Penang records promising tourist arrivals despite Middle East crisis

PENANG recorded a 10 per cent increase in travellers flying into the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas for the first three months of this year.

State executive councillor Wong Hon Wai told the state legislative sitting that the overall movement of passengers at the airport exceeded 2.19 million in the first quarter of this year, compared to 1.99 million over the same period last year.

However, Wong admitted that there is no denying that the Middle East conflict has impacted travel, especially from West Asia, but it is a global trend, not just confined to Penang.

The Paya Terubong assemblyman said this when winding up his presentation at the sitting yesterday.

Despite the challenges, Wong expressed optimism that Penang can record growth in the leisure industry based on the data from the first quarter.

"This shows resilience on the part of our tourism industry. It also showcased the brand of Penang as a tourism destination and the effectiveness of bringing in direct flights into the state," said Wong.

The state now has direct air links to 22 international routes, including to Chinese cities of Xiamen, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Qingdao, Chongqing, Kunming and  Chennai (India), Doha (Qatar) and Yangon (Myanmar).

Wong also noted that when he resumed the tourism portfolio, there were just 12 direct links, but now it has increased to 22.

The ability to secure direct air links, has illustrated the standing of Penang as an international inbound tourism market, he added.

The spillover is evident with the rise of hotels, food and beverage outlets, as well as in transport and retail, Wong said.

It also generates jobs and contributes to the overall state's growth.

"We are optimistic that the state can cope with the adverse effects of the Middle East conflict and continue to hold strong, although the challenges are apparent," said Wong. - May 14, 2026.