WITH the school holidays approaching, followed by Christmas celebrations, domestic tourism in Malaysia, especially in Penang,can expect an influx of local tourists due to the recent flood situation in Hatyai, Thailand.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh shared this while expressing optimism that Penang, which is among the preferred holiday destinations in Malaysia, is anticipated to see a boost in local travellers.
Goh noted that every weekend, some 20,000 Malaysians visit Hatyai. Assessing the current situation, most holiday-goers will likely cancel their cross-border vacations and opt for local destinations.
“As for hotel occupancy rates, they are currently averaging around 40 to 50% including early bookings. Occupancy usually picks up only during the second week of the month.
“On the other hand, the Free Independent Travellers (FIT) are showing strong growth, with an increasing number of FIT among foreign tourists,” he added. Goh shared this when contacted by Buletin Mutiara today.
Some random shots clicked at Armenian Street today :-
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter