GEORGE TOWN: Visa-free travel and direct international flights have a massive impact on tourism – and Penang is a fine example of that.
The state now has direct flights from Penang to six cities in China – Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Chengdu – as well as to Chennai in India.
The results are astounding.
Between January and September, the number of Chinese visitors rose 90.24% to 161,599 from 84,947, while arrivals from India jumped 138.61% to 18,984 from 7,956 compared with the same period last year, according to data from the Penang Immigration Department.
Further boosting arrivals was Malaysia’s five-year visa-free travel extension for China as announced in April and the visa exemption for Indian nationals until Dec 31, 2026.
Penang tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the state’s push for new direct flights and partnerships with airlines has strengthened its international connectivity.
“Visitors from both countries travel to Penang for leisure and business, drawn by the state’s multicultural charm and welcoming atmosphere.
“Our multilingual environment makes it easy for tourists to communicate, especially in Mandarin, English and Tamil.
“They find Penang’s diversity, cuisine and scenic attractions both familiar and inviting,” he said.
Wong added that food remains one of Penang’s biggest attractions, with its blend of Chinese, Indian and Malay flavours offering a taste that feels both local and home-like.
“From street hawker fare to heritage restaurants, tourists often describe Penang’s cuisine as a taste of home with a twist,” he said.
Beyond food and culture, Wong said Penang’s natural attractions, from its beaches to the lush greenery of Penang Hill, continue to appeal to travellers seeking both relaxation and exploration.
He said Indonesians remained the top visitors with 284,364, a 2.46% increase year-on-year, with direct flights from Penang to four destinations – Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya and Banda Aceh.
But other countries are seeing huge surges too.
Countries that have seen double-digit growth this year include Japan with a 21.6% year-on-year rise from 11,024 visitors to 13,405, the United States (11.84%) from 15,709 to 17,569, the United Kingdom (12.15%) from 14,152 to 15,972 and Australia (21.15%) from 12,752 to 15,449.
On the RM1.2bil Penang International Airport expansion project, Wong said the plan would significantly boost the airport’s capacity to accommodate additional direct flights.
The new terminal is expected to be operational by 2027, with full completion slated for 2028, almost doubling the airport’s annual handling capacity from 6.5 million to 12 million passengers.
The 89-year-old airport – the oldest airport still in operation in the country – has undergone several expansions over the decades.
Its first major upgrade, from 1977 to 1979, raised capacity to 1.5 million passengers annually. In 1998, further upgrades increased it to 3.5 million, followed by a 2013 expansion that brought it to 6.5 million passengers.
With travel demand surging, PIA was handling 8.3 million passengers annually by 2019, leading to overcrowding and prompting calls for another major upgrade.
