Boost in Penang Tourist Arrivals!

Written by Administrator III

Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:32 - Last Updated Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:06

The year 2008 proved to have produced good results for tourism in Penang, as last year saw
the state receive 6.3mil in tourist arrival according to hotel statistics, which excludes tourists
those who visit Penang on cruises, day trips, or live with friends & relatives, as compared to
5.1mil in 2007. The benefit of the increase comes from being ignited with the UNESCO World
Heritage City status on 7th July last year.

Managing to attract droves of foreign and domestic tourists, Penang is currently ranked at
No.4 in tourists arrivals in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Sabah. State Tourism
Development, Culture, Arts & Heritage Chairman YB Danny Law Heng Kiang says that the state
hopes to attain No.1 or No.2 spot in tourist arrivals as during the 1970's and 1980's.
The EXCO member was at the airport to receive 227 Finnish folks from the last Finland
chartered flight which have been flying into Penang since mid-November. We strongly urge
more travel agencies from other countries to do the same to charter flights to Penang if they
do not have a direct one, said Law. The Finnish tourists will tour around the heritage sights of
Penang as well as enjoy the food and the living culture during their 14-day stay in Penang. This
chartered flight is the 9th one from Finland to fly directly into Penang.
Penang Island was recently honored as one of the top Asian islands in Travel + Leisure's 2008
World's Best Awards. Shortly after, Penang has been chosen as No.2 by readers
recommendation in the New York Times Best Places to Go in 2009. Penang has been well
known as a food paradise
In addition, the number of hotel guests in 2008 by Malaysia tourists statistics was 68.8mil
compared to 61.6mil in 2007. Which goes to show that with an increase of 11.7% in Malaysia
tourist arrival, Penang has achieved higher in percentage of tourist arrivals compared to the
whole of Malaysia.

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