GEORGE TOWN: Tourism associations in Penang hope the government will increase the allocation for the sector in Budget 2025 to boost the promotion of the state internationally and attract more foreign tourists.
Malaysian Hotel Association Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh said promotional campaigns should not be limited to a few countries but should be expanded globally.
“We hope the upcoming Budget will allocate more funds for tourism to enhance Penang’s visibility in international markets such as Europe, Russia and beyond, rather than focusing solely on China.
“Furthermore, there is a need for roadshows to showcase the state’s convention centres. These centres not only attract tourists but also businesses, providing an opportunity to stimulate the economy through corporate and business visitors,” he told Bernama.
Goh also hoped that tourism tax revenues could be split equally between the federal and state governments.
“This will enable the state governments to invest in their local tourism sector,” he said.
“The increased tourism tax revenues should enable the state governments to run more extensive promotional campaigns and attract international tourists.”
Penang Tourist Guides Association president Clement Liang also called for enhanced infrastructure in tourist areas under Budget 2025, which will be tabled on Oct 18.
He noted that many Penang attractions lack adequate parking for sightseeing buses, making it challenging for travel agencies to bring tourists to these sites.
“Moreover, there is a need for tourism brochures in additional languages beyond English, Chinese and Arabic. We should also cater to tourists from Russia, South Africa and Europe,” he said, adding that neighbouring countries successfully attract tourists by offering brochures in their native languages, which makes visiting those destinations easier.
Meanwhile, Mohd Latiff Fatteh Mohamed, president of Mutiara Tour Guides, said his association recently discussed Budget 2025 with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
One key issue raised was the need for a list of licensed tour guides at the country’s entry points to ensure tourists can easily access legitimate services rather than resorting to illegal guides.
He said licensed tour guides, who are required to complete competency courses such as the Continuing Tourism Related Education for licence renewal, play a crucial role in facilitating foreign tourists.
“Several important topics were discussed with the ministry regarding the budget, focusing not only on improving the state’s tourism sector but also on boosting the economy of local traders,” he added.
Penang’s economy had shown significant growth in 2023 and 2024, driven by a rebound in the tourism sector, which recorded nearly seven million passenger movements in 2023 – a 64.5% increase compared with the previous year.
