More Chinese tourists heading to Penang

Liu (right) giving a memento to Yeoh at the launch of the second daily flight from Guangzhou at the Penang International Airport. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

EVERY day, a plane load of travellers from Guangzhou, China, flies to Penang.

And from this month onwards, it will be two plane loads.

China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd (Penang) general manager Liu Zhen Hua said the introduction of the second daily flight was due to overwhelming demand from Chinese tourists.

Besides tourists, Liu said Chinese businessmen were also frequent travellers to Penang.

“The demand is good. Since the end of last year, the daily flights are almost fully booked,” he told reporters after the launch of the second daily flight at Penang International Airport on Friday.

The plane, he added, carries a maximum of 160 passengers.

Liu said the two flights, almost four-hour journeys, will depart from Penang daily at 9.05am and 4.20pm. The subsequent return flights from Guangzhou will arrive here daily at 9pm and 3pm respectively.

He added that the summer holidays in China from July to September is the peak season for Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia, whereas school holidays are the favourite time for Malaysians to visit China.

“There will be a special promotional price, which starts from RM800 for a return trip, in June only.

“The normal price will be from RM1,000 for a return trip,” he added.

Liu added that Kuala Lumpur has four flights daily to Guangzhou.

The airline also flies three times weekly to and from Langkawi and two times weekly to Sabah.

He said the airline started its direct flight to Penang in April, 1991, and the daily flights were introduced in April, 2010.

State Tourism Development Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the introduction would boost tourism growth in Penang.

He hopes that more tourists would use the chance to visit Penang and Malaysia.

Also present was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s political secretary Teh Lai Heng.