PETALING JAYA: Cruise passenger traffic at Penang's Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) rose 52.12% in the first nine months of this year, reaching 569,173 passengers.
Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the figure marked a significant increase from the 374,171 passengers recorded during the corresponding period last year.
International passenger arrivals rose to 431,793 from 342,771, while domestic day-trip passenger numbers more than quadrupled to 137,362 from 31,400.
The terminal also recorded a sharp increase in vessel calls, with 538 between January and September this year, compared with 134 in the same period last year.
Yeoh said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 27) the strong performance reflected Penang's growing appeal among international cruise operators and travellers, strengthening its position as one of Malaysia's leading maritime tourism gateways.
He said the increase in cruise arrivals also generated economic benefits for the state, particularly in the hospitality, transportation, food and beverage, and local business sectors.
The growth reinforced SPCT's role as a key driver of maritime tourism development in Penang and the northern region, he added.
Yeoh hoped that the positive momentum would continue through closer cooperation between port authorities, the state government, tourism agencies and industry stakeholders.
He said Penang's strategic location, established port facilities and cultural heritage provided a strong foundation for the state to further develop as a world-class cruise destination.
