Direct tourist arrivals down by 12,000

GEORGE TOWN: Direct tourist arrivals to Penang by air dropped by about 12,000 last year compared with 2011, the state Immigration Department reported.

According to department figures, 634,996 tourists flew into Penang in 2011 but only 623,039 came last year.

Tourism Malaysia Penang acting director Logi Dhasan Thanaraj said the downtrend was due to the economic uncertainties plaguing European countries. He said it was only a temporary setback and added that the situation would improve as the economy was expected to recover this year.

"Tourist arrivals to Penang this year will pick up following efforts by low-cost carriers to repackage their deals. We foresee more foreign visitors coming here, especially from Asean countries like Indonesia. Tourists from that country made up 17 per cent of our direct tourist arrivals last year," he said.

Logi said there was  a rise in direct tourist arrivals to Penang by sea from 113,850 in 2011 to 115,543 last year. He said Penang would be part of an intensive national  promotional campaign to boost tourism in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Earlier, Logi had announced that  Tourism Malaysia supported the Cycling Treasure Hunt 2013 to be held here on March 24. He said the event's organiser George Town Progression Society was expecting 400 local and foreign participants at the competition which was taking place in the heritage enclave from 7am to 2pm.

The hunt, open to participants aged 15 and above, will start and end at the hotel in Jalan Penang. For details, visit the Penang Cycling Treasure Hunt 2013 page on Facebook.

-nst online.