrammablesetting are also what tourists are looking for at current. Travel packages should also offer the cross-culture element, suchas homestay experience, and executed with a proper marketing strategy, on which MATTA Selangor Chapter is able to help market these packages on a larger scale”.

From the perspective of a travel enthusiast, MsShazniShazwani shared, “Selangor has a long list of exciting tourism attractions which are highly sought-after by travellers.However, some of the products need to be innovative by expanding its operations to suit a broad age group, so travellers who travel with family will be able to enjoy the moment together. It is also important for the operators to leverage and actively-engage on social media to spread the news on tourism products as Malaysians mainly resort to online, especially during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period”.

Innovation in tourism is not to be taken lightly shall we aspire to see growth of the industry post Covid-19 pandemic. Following Tourism Selangor’s Domestic Tourism Promotional Campaign; “Nak

Bercuti? Pusing Selangor Dulu!(Eager to Travel? Pusing Selangor Dulu!”); it is expected to see domestic travellers making their ways to Selangor once MCO has been lifted. However, they might be hungry for something new and exciting, away from mainstreams andclichés.Hence, tourism players in Selangor have to come out with out-of-the-box ideas and concepts to ensure the industry’s sustainability in more years to come.

It is to be reminded, new-norm practises based on SOPs should be emphasized at all times, for the sake of many. As mentioned by Mr MohdRezwan,“In regard to travelling in the new norm; health and tourism must coherently-exist, so as to ensure tourismsustainability and public health”.

Hence, tourists in Selangor should always register via “Selangkah:Langkah Masuk Dengan Selamat” mobile application at each premise they enter, ensure social distancing, apply hand sanitizers regularly and wear face masks at all times whilst exploring the State in the future.

For more information, log on to Tourism Selangor’s official website; Selangor.Travel.