Holidaymakers flock to Penang as hotels offer all-you-can-eat durian deals

Many Penang hotels bundled room rentals with all-you-can-eat durian feasting. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
GEORGE TOWN - Never underestimate the power of the Musang King, Black Thorn and all their genetic cousins to pull in the crowds.
With the durian season here as well as the school holidays, most hotels were at least 85 per cent full during the weekend while some were fully booked, said Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chap­­ter chairman Tony Goh.
'The hotels were packed and did well during the long weekend.
'Hotels by the beach and in the town area were almost full,' Mr Goh added.
As with the yearly tradition, most hotels bundled room rentals with all-you-can-eat durian feasting.
'Penang is renowned for ­having orchards that produce durians you cannot find in other states.
'Other than the ever-popular Musang King and Black Thorn, there are 'vintage' clones like Hor Lor, Red Prawn, Green Skin and Capri, and rare variants like Tupai King and Lin Feng Jiao (pur­portedly named after Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan's wife).
'Each variant offers a slightly different tang, and for durian ­lovers, these are complex flavours to be appreciated and deciphe­red,' said Mr Goh.
Penang tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the 'King of Fruits' was a fail-proof attraction.
He said with the surge in visitors, the funicular train to Penang Hill also saw an increase in ­ridership: 6,691 on May 30, 8,183 on May 31, 9,396 on June 1 and 9,251 on June 2.
'The ridership totalled 33,521 in the past four days.
'On normal non-peak days, it is around 4,000 a day,' Mr Wong said.
He said the increase in visitors was also attributed to Singapore's school holidays, which had started as well.
Mr Wong urged tourism players, including hawkers, to give out good deals and provide top-level service during the holiday ­period.
As for Penang's ever-popular murals, Mr Wong urged visitors to avoid scribbling, scratching or defacing them, which had happened in the past.
'The murals are meant to be admired, not vandalised,' he said.
Penang Tourist Guide Associa­tion chairman Clement Liang advised tourists to avoid engaging unlicensed tourist guides.
'Many visitors unknowingly hire unlicensed guides and end up being disappointed by the tours organised,' he said.
Mr Liang urged tourists to use only licensed hotels and facilities to avoid scams. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Straits Times

27 minutes ago

• Straits Times

Malaysia's KLIA Aerotrain set to resume service on July 1

Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Aerotrain will enhance the airport's service and image. PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES SEPANG - The much-awaited Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain is set to return to service as early as July 1, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. 'It stopped operations several years ago, but today I am happy to announce that the project is completed with various trials conducted. It will undergo several more tests soon, including the Emergency Response Plan test, together with the authorities,' Mr Loke said at a press conference at KLIA on June 21. 'If everything goes well, it will begin operations at 10am on July 1.' Mr Loke mentioned that the Aerotrain project will enhance KLIA's service and image. He also said the current shuttle bus system will operate concurrently to facilitate better passenger movement. 'These are among the mitigation measures to ensure all passenger movement at KLIA runs smoothly,' he added. Mr Loke said that there are currently three Aerotrain sets, with two sets to run concurrently while one remains on standby. During off-peak hours, however, only one train will operate to allow for maintenance work. Off-peak hours are between 12am and 5am. Each train has three carriages and can carry a total of 270 passengers at one time. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times

15 hours ago

• Straits Times

PM Wong to visit China, where he will discuss cooperation to strengthen rules-based order

PM Lawrence Wong said he hopes to build closer ties with Chinese leaders, especially with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. PHOTO: MDDI PM Wong to visit China, where he will discuss cooperation to strengthen rules-based order SINGAPORE – The world is in a state of flux, and countries big and small have to do their part to manage geopolitical tensions and rivalry carefully so as to minimise the risk of conflict and war, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV ahead of his first visit to China as prime minister, he said a key priority is to discuss broader regional and global developments with Chinese leaders, and explore how both countries can work together to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based international order. He also said that he hopes to build closer ties with the Chinese leaders, especially with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. His visit from June 22 to June 26 was announced on June 20 by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, who said PM Wong will be meeting Mr Xi, Mr Li and Mr Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress. The visit comes as strategic rivalry between the United States and China has triggered supply chain disruptions, technological decoupling, and growing fears that other countries may eventually be forced to pick sides. The US has also imposed sweeping tariffs on much of the world, including Singapore, with particularly high duties on China. 'We are in the midst of a very messy and unpredictable transition,' PM Wong said in the interview, aired on the CCTV programme Leaders Talk on June 20. He noted that the US had helped shape the global order after World War II – an order that benefited all countries, including China and the US itself – which is now under strain as America signals a desire to pull back from it. 'There is no country in the world today that can replace the US, no one. So what is our alternative? I think frankly, at this stage, no one knows the answer,' he said. PM Wong said it will take time for a new equilibrium to emerge. Unlike the post–Cold War era, which was dominated by a single superpower, he believes the new global order will be shaped by countries both large and small. But in the meantime, the transition is potentially dangerous. 'Without clear global leadership and coordination, there are many things that can go wrong in this world,' he warned, urging all countries to manage geopolitical tensions and rivalry carefully to minimise the risk of conflict and war. ⁠PM Wong will emphasise the importance of upholding a rules-based multilateral order when he attends a World Economic Forum event in Tianjin next week. The event, officially called the ⁠⁠Annual Meeting of the New Champions, is commonly known as Summer Davos. In the interview with CCTV, he acknowledged that today's multilateral system is not perfect, but said it should be reformed and improved – not abandoned – to better serve all countries. Asked about his top concern for Singapore, PM Wong said the increasingly fragmented global environment poses challenges for a small, open economy like Singapore, which depends heavily on trade. But while global supply chains are being reshaped and countries seek greater self-sufficiency, he stressed that trade will continue, albeit in new configurations. Singapore, he said, must stay competitive and relevant to remain a key node in shifting trade and investment flows, and is working with like-minded partners to uphold free trade and a rules-based system. Within Asean, efforts are under way to deepen integration and lower trade barriers. Singapore is also strengthening ties with key Asian economies such as China, India, Japan and South Korea, while reaching out to further markets in the European Union, Latin America, and Africa. 'I believe in every crisis, there will always be opportunities, and so we are finding ways to seize new opportunities for ourselves and for other countries,' he said. Mr Wong described the relationship between Singapore and China as 'a very close and steadfast partnership', nurtured over generations of leaders. 'So I hope to do the same in my visit with Chinese leaders, especially with President Xi and Premier Li, and I think the close ties at the leadership level sets the tone for the overall relationship.' A key objective of his trip to China will be to reaffirm a shared commitment to bilateral cooperation, as Singapore and China mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The cooperation led to the three government-to-government projects of Suzhou Industrial Park, Tianjin Eco-city and Chongqing Connectivity Initiative. Asked if he envisioned introducing a new project during his term, PM Wong said that he does not consider existing projects as completed and done with, but platforms that can continually host new areas of cooperation. This is in line with bilateral ties, which were upgraded in 2023 to an All-Round⁠ ⁠High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership. PM Wong is no stranger to China, having visited almost every year since entering politics in 2011. He described the transformation he witnessed in China as '⁠nothing short of an economic miracle'. In the interview, he expressed confidence in China's economy despite global headwinds, citing its strong track record and capable leaders who are willing to adapt. Most of all, he said, his optimism stems from the determination of the Chinese people to keep moving forward and improve their lives. 'It's a remarkable transformation, and I continue to wish China every success in its journey of modernisation,' he said. Yew Lun Tian is a senior foreign correspondent who covers China for The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Business Times

15 hours ago

• Business Times

PM Wong to strengthen ties, discuss multilateralism in upcoming China visit

[SINGAPORE] Prime Minister Lawrence Wong laid out three objectives for an upcoming trip to China – establishing closer ties, reaffirming a commitment to enhanced cooperation, and discussing global affairs – in an interview broadcast on Chinese state media on Friday (Jun 20). PM Wong will visit China from Jun 22 to 26, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Aside from meeting Li and Chinese President Xi Jinping, he will speak at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Summer Davos meeting in Tianjin. On the Leaders Talk programme on China's CCTV-13, PM Wong said: 'I made it a point to visit China almost every year since entering politics, because it is useful to visit regularly, to interact, exchange notes with my counterparts, and to get a sense of how China is moving and transforming.' But the upcoming visit is 'more special' as it is his first as prime minister, added PM Wong, who took the helm in May 2024. His first objective is to establish closer ties with China's leaders, especially Xi and Li, both of whom he has met before. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The second is to reaffirm both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially as 2025 marks 35 years of diplomatic relations. In 2023, Singapore and China upgraded relations to an 'All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership'. The two countries have a 'very close and steadfast' partnership built on mutual trust, respect and understanding, which began with Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and China's Deng Xiaoping, said PM Wong. Major government-to-government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing 'are not simply projects that are completed', he noted, but ongoing platforms for wider cooperation. PM Wong's third objective is to discuss global challenges and explore how both countries can work together to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based global order. The need to uphold this order will be his key message at Summer Davos, he added. 'Without rules, without longstanding norms of cooperation, countries everywhere will be worse off.' Small countries such as Singapore are naturally concerned, as their limited bargaining power means a risk of being 'sidelined and squeezed'. But large countries will also be hurt in a more fragmented world, as mistrust will mean more uncertainty and volatility, with slower growth and higher inflation. In the face of rising protectionism, one important move is the proposed upgrade of the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which Singapore fully supports, said PM Wong. 'We hope this can be signed at the coming Asean-China summit in October, and the new upgrade will come into force soon after that.' This is in line with Singapore's efforts to work with Asean and other like-minded countries to uphold free trade and a rules-based trading system, he pointed out. Beyond Asia, Singapore is also working with partners such as the European Union, Latin America and Africa. 'Some of these are countries we are not so familiar with, but we think we should now make an extra effort to establish closer links with them.' PM Wong also said that he fully supports China's intended accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), established by Singapore, Chile and New Zealand to promote collaboration on digital trade issues. 'There are requirements; there are standards to meet,' he noted, regarding the agreement. 'There is also a consensus process among all existing members.' He added: 'So we will do our part to support this, but we hope China will meet the requirements, and we look forward to being able to welcome China as part of DEPA.'