Call to boost Penang’s lifeline of tourism.

Date: 23 January 2013

Call to boost Penang’s lifeline of tourism.

TOURISM is the future of Penang, said Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow. He said several areas in the tourism industry needed to be developed in order for Penang to prosper in this sector.

“More people are travelling now so there is a bright future for Penang which has George Town as a World Heritage Site. The service industry also needs to be developed to create more job opportunities for the people,” he said.

He was speaking during the New Year Welcome Dinner held by the Penang Hoteliers Association and Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (Penang Chapter) at the Penang Chinese Town Hall last week. Teng added that the cruise industry should also be given focus as those traveling on cruise ships can spend money in Penang.

In her speech, Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chapter chairman Mary Ann Harris said the occupancy rate in Penang resort hotels increased as much as 3.33% to 63.95% throughout last year due to George Town’s listing as a World Heritage Site.

“City hotels however recorded a drop of 1.3% to 66% in the number of rooms booked. This is due to the recession in Europe and the US. If Penang had a free port, it would bring in more travellers,” she said.

Some 700 guests attended the dinner which had stage performances and a lucky draw.

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