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.
He said that by leveraging government grant applications and integrating marketing resources, they can enhance the visibility of local tourism offerings.
To increase the likelihood of successful applications, Tan proposed the establishment of a cross-association coordination mechanism to submit unified, feasible, and impactful project proposals, while strengthening communication and collaboration with local authorities and tourism departments.
He emphasised that the tourism industry not only stimulates related economic sectors such as food and beverage, accommodation, transportation, and retail, but also creates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.
“As long as we work together and make good use of existing resources and government support, we are confident that Butterworth and Bagan can become more attractive tourism hotspots," he said.
He also urged the state government to provide strong support, and called on local Chinese associations and businesses to respond proactively, strengthen unity and cooperation, and make full use of available government funding.
