GEORGE TOWN, July 4 — Penang state executive councillor for tourism and creative economy Wong Hon Wai has called into question the accuracy of the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s (DOSM) 2024 domestic tourism report, which placed Perak ahead of Penang.
Wong said the report was based on a limited household survey and failed to reflect actual tourist activity, arguing that hotel guest data should be the standard benchmark for tourism performance. According to Wong, only 204 enumeration blocks in Penang were sampled, making the findings unrepresentative.
He also criticised DOSM’s broad definition of “domestic tourists,” which included day-trippers and those returning home for family events, saying these groups offer minimal economic impact and do not reflect quality tourism.
In contrast, Penang recorded 5.2 million domestic hotel guests and over three million international visitors in 2024, far surpassing Perak’s domestic hotel stays. Wong stressed that for a state like Penang — known for its heritage, arts, and cultural tourism — a household survey lacks depth and accuracy.
He urged authorities to rely on tangible metrics such as hotel occupancy and actual visitor data from tourist sites for a more accurate assessment of the tourism economy.
