GEORGE TOWN, January 31 – Penang’s State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai, announced ongoing efforts to bolster the international flight network to Penang, aiming to stimulate further growth in the tourism industry. In 2024, the office is working to add three new international flights directly to Penang from India, Shanghai (China), and Dubai (U.A.E.). Currently, Penang has direct international flights from 13 cities. In early January 2024, Wong Hon Wai led a delegation from Penang’s tourism industry to Xiamen, China, meeting with Xiamen Airlines for joint marketing activities.
Discussions focused on enhancing the new route from Xiamen to Penang, initiated in September 2023, strengthening the crucial flight connection between Malaysia and China. In mid-January, Wong Hon Wai visited the headquarters of IndiGo in New Delhi, India, to explore opportunities for a direct flight route from India to Penang, providing more convenient travel options for travelers from both countries. Simultaneously, the state government team held discussions with airlines from Shanghai, China, to explore the potential for a new direct route from Shanghai to Penang, aiming to further strengthen cooperation with the Chinese market.
Wong Hon Wai emphasized that these additional international flight routes play a crucial role in the development of Penang’s tourism industry, not only offering more choices to international tourists but also providing travel convenience to residents in Northern Malaysia, contributing positively to Penang’s economic prosperity as a leading Asian tourist destination.
