Tourists pour into Penang for long weekend getaway, hotel occupancy hits up to 100pc

“GEORGE TOWN, May 31 — The long weekend holiday in conjunction with the Wesak Day celebration and the Official Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong this week saw Penang again become the preferred tourist destination, with several popular attractions across the state crowded with visitors. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) world heritage site area in George Town was filled with tourists taking the opportunity to enjoy the view of the historic city, and visiting various iconic attractions, including the street murals, colonial-era buildings, besides sampling the state’s famous cuisine. The Batu Ferringhi beach resort area was also bustling with tourists keen on spending time with their families, while enjoying the beautiful beaches, recreational activities and picturesque sunsets. Over at Penang Hill, visitors could be seen queuing for the funicular railway to enjoy the cool weather and panoramic views of Penang from the hilltop. Many also took the opportunity to capture memorable family photographs during the extended holiday weekend. A Bernama survey also found that not only were major tourist attractions packed with visitors, but nasi kandar outlets, food courts and popular restaurants that had gone viral were also crowded with people eager to enjoy local favourites, such as nasi kandar , laksa and char kway teow . State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Penang had been attracting large numbers of tourists, especially domestic visitors, since Friday (May 29) due to the extended holiday period, which began with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration on Wednesday (May 27) and continues through the weekend until tomorrow. “Frankly, the state’s tourist areas are filled with visitors, and this is very positive for tourism and the state’s economy, especially for small businesses. “Based on statistics, the number of visitors using the Penang Hill funicular railway increased for three consecutive days, with 7,400 visitors on Thursday (May 28), 8,300 on Friday (May 29) and 8,800 yesterday (May 30),” he told Bernama when contacted today. He added that visitors also took the opportunity to enjoy durians in Balik Pulau, which is well known among durian enthusiasts as having among the finest in the country. When contacted, Datuk Tony Goh, chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotel (MAH) Penang Chapter, said that hotel bookings had recorded very encouraging performance, particularly in tourist hotspots, with most hotels reporting high occupancy rates. He said hotel occupancy rates during the school holiday weekend and Wesak Day celebration reached between 90 and 100 per cent, further demonstrating Penang’s appeal as a family holiday destination. “On average on weekdays, the hotel occupancy rate in Penang is around 70 per cent, but it is still considered good because there are currently many new hotels being added in the state, causing bookings on weekdays to be seen as quite slow. “However, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha and this weekend, hotel room bookings, especially in the George Town and Batu Ferringhi areas, have increased significantly compared to normal days, with some hotels being fully booked,” he said, adding that the majority of visitors were domestic tourists. He said several new hotels, which are expected to begin operations this year, would further boost Penang’s hospitality and tourism industry, while providing visitors with more accommodation options. The increase in tourist arrivals has also caused traffic congestion on several major routes, particularly those leading to Batu Ferringhi, George Town, and Penang Hill during certain periods. However, for most visitors, the traffic jams did not prevent them from enjoying their holidays with family and friends. With its combination of cultural heritage, beaches, renowned cuisine and diverse tourist attractions, Penang continues to maintain its reputation as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia, especially during long holiday periods. — Bernama

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