PENANG will receive its first charter flights from Warsaw, Busan and Osaka, bringing in hundreds of international tourists as the state expands into new markets.
State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the three inbound charter services marked a milestone for Penang which had traditionally relied on visitors from China and Southeast Asia.
He said the winter charter service from Warsaw, Poland, would begin on Nov 5 and operate for about three months.
The one-off flights from Busan in South Korea and Osaka in Japan will arrive on Nov 12 and Dec 30 respectively.
“This is the first time in Penang’s history that we are receiving charter flights from these three cities.
“Although the Busan and Osaka flights are one-off services, we believe a good start will encourage more such flights in the future,” he told reporters after opening the ninth Penang International Travel Exchange (PITE) at Penang Waterfront Convention Centre in Gelugor, George Town.
He said the Warsaw flights were expected to carry about 300 passengers each, while the Busan and Osaka flights would bring some 200 visitors each.
The Busan visitors are expected to attend a meeting under the Orient and Southeast Asia Lions (Oseal) grouping, staying on the island for four days.
The Osaka visitors are expected to spend five days and four nights in Penang.
Hon Wai said the services were significant as they involved inbound tourism, bringing foreign visitors and their spending directly into the state.
“Charter flights are typically arranged for Malaysians travelling overseas, but these three services are bringing international visitors here.”
He hoped the new connections would encourage more charter services next year.
In his speech, Hon Wai also announced that 15 Penang hotels had been recognised in the Michelin Guide Hotel Selection.
Of these, Soori Penang and Cheong Fatt Tze-The Qing Suites received one Michelin Key each, while the rest were handpicked for inclusion in the guide.
He also highlighted Penang’s inclusion in Asia’s top 10 cities for meetings in Smart Travel Asia’s 2026 Best in Travel Poll, alongside Kuala Lumpur.
He said several new hotels were in the pipeline, including JdV by Hyatt, The Westin Hotel Penang, InterContinental Penang Resort and Le Meridien Penang Airport, while Hotel Equatorial Penang was expected to reopen next year.
On the three-day PITE, Hon Wai said the business-to-business trade event attracted more than 80 international buyers from China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam alongside over 40 exhibitors from Malaysia as well as international media representatives.
Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran said the event featured one-and-a-half days of business-to-business meetings, followed by one-and-a-half days of familiarisation excursions.
He said the programme allowed international buyers to experience Penang’s attractions first-hand and build stronger business partnerships.
“Successful tourism partnerships require more than product presentations and business discussions.
“They require first-hand experiences, personal connections and a genuine understanding of the destination,” said Ashwin.
Also present at the event were Pengkalan Kota assemblyman and PCEB board director Wong Yuee Harng, Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president and PCEB board director Datuk Khoo Boo Lim, Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (Promotions II) Samuel Lee Thai Hung, Penang Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry director Dr Annuar Mohamed and Tourism Malaysia northern region director Abdul Hadi Che Man.
