Penang Launches Kota Warisan Perai To Boost Community-Based Tourism Ahead Of Visit Malaysia Year 2026
BUTTERWORTH, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Penang has introduced “Kota Warisan Perai”, a community-based tourism initiative aimed at showcasing the natural, heritage and local life experiences of Seberang Perai to diversify the state’s tourism offerings in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026).
The project is led by Think City and implemented through the Seberang Perai Town Grant Programme under the Seberang Perai Levelling Up Programme (LUSP), with support from the Ministry of Finance, the Penang state government, the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) and implementing partner, NL Travel & Tours.
In a joint statement today, Think City and NL Travel & Tours said the initiative is carried out in close collaboration with local communities, as well as strategic partners from higher learning institutions, associations and government agencies.
“The initiative aims to strengthen the historical identity of traditional villages along Sungai Perai, while stimulating local economic growth through eco-tourism and community-based tourism approaches.
“Kota Warisan Perai is designed to offer meaningful experiences to both domestic and international visitors, providing an alternative to the existing tourism focus on George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” read the statement.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Seberang Perai plays a vital role in Penang’s tourism landscape, with its natural assets, historical significance and strong community character forming an integral part of the state’s identity.
“Initiatives such as Kota Warisan Perai help ensure more balanced and inclusive tourism development, while delivering direct benefits to local communities,” he said when officiating the initiative here yesterday.
Think City managing director Datuk Hamdan Abdul Majeed said Kota Warisan Perai marks an initial step in unlocking the potential of Sungai Perai as the economic, ecological and social heart of Seberang Perai.
He said the project’s key objectives include reviving the area’s history and heritage, preserving the river ecosystem, and developing Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality (MFTH) products that generate direct economic benefits for the local community.
Kota Warisan Perai involves five villages, namely Kampung Labuh Banting, Kampung Kota, Kampung Pengkalan Machang, Kampung Terus and Kampung Air Hitam Dalam Perai, which share a common history of settlement and economic activity along Sungai Perai.
NL Group of Companies chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Farid Saad said the initiative not only highlights village stories and heritage, but also creates new opportunities for residents to participate as community-based tourism entrepreneurs, while strengthening the Muslim-friendly tourism sector in Seberang Perai.
In addition to on-ground activities, a total of 12 tourism promotional materials, including publications and audiovisual content, have been developed to showcase Seberang Perai’s ecological, cultural and community assets to a wider audience.
-- BERNAMA
