Hotel occupancy rates in Penang have reached between 90 and 100 per cent during the extended holiday period, with some establishments fully booked as tourists flock to the state for the long weekend.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh said hotel bookings during the school holidays and Wesak Day celebrations had been particularly encouraging, reflecting Penang’s continued appeal as a family holiday destination.
“On average, weekday hotel occupancy in Penang is around 70 per cent, which is still considered good given the increasing number of new hotels in the state,” he said.
“However, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha and this weekend, hotel room bookings, especially in the George Town and Batu Ferringhi areas, have increased significantly compared with normal days, with some hotels being fully booked,” he added.
The majority of visitors were domestic tourists, with major destinations including the Unesco World Heritage Site in George Town, Batu Ferringhi and Penang Hill crowded throughout the long weekend.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Penang had been attracting large numbers of visitors since Friday due to the extended holiday period, which began with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration and continues through the weekend.
“Frankly, the state’s tourist areas are filled with visitors, and this is very positive for tourism and the state’s economy, especially for small businesses,” he said.
According to Wong, the number of visitors using the Penang Hill funicular railway increased over three consecutive days, from 7,400 on Thursday to 8,300 on Friday and 8,800 yesterday.
Popular food outlets, nasi kandar restaurants and food courts were also packed with visitors eager to sample local favourites, while many tourists took the opportunity to visit Balik Pulau during the durian season.
The influx of visitors also resulted in traffic congestion along several major routes, particularly those leading to Batu Ferringhi, George Town and Penang Hill.
Goh said several new hotels expected to open this year would further strengthen Penang’s hospitality sector and provide visitors with more accommodation choices.
Source: Bernama via New Straits Times
