PENANG PORT COMMISSION, TOURISM MALAYSIA COLLABORATE TO BOOST CRUISE TOURISM

GEORGE TOWN, April 8 (Bernama) -- The Penang Port Commission (PPC) will collaborate with Tourism Malaysia to study incentive policies and encourage the development of cruise tourism in Penang.

Its chairman, Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the collaboration also includes supporting cruise companies operating in Penang, increasing the number of cruise itineraries and promoting the destination at international cruise conferences, adding that the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's market marketing and promotional efforts were required for them to actively develop Penang as a preferred cruise tourism destination.

"Penang has four key advantages in developing its international cruise industry. Firstly, Penang Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) is located at a strategic position on the coastline of the Strait of Melaka, providing easy access to the Indian Ocean.

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"Second, it is backed by the Malaysia-Thailand-Indonesia Golden Triangle region, offering a large source of cruise consumer markets and the state has an international and market-oriented cruise industry-related business environment," he said in a statement today.

He also highlighted the cruise terminal also situated in the UNESCO World Heritage site area, which creates an industry development advantage for cruise operations, tourism support and product services.

Yeoh had led a delegation to meet with Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing at the minister’s office in Putrajaya on March 25 to discuss on the promotion of Malaysia's cruise industry.

He shared that the PPC actively promoted the recovery of the cruise tourism market in 2024, conducting in-depth discussions and comprehensive cooperation with several international cruise companies and this effort successfully attracted cruises from Europe, the United States and China to dock at the SPCT, boosting Penang's economy.

"The development of cruise tourism will enter a new phase. We will continue to seize major opportunities presented by the recovery of the cruise tourism market, promoting deep integration between Penang's cruise tourism and its tourism products and services, and actively work to make Penang an internationally influential cruise tourism destination," he said.

Yeoh also revealed that Tiong has pledged that the ministry would further assist the PPC's promotional efforts and work together to optimise cruise tourism products, expand the market for cruise passengers while enhancing local consumption.

-- BERNAMA