Tourism in Penang is bouncing back, says exco man

Penang’s tourism sector has experienced a remarkable recovery, surpassing expectations with a notable 64.50% surge in passenger movement into its international airport, as revealed by state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai. The surge includes both local and foreign arrivals, with the figure rising from 4.2 million in 2022 to 6.9 million in 2023.

This increase in passenger movement suggests a significant uptick in air travel, indicating a growing demand for international and domestic flights. In December, the number of international flights also rose to 259 weekly flights, compared to 210 in December 2022.

Despite the delayed reopening of borders for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan, Penang is on the path to regaining its market. Comparing the figures from 2019 to last year, the recovery of passenger movement after the pandemic is evident. In 2019, total passenger movement stood at 8.2 million, and by 2023, the number recovered to 6.9 million, reflecting an impressive recovery rate of 84.14%.

Wong emphasized that the state’s tourism industry has long been a source of job creation and economic growth. He also highlighted the importance of the aviation industry in fostering global connectivity and economic rejuvenation, as well as Penang’s strategic significance in the international aviation network.

Penang has direct international flights from 13 cities, including Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, and Doha. March and December of last year recorded the highest number of passengers at 790,486 and 666,742, respectively.

In addition to the recovery in air travel, Penang’s cruise tourism has also shown remarkable improvement, with the state welcoming 573,178 international passengers last year, surpassing the numbers from 2022 and 2019.