To further elevate the arrival of Chinese tourists to Penang, the Leith Hotel Penang and YiCheng Hotel Management signed a strategic collaboration earlier today.
The move will surely augur well in anticipation of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Present to witness the signing ceremony was State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai.
Signing on behalf of YiCheng Hotel Management was Alec Wu while Ms Evians Choong signed on behalf of The Leith Hotel Penang.
“On behalf of the Penang State Government, I would like to congratulate The Leith Hotel and Yicheng Hotel Management on their strategic collaboration, which marks an important step in advancing our local hotel industry towards greater internationalisation and digitalisation.
“Tourism data clearly reflects the growing confidence of the international market in Penang. Among these, growth from the China market has been particularly significant.
“From January to November 2023, a total of 33,474 travellers from China arrived via Penang International Airport. By the same period in 2025, this figure rose sharply to 193,215, representing an increase of 477.209% compared to 2023. This clearly demonstrates the strong interest and continued return of Chinese travellers to Penang.
“Moving forward, we will continue to develop high-potential markets with strong growth prospects, including China, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Korea, and Japan.
“Through enhanced air connectivity, upgraded tourism offerings, and strengthened international cooperation, we aim to attract more high-quality visitors to Penang,” said Wong.
He also expressed confidence that the involvement of Yicheng Hotel Management will facilitate the introduction of advanced international operating models, digital systems, and management standards, creating new opportunities for the continued growth of Penang’s tourism and hospitality industry.
“In this context, I met with several China Airlines this December and the Penang Global Tourism team also visited China to engage with multiple airline partners. These efforts form part of our active planning for new air routes between China and Penang in 2026, intending to bring more Chinese visitors to Penang,” shared Wong.
Meanwhile Wu said that this is the first strategic collaboration of YiCheng Hotel Management in Malaysia and Penang. YiCheng Hotel Management operates in 300 cities in China.