Penang Tourism To Benefit From Malaysia Day Celebration - Exco

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Day celebration in Penang is expected to boost the state’s tourism sector, with domestic tourists taking advantage of the long holiday and school break, alongside international tourist arrivals.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hong Wai said the event could increase hotel occupancy, especially in Butterworth, the venue of the celebration.

“We are always ready to receive tourists, and over the past two years several new five-star hotels have opened in Seberang Perai, including the Crowne Plaza in Butterworth and the Holiday Inn in Bukit Mertajam.

“Therefore, we believe the existing hotel facilities are sufficient to accommodate the number of visitors expected,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Apart from the hotel sector, he said other industries such as food and retail are likely to enjoy economic benefits from tourist arrivals.

Wong also said several hotels were offering special promotions on buffet meals and accommodation in conjunction with the National Month until the end of the month.

He said the state’s tourism sector had recorded significant growth after the COVID-19 pandemic, with 8.23 million hotel guests last year, a 13.3 per cent increase from 7.27 million in 2023, surpassing the pre-pandemic record of 6.38 million in 2017.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hotel Association (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh said hotel bookings in Butterworth were currently around 60 per cent and expected to rise to 65 per cent with last-minute reservations.

He said efforts were being intensified to promote the area to attract more tourists to carry out leisure activities on the mainland compared with the island.

“MAH is working closely with Penang Global Tourism (PGT) to raise awareness of attractions in Seberang Perai, which has much potential to be explored apart from George Town,” he said.

The 2025 Malaysia Day celebration, themed “Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni”, will be held on 16 Sept at the PICCA@Arena Butterworth Convention Centre, featuring various activities.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the event at 8.30pm, with Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg expected to attend.

-- BERNAMA