School’s out: Khairil Khusyairi (third from left) and his brother Mohd Faiz (in red) at a picnic with their families at Pantai Miami . — LIM BENG TATT/The Star.
GEORGE TOWN: Popular tourist spots in Penang are seeing a surge in the number of holidaymakers enjoying the school break.
Families were spotted enjoying their time swimming and playing at Pantai Miami in Batu Ferringhi.
Businessman Khairil Khusyairi Md Desa, 34, who visited the beach with his family, said he often travels from Sungai Petani, Kedah, to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth for a picnic.
“This time around, we decided to come to Batu Ferringhi,” he said, adding that the beach was among his favourite picnic spots.
His younger brother, Mohd Faiz Fikri Md Desa, 32, said Penang was a good choice to spend time with family members.
“Hanging out together at the beach is a routine for us every holiday,” said the automotive instructor, adding that for the next school holiday, the family might make a trip to Johor to attend a family friend’s wedding.
Cendol seller Muhaimin Abdullah, 46, said business was average at Pantai Miami.
“I feel business was much better before. Now, although there are many people, they seem to spend less,” he said, hoping that sales would pick up before the start of the fasting month.
Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm chief executive officer Joseph Goh said the number of arrivals at the park was gradually increasing.
“We expect more visitors (as it is) the school holidays now,” he said, adding that an upcoming attraction would be the introduction of a new tortoise species, which would make its debut in March or April.
Escape Theme Park founder and chief executive officer Sim Choo Kheng said the number of visitors was going up, especially after the pandemic and during the school holidays.
“People are now more health conscious. They want outdoor activities and to reconnect with nature,” he said, adding that its latest attraction was a ski slope, believed to be introduced for the first time in Malaysia.
