Traditional charm: Kebaya-clad Chinese tourists posing for a photo together at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Church Street, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Preparations underway to greet tourists from China
GEORGE TOWN: Durian season is over, but there are still plenty of attractions in Penang for the thousands of Chinese nationals who are expected to flock here during the Golden Week holidays.
The week-long celebration kicks off on Oct 1 with China’s National Day and ends on Oct 8 – and the state is expecting more tourists compared to last year.
The multiple direct flights to Penang from various parts of China are a major reason for the increase, said state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
“There are direct flights from Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Xiamen and Shanghai, with Chengdu joining the list this year.
“As of July, there are 61 direct flights per week from six cities in China,” he said.
Wong said although the durian season had ended, Penang still has plenty to offer in terms of attractions such as heritage sites, food, culture, and landmarks like scenic Penang Hill and local beaches.
“Penang has been named one of the top 10 best street food cities in Asia, which is a huge draw,” he said.
Penang also received another accolade – it ranked seventh in the list of “Top 10 Travel Destinations in Asia for 2025” by online magazine Smart Travel Asia.
Veteran tour guide Chin Poh Chin said she was looking forward to welcoming visitors during Golden Week.
“We are working on curating creative tours to keep them engaged.
“Some are returning tourists who have warmed to us and reach out for new tours because they like our service,” she said. “As guides, we too must be creative when taking them around.”
However, she said many younger tourists prefer to travel on their own without guides.
“The younger people are braver, venturing out and exploring cities on their own.”
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh said they were hoping for increased occupancy during Golden Week.
“Most tourists from China will start making bookings from now. We hope to see more Chinese tourists here,” he said.
Goh said that if around 2,000 tourists came in from China, it would mean around 10% of hotel occupancy. There are over 17,000 hotel rooms in Penang.
Goh said hotels have their own packages to attract guests.
“We let them come up with their own packages as they know what is best for their guests,” he said.
