GEORGE TOWN: Penang is bracing for a surge of Chinese visitors as two holiday periods overlap, with a fresh run of attractions ready for the arrivals. Malaysian tourism players are preparing for the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which runs until today, followed by the National Day Golden Week from 1 to 7 October, according to The Star.
Chinese travellers could take up to 13 consecutive days off by adjusting their workdays or taking additional leave, said state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai. The long window makes this one of the strongest outbound periods of the year for Chinese holidaymakers.
Wong said the state had met representatives of several China-based airlines operating in Malaysia to understand passenger loads, market trends and expected visitor numbers ahead of the peak travel season. The meeting was held over a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Penang Hyperlocal noted.
Penang has direct air connectivity with Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdu and Qingdao. An inaugural direct Haikou-Penang route will begin on 11 October, adding another link as the state looks to the winter flight schedule from the end of this year to early next year.
The state took its “Fall in Love with Penang” roadshow to Guangzhou and Zhuhai last month, targeting the Greater Bay Area. The region brings together Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Huizhou and Zhaoqing, along with Hong Kong and Macau, and Wong described it as a strategic market for the island.
The Guangzhou leg focused on packages covering family holidays, food, culture and independent travel, with more than 60 direct flights a month between Guangzhou and Penang, Pocket News reported.
Attractions on the island have had a wide refresh through government and private-sector investment. The list includes the reopened Penang State Museum and Fort Cornwallis, the Penang State Museum Automotive Gallery, Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery, Guar Kepah Gallery, Ferringhi Bay, Penang Ferry Museum, Penang River Cruise, Penang History Gallery, Straits and Oriental Museum, Entopia by Night, Umi Umi, Forest Island, the Penang Indian Heritage Gallery and Cultural Centre, and the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre.
Wong said the state is working with tourism industry players to deepen its presence in the China market and turn the arrivals into business opportunities for local operators. Penang, he added, offers experiences for families, young travellers, senior citizens and visitors with different interests.
Tourism Malaysia figures show Chinese visitors spend an average of RM6,291.29 per capita and stay an average of 6.6 days in Malaysia.
