GEORGE TOWN: The George Town Festival 2022 (GTF) is back. And so are the tourists.
With the celebrations returning after a two-year hiatus, most hotels here are recording an 80% occupancy rate.
The surge has also been helped by the public holidays for the governor’s birthday on July 9 and Hari Raya Haji the following day. Penang celebrates it heritage day on July 7.
The guests are mostly domestic travellers and Singaporean tourists who are keen to join the events from July 9 to 24.
“Many are very much into arts and culture,” said Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa communications director Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, adding that many Singaporeans will be here for the GTF.
The festival will feature about 80 events which cover, among others, visual arts, theatre, music, dance, film and photography.
Suleiman said most beach hotels are recording a more than 70% occupancy.
“Shangri-La is hitting 85% and we expect that occupancy rate to remain throughout July,” he said.
Double Tree Resort by Hilton Penang senior sales manager Angeline Chen said many people who are interested in the GTF events have marked their dates to attend selected events, especially during the weekend.
“We will have an 80% occupancy rate in July, thanks to GTF activities which have captured the interest of domestic and international tourists,” Chen said.
Hotels downtown, with three- and four-star ratings, are also doing brisk business.
NEO+ general manager Gulab Mahatam Rai said the hotel expected to hit an occupancy rate of more than 80%, with most guests coming here just for the GTF events.
“We have employed SPM school-leavers to meet the manpower shortage and will open up all our 196 rooms,” he said.
Wembley St Giles Hotel general manager Tony Tan said bookings for July have increased due to the festival.
“It is easy for tourists who check into town hotels as most programmes are held nearby,” he said.
George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee said the response to the festival has been tremendous.
She said most events have been fully booked online, testimony to Penang’s emergence as an arts and culture scene.
The GTF 2022 is a project by GTWHI.
It is organised by TLM Events and endorsed by the Penang state government, Penang Island City Council and Penang Global Tourism.
Meanwhile, crowds have also returned to the beaches in the Tanjung Bungah-Batu Ferringhi stretch, as many were seen taking part in various water sports activities.
