Up the ante on festive cheer

Up the ante on festive cheer

THIS year’s Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration in Penang on Feb 12 will be a much grander and festive cultural event compared to previous years, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim urged all races to attend the event at the heritage enclave in George Town if they wished to experience a unique, traditional Chinese New Year celebration.

“The 4,000 red lanterns, which is double that of last year’s, really create a festive mood,” he said after switching on the lanterns at the heritage enclave on Thursday night.

The lanterns along Armenian Street, Cannon Street, Ah Quee Street, Chulia Street, Acheh Street, Carnarvon Street, Kampung Kolam, Soo Hong Lane and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, will be switched on nightly until at least Feb 12.

The event, which is jointly organised by the state government, Penang Chinese Clan Council and Clan Associations Youth Committee, will be held from 3pm to midnight. It is expected to attract some 100,000 people.

Lim claimed that there was nowhere else that a person would experience a celebration of such a scale to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.

He also said the annual event was a major tourist attraction in Penang.

He said it was important for Penang to create new attractions while upgrading existing ones if the state wanted to boost its tourism sector.

“Only then will you get tourists returning. Manufacturing and tourism are the two top economic drivers for the state now but by 2020, the latter will be the main income generator.

“Tourism is a revenue earner with direct multiplier effects.

“Look at Florida in the US. Its main economic activity is the electronics industry yet tourism contributes more than 50% of its gross domestic product,” Lim said.

Event organising chairman Ang Yee Shyuan said a massive gateway on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling was built to welcome visitors.

“The oval archway is symbolic of success and togetherness.

“The cherry blossoms and lanterns represent wealth, good fortune, happiness and a brighter future for everyone,” she explained.

-News courtesy of The Star-