Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai recently led a Penang state government delegation consisting of hotel representatives and tourism players to Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, to participate in the “Fall in Love with Penang” tourism roadshow.
The roadshow is part of Penang’s proactive efforts to deepen its presence in the China market and promote the state’s diverse and distinctive tourism products and experiences to the tourism industry in South China organised by Penang Global Tourism (PGT)..
“Through a coordinated approach involving both the government and industry, this roadshow extends Penang’s destination promotion beyond conventional marketing to facilitate practical linkages and cooperation among tourism product providers, hotels, travel agencies, attractions and airlines. We aim to transform the ‘soft power’ of destination marketing into tangible outcomes for the tourism industry, while further strengthening Penang’s visibility and appeal in the Chinese tourism market.”
“The Penang State Government’s decision to come to Guangzhou at this juncture is driven in part by the need to build momentum ahead of China’s National Day Golden Week in October, allowing us to prepare early and position Penang to capture this important window for outbound travel by China tourists.”
“The National Day Golden Week is coming soon and is an important period during which China travellers plan their outbound holidays, and it presents a valuable opportunity for Penang to further develop the China visitor market and expand the reach and influence of our tourism brand.”
“For Chinese travellers planning an overseas holiday during the Golden Week, Penang offers not only convenient accessibility, but also a rich and diverse range of tourism experiences. Whether they are travelling as families, young travellers, senior citizens, or visitors with different interests and travel needs, Penang offers a wide range of experiences to suit different preferences.”
“Therefore, the Penang State Government hopes to work closely with the tourism industry to seize the market opportunities presented by the Golden Week. By facilitating cooperation between tourism operators in Guangzhou and Penang, we hope to encourage the development of more Penang-themed travel products for the National Day Golden Week. We also encourage the industry to leverage the increasingly convenient direct air connectivity and develop more diverse products, including independent travel, family holidays, culinary experiences, immersive cultural tours and leisure getaways. This will allow China visitors to discover Penang in different ways, get to know Penang, experience Penang, and ultimately fall in love with Penang,” Wong added in a press statement.
Accompanying him were representatives from Sunway Hotel Georgetown, The George Penang, The Millen Autograph Collection and Olive Tree Hotel. Others were from MATTA Penang, Penang Wedding Professionals Association, My Passion Travel, Smile Holidays, PTS Travel, MLS Holidays, Umi Umi, Design Village Penang, Sailor Tours and The Top,
Meanwhile, when delivering the keynote presentation at the roadshow, Wong said: “The relationship between Guangzhou and Penang has a rich history, but it also holds tremendous potential for the future. 35 years ago, China Southern Airlines launched the Guangzhou–Penang direct route, which at the time was the only direct air link between a Chinese city and Penang. This not only established a more convenient air connection between the two places, but also laid an important and solid foundation for subsequent exchanges between Guangzhou and Penang in tourism, business and people-to-people relations.”
“As exchanges and cooperation between the two sides have continued to deepen, the ties between Guangzhou and Penang have grown stronger with each passing year. In November 2020, Penang Island and Guangzhou established friendly cooperative relations, opening a new chapter for broader and deeper cooperation in the years ahead,” Wong said.
“Today, the Guangzhou–Penang air bridge connecting the two cities is busier and more accessible than ever. There are now more than 60 direct flights from Guangzhou to Penang each month, providing increasingly convenient and flexible travel options for tourists, business travellers and people engaged in exchanges across various sectors.”
“It is worth highlighting that the Greater Bay Area is one of China’s most open, economically dynamic and internationally connected regions, with a large and diverse tourism consumer market. It is therefore an indispensable strategic market and source region for Penang as we expand our international visitor base and deepen our presence in China. The ‘Fall in Love with Penang’ Guangzhou roadshow is consequently an important component of the Penang State Government’s ongoing strategy to deepen its presence in the Chinese market and expand its tourism catchment.”
“In recent years, Penang has established direct air connectivity with a growing number of major cities across China, further strengthening our aviation network. Guangzhou, as an important aviation, commercial and tourism hub in South China, plays a pivotal role in connecting the Greater Bay Area and reaching tourism markets across South China.
“Therefore, choosing Guangzhou as the venue for this tourism roadshow is intended to closely integrate the expansion of air connectivity with market development. We hope that by conducting destination marketing alongside the development of air routes, we can pursue both route expansion and market expansion in tandem, ensuring that our increasingly connected aviation network can effectively drive visitor flows, attract tourists and expand Penang’s market reach.” he said.
He also added that the Penang State Government will not simply sit back and wait for Chinese tourists to come to Penang on their own. Instead, they are adopting a proactive market strategy by going into China, engaging directly with the market, and working hand in hand with Penang’s tourism industry players to bring our diverse tourism products, rich cultural heritage and distinctive urban experiences directly to China travellers. Through such efforts, we aim to further enhance Penang’s visibility and strengthen the influence of our tourism brand in the China market.”
Also present at the “Fall in Love with Penang” Tourism Roadshow (Guangzhou) were Chee Yeeh Keen, State Assemblyman for Bagan Jermal; Ooi Chok Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Global Tourism; Mohd Firdaus, Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia in Southern China; Carolyn Leong, Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Penang Chapter; Datuk Albert Tan Sam Soon, Life Honorary President of the Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA); representative from the Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Government; representatives from China Southern Airlines; as well as tourism industry representatives from Guangzhou.