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The Star
  • 5/27/2024
Once a beacon of nightlife and cultural vibrancy, Chulia Street in the heart of George Town, Penang has seen a dramatic shift in recent years.

This historic street buzzed with energy, drew locals and tourists alike into its lively embrace every evening.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic turned the thriving hotspot into a shadow of its former self.

Today, business operators are grappling with a reality that is not as favourable as it once was but hope flickers on the horizon.

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Transcript
00:00Once a beacon of nightlife and cultural vibrancy,
00:03Chulia Street in the heart of Georgetown
00:05has seen a dramatic shift in recent years.
00:08Pre-pandemic, this historic street buzzed with energy,
00:12drawing locals and tourists alike
00:14into its lively embrace every evening.
00:16However, the COVID-19 pandemic
00:19turned the thriving hotspot
00:21into a shadow of its former self.
00:23Today, business operators are grappling with a reality
00:27that is not as favourable as it once was.
00:3031-year-old pub operator Lee Chavin said sales
00:34and the arrival of foreign tourists in the area
00:37have dropped by about 30%.
00:51Lee suggests that easing some of the strict regulations
00:54could breathe new life into the area.
00:57They should give us more leniency
01:00In terms of?
01:01In terms of all the ridiculous license fees,
01:07all the ridiculous laws.
01:10Similarly, 50-year-old pub owner Hao Itan says
01:15while business is improving,
01:17it hasn't reached pre-pandemic vibrancy.
01:19I hope Penang will be getting much better
01:25more tourists will come to Penang
01:27to enjoy our food and drinks.
01:31Penang is a very nice place to visit.
01:34Please come to Penang.
01:37Hao, who has been in the business for over five years,
01:40stressed the importance of proactive promotion
01:42for Chulia Street to help bring back its heyday
01:45as a multicultural food paradise and entertainment venue.
01:50Similarly, burger seller 42-year-old Abdul Halim Shahul Hamid
01:56said over the past two years
01:58there have been fewer foreign tourists on the once-famous street.
02:22Visiting Penang for the first time,
02:24Hungarian Peter Kovacs says Chulia Street is an attractive place
02:28with a unique scene and architecture.
02:30I think the Asian food is lovely,
02:34especially the Malaysian food is awesome.
02:37What's your favorite?
02:38The nasi goreng.
02:42It's cheap, a lot of choices, you can eat safe everywhere.
02:51His girlfriend, 35-year-old Kim de Jager from Amsterdam,
02:55likes the plentiful street food on Chulia Street.
02:58I really like it. I like the amount of street food.
03:02It's a lot and it makes it, how do you call it, alive.
03:11Penang Tourism Committee Chairman Wong Hon Wai
03:15said Chulia Street is set to come alive over the next few months
03:18as the state will host a series of festivals and celebrations
03:21that will highlight the rich cultural heritage
03:24and lively spirit of the city.
03:26Wong said this is not only to provide entertainment
03:29but also support local businesses
03:32by drawing more foot traffic to the area.

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