GEORGE TOWN: The Chinese community in Butterworth has been urged to seize the opportunities presented by the “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” campaign by actively applying for tourism-related government grants to develop local tourism products and cultural experiences.
Penang MCA vice chairman Tan Chuan Hong said this will allow the community to create new business opportunities and vitality in the area.“The government has allocated over RM700mil for the tourism sector under the 2026 National Budget to revitalise the industry and support the promotional efforts for ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2026’."This includes funding for marketing initiatives and incentive funds to assist local tourism enterprises and event organisers in product development, strengthening marketing strategies, and organising promotional activities,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 22)Tan said Butterworth and Bagan still possess many untapped historical and cultural assets, diverse multicultural landscapes, unique culinary offerings, and coastal natural resources, all of which hold strong potential as attractive tourism destinations.He encouraged local businesses, Chinese associations, and youth organisations in Butterworth to jointly plan festive celebrations, cultural heritage routes, food festivals, and eco-tourism experiences.
