GEORGE TOWN: Executive councilor for Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai stated that the China Greater Bay Area has enormous tourism potential. He stated that because the Greater Bay Area is home to 86 million people, Penang needs to investigate and increase its market share.
7.5 million people are living in Hong Kong alone. The Greater Bay Area, which includes Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macau, has strong linguistic and cultural ties with Penang. “We welcome more tourists, business professionals, and students from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to Penang, a unique city that blends East and West, tradition and modernity,” Wong stated. The people living here speak a variety of languages and dialects, which would facilitate communication. “Penang offers a variety of experiences for those who love natural ecology, Southeast Asian cuisine, and cultural heritage.”
According to Wong, Penang is home to Teluk Bahang, its Botanical Gardens, and the Unesco Biosphere Reserve of Penang Hill, as well as the Unesco World Heritage Site of George Town. “Hong Kong tourists will find it easier to visit Penang with the increased frequency of flights following the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Penang by HK Express Airways.”
On August 14, HK Express Airways formally opened ticket sales for its nonstop flights between Penang and Hong Kong. According to Wong, the daily flights will take off on November 21 at 8:10 p.m. local time from Hong Kong International Airport and land at Penang International Airport at 12:10 a.m. At 12.45 am local time, the return flight from Penang to Hong Kong will take off, and it will arrive in Hong Kong at 4.40 am.
“By adding a daily direct flight, Penang will become even more accessible and connected to Hong Kong, opening up new avenues for travel and business cooperation between the two cities,” Wong added that there are now two ways to travel directly from Hong Kong to Penang. AirAsia operates three weekly flights, whereas Cathay Pacific provides a daily service with seven weekly flights. He said, “Penang has direct flights from Guangzhou operated by China Southern Airlines and from Shenzhen operated by Shenzhen Airlines in addition to the Hong Kong-Penang direct flight route.”
Penang now has 32 international direct flight routes, including chartered flights from Haikou and Chongqing, connecting 17 international cities: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, and Ho Chi Minh City. The most recent addition to this network is HK Express Airways. “I think Penang will see an increase in visitors from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area,” Wong stated, going on to say that this would help Penang’s standing in China and ensure that it remains a well-liked travel destination for Chinese travelers. He said he will continue to deepen cooperation with airlines, consistently optimizing the aircraft network to give tourists more convenient and enjoyable travel experiences.
913,126 foreign visitors arrived in Penang via air in the first half of 2024. “This represents a significant increase of 25.78% over the 725,956 recorded during the same period in 2023. “In addition, there was a 244.21% increase in Chinese visitors traveling directly to Penang, with 44,847 visits in the first half of 2024 as opposed to 13,029 in the same period in 2023.”
He said that some visitors arrive in Penang by land or via connecting flights via Kuala Lumpur and that the true number of visitors may well surpass government estimates. “We look forward to welcoming even more international tourists with the new direct flight route launched by HK Express Airways, further boosting Penang’s tourism and economic development” – The sun
