In a world that’s changing faster on daily basis, it may possibly be unexpectedly comforting to get to a spot that also takes time.
At Penang International Airport (PIA), first-time overseas visitors must now go through manual immigration counters before they’ll access the newly introduced automated gates on future visits. The reason is easy: biometric information must first be collected.
But beyond the technical explanation, the experience reflects something deeply Malaysian: progress that takes its time alongside people.
For returning travelers, recent automatic gates provide speed and convenience. However, for first-time visitors, the journey begins in another way – with human interaction. Greeting, a brief exchange of words, a moment of orientation after hours of travel. In some ways, that is my first introduction to the rhythm of Malaysia.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Commission chairman Wong Hon Wai said automatic gates are currently available for returning travelers, while young children and wheelchair users proceed to make use of manual counters resulting from technical limitations similar to camera height. The system, still within the customization phase, is being improved through ongoing testing with multiple agencies.
During pilot tests within the international arrivals hall, over 100 guests from countries similar to Singapore, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and France took part in testing the brand new system.
Many people had a seamless experience, while first-time travelers accomplished their registration manually before continuing their journey – a brief pause before automation took over on their next visit.
And possibly this break matters.
Manual processes, often perceived as slower, also provide certainty and transparency, especially for those entering the country for the primary time. In Malaysia, where hospitality is usually expressed through attentiveness slightly than speed, the transition between manual and automatic systems doesn’t feel like a delay, but slightly a delicate introduction.
The recent congestion at PIA, attributed to increased flight frequencies and tightly scheduled arrivals, also signals a positive reality with more tourists selecting Malaysia again. As infrastructure adapts to growing travel demand, handheld meters proceed to function a stabilizing bridge between growing passenger numbers and evolving technology.
Because sometimes the primary greeting should not be automatic.
Sometimes it’s about being human.
And in Malaysia, whilst technology advances, the heat of that first interaction stays a part of the journey.
source: BERNAMA
