Penang wants more than tourist numbers as it shifts to high-value tourism

Penang is requesting federal support in Budget 2027 to enhance its tourism agenda, focusing on air connectivity, international event attraction, and heritage preservation in George Town.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai highlighted the need for an international air connectivity fund and increased federal matching funds to promote Penang as a major hub for business and cultural events.

Additionally, he proposed a UNESCO George Town Conservation and Regeneration Fund to maintain the city's status as a living heritage site.

Wong emphasized shifting focus to high-value tourism following Visit Malaysia 2026 and advocated for continued full allocation of tourism tax to states in 2027.

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 22 — Penang is seeking the federal government’s support through Budget 2027 to strengthen its tourism agenda, including improving air connectivity, attracting more international events and preserving George Town’s heritage.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the priorities were aimed at increasing the value of the tourism sector while ensuring its growth continued to benefit the local economy and community.

He said one of the main priorities was an international air connectivity fund, including matching grants, to attract more direct flights to Penang from strategic markets such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Middle East.

“With the Penang International Airport (LTAPP) upgrading project set to double its capacity to 12 million passengers a year, the priority now is to ensure that the capacity can be fully utilised through new routes and increased flight frequencies,” he told Bernama.

The LTAPP expansion and upgrading project is expected to be completed in June 2028, according to reports.

Wong said Penang was also seeking a larger federal matching fund to bid for and attract international conferences, exhibitions, sporting events, festivals, concerts, as well as large-scale arts and cultural events.

He said business events generated an economic impact of about RM1.91 billion last year, demonstrating Penang’s potential to become a major regional hub for business and major events with its new facilities and increased capacity.

The fund could also be used to develop creative content, productions, local festivals and intellectual property that could be brought to the international stage, he said.

Wong also proposed that the government establish a Unesco George Town Conservation and Regeneration Fund to ensure the heritage city continues to thrive as a living heritage city.

He said dedicated allocations were needed for the conservation of heritage buildings, enhancement of public spaces, safety and accessibility, as well as the preservation of traditional businesses, artisans and communities that make George Town a living heritage city.

“We do not want to merely preserve buildings. We need to ensure that the heritage, culture and local communities continue to thrive while being able to generate new economic activities through tourism and the creative economy,” he said.

Wong said Penang’s focus after Visit Malaysia 2026 should shift from pursuing tourist numbers to high-value tourism.

Meanwhile, he called for the formula of channelling 100 per cent of tourism tax to the states in 2026 to be continued next year.

“As Visit Malaysia has been extended to 2027, it is hoped that the 100 per cent allocation of tourism tax can also be continued next year,” he said.

Budget 2027 is expected to be tabled by Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on Oct 9. — Bernama

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槟城请求联邦政府在 2027 年财政预算案中提供支持，以加强其旅游业发展，重点关注航空连通性、国际活动吸引力以及乔治市的遗产保护。

槟城州旅游及创意经济委员会主席黄汉伟强调，需要设立国际航空连接基金，并增加联邦政府配套资金，以推动槟城成为商业和文化活动的重要枢纽。

此外，他还提议设立联合国教科文组织乔治城保护和复兴基金，以维持该市作为活态遗产地的地位。

黄先生强调，在2026年马来西亚旅游年之后，应将重点转向高价值旅游，并主张在2027年继续将旅游税全额分配给各州。

乔治市，9月22日讯——槟城正寻求联邦政府通过2027年财政预算案提供支持，以加强其旅游业发展计划，包括改善航空连通性、吸引更多国际活动以及保护乔治市的文化遗产。

州旅游及创意经济委员会主席黄汉伟表示，这些优先事项旨在提高旅游业的价值，同时确保其增长继续惠及当地经济和社会。

他表示，主要优先事项之一是设立国际航空连通性基金，包括配套拨款，以吸引更多来自日本、韩国、澳大利亚和中东等战略市场的直飞槟城的航班。

“槟城国际机场（LTAPP）升级项目将使其年旅客吞吐量翻一番，达到1200万人次，现在的首要任务是确保通过开通新航线和增加航班频次来充分利用这一容量，”他告诉马新社。

据报道，LTAPP扩建和升级项目预计将于2028年6月完成。

黄先生表示，槟城也在寻求更大的联邦配套资金，以申办和吸引国际会议、展览、体育赛事、节庆活动、音乐会以及大型艺术和文化活动。

他表示，去年商务活动创造了约 19.1 亿令吉的经济效益，这表明槟城凭借其新设施和不断提升的容量，有潜力成为重要的区域商务和大型活动中心。

他还表示，该基金还可以用于开发创意内容、作品、地方节日和知识产权，并将其推向国际舞台。

黄先生还建议政府设立联合国教科文组织乔治市保育及复兴基金，以确保这座历史名城继续作为一座充满活力的历史名城蓬勃发展。

他表示，需要专门拨款用于保护历史建筑、改善公共空间、保障安全和提高便利性，以及保护使乔治城成为一座充满活力的历史名城的传统企业、工匠和社区。

他说：“我们不仅要保护建筑，还要确保遗产、文化和当地社区能够继续繁荣发展，同时通过旅游业和创意经济创造新的经济活动。”

黄先生表示，槟城在2026年马来西亚旅游年之后，重点应该从追求游客数量转向高价值旅游。

与此同时，他呼吁明年继续执行2026年将100%的旅游税拨给各州的方案。

“由于‘马来西亚旅游年’已延长至2027年，希望明年也能继续100%拨付旅游税，”他说。

预计首相兼财政部长拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣将于10月9日提交2027年财政预算案。——马新社

一名叔叔因涉嫌将一名五岁女童抛入柔佛河致其死亡而被还押候审七天。

阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉表示，除了最低工资之外，马来西亚还需要与生产力挂钩的更清晰的工资阶梯。

槟城钟灵中学一间教室发生火灾，无人伤亡，但20%的教室受损。