Durian boost for tourism

TOURISM Malaysia is targeting sales of durians in Penang to exceed more than RM200,000 this year.

Its Domestic Promotions division director Datuk Musa Yusof said sales increased from RM90,000 in 2012 to RM200,000 last year.

“Durians are an important tourism attraction as Malaysia exports more than RM150mil worth of the fruits annually,” he said in a press conference after the launch of the Penang Durian Durian 3.0 Packages 2014 at Penang Times Square yesterday.

Musa said that Malaysia registered RM65bil in international tourist receipts last year and was aiming to achieve RM76bil this year.

“Tourists from China are also slowly returning to Malaysia,” he said.

Also present was state Tourism Development Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang who said that Penang durians were popular among tourists from Indonesia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“For the past few years, durians have lured tourists to Balik Pulau,” said Law.

“We also hope to have more events on the mainland and this will promote mainland Penang as well as the second Penang bridge.”

The Durian Durian 3.0 Packages event is being held from June 1 to July 31 from 11am to 9pm, offering more than 10 varieties of the fruit.

It is organised by Penang Times Square, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (Penang office) and Tourism Malaysia with the support of Penang Agricultural Department and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).