BAYAN LEPAS, February 18 — Wong Hon Wai led a festive welcome for local and international visitors at Penang International Airport on the first day of Chinese New Year 2026, in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026.
Travellers were greeted with mandarin oranges and special souvenirs, while lion dance performances, a yee sang tossing ceremony and appearances by official mascots Wira and Manja added to the celebratory atmosphere.
Wong said the symbolic start of the lunar new year reflects renewal and prosperity, expressing optimism for a vibrant tourism year ahead driven by unity and cultural diversity. He highlighted steady growth at the airport, which recorded 8.31 million passenger movements in 2025.
An 11.2 per cent increase from 2024, alongside a rise in weekly international flights to 325 as of December 2025. Recent upgrades, including the MyNIISe autogate system and a new dedicated e-hailing waiting area, have improved processing times and passenger convenience.
Wong said the Penang government will continue enhancing infrastructure and service quality to strengthen the state’s global competitiveness and support sustainable tourism growth under Visit Malaysia 2026.
