PENANG STRENGTHENS PROMOTION TO TAP INTO WEST ASIAN TOURISM MARKET - EXCO

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Penang Global Tourism (PGT) is forging promotional partnerships with airlines and travel agencies in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Oman in a bid to tap into the West Asian tourism market.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said this included taking part in international tourism exhibitions, such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, to showcase Penang’s tourism products and packages.

“Flights from Penang to two cities in West Asia, namely Doha (in Qatar) via Qatar Airways and Dubai via Flydubai, have been launched in the past two years to serve the West Asian tourism market.

“In addition, PGT has intensified digital promotional campaigns tailored to the needs of West Asian tourists, highlighting Muslim-friendly accommodation, halal food, family facilities, as well as health and luxury lifestyle offerings,” he said at the Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.

He said this in response to a question from Bukhori Ghazali (PN-Penang Tunggal) on the state government’s strategy to explore the West Asian tourism market and the main initiatives taken to attract tourists from the region.

Wong said that other measures included translating the promotional content into Arabic and distributing it through social media platforms and prominent travel portals in the region.

To attract more tourists, he said Penang was strengthening the health tourism segment by promoting internationally accredited hospitals that provide specialist services and comprehensive health check-up packages.

Meanwhile, Wong said Penang saw a 520.2 per cent surge in tourist arrivals from China between January and September this year, making the country the state’s fastest-growing tourist market.

He said that Chinese tourist arrivals increased from 26,056 in 2023 to 161,599 in 2025, placing China as the second-largest source of international arrivals at Penang International Airport (LTAPP).

Indonesia remained the top contributor with 284,364 arrivals, a 12.3 per cent rise from 2023, Wong said.

He added that various strategic measures were being implemented to position Penang as a regional gastronomic hub, showcasing both culinary diversity and the island’s food heritage.

Among the key initiatives, Wong said, was the Penang International Food Festival (PIFF), an annual event that brings together local food entrepreneurs, popular chefs and industry players to highlight Penang’s distinctive culinary offerings to visitors from Malaysia and abroad.

“In addition, Penang’s presence in the MICHELIN Guide Malaysia, featuring its restaurants and hawkers, together with the nomination of ten traditional Penang dishes to the National Heritage Department, has bolstered the state’s standing as a world-class gastronomic destination,” he said.

--BERNAMA