PENANG has unveiled a new tourism product to boost its standing as a preferred tourism destination in the country.
With "Visit Malaysia Year 26" next year, the state has launched a river Cruise at the Auto-City Juru with the ride along the 16km - long Sungai Juru, filled with aquaculture activities as its backdrop.
Onboard, visitors may spot monkeys swinging gracefully in the trees, giant squirrels leaping between branches, and an array of birds including eagles, woodpeckers and shorebirds - showcasing what eco-tourism is all about.
The river is also home to reptiles such as forest lizards, mangrove snakes, pit vipers, and the rare dog-faced water snake, turning the experience into a real-life nature documentary, state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai said.
Wong oversees two increasingly important portfolios of tourism and creative economy.
More than just a sightseeing trip, the cruise offers hands-on activities like crab trapping, net fishing, and clam gathering, he noted.
Wong also sees the cruise as another attraction for Prai, which travel trade members tend to see more preferences given to their island "cousins."
But Wong stressed that all districts in Penang, including the Prai mainland, would receive adequate attention from the industry players.
“River cruises are a globally recognised tourism product, from the Mekong in Southeast Asia to the Yangtze in China and the Nile in Egypt. Today, Penang joins this tradition with our very own Penang River Cruise, adding a distinctive chapter to the global map of river tourism,” said Wong.
While acknowledging that Sungai Juru is modest in size, stretching only about 16km compared to the Mekong’s 4,350km or the Nile’s 6,650km, he highlighted its charm.
“In an age dominated by digital screens, this river trip offers a refreshing chance to reconnect with nature while learning about sustainability in a fun way,” he said, noting that Auto-City’s existing reputation for food, entertainment, and retail will synergise with the river cruise to further strengthen Penang’s tourism appeal.
The launch was also attended by Auto-City founder and general manager Gary Teoh Berapit assemblyperson Heng Lee Lee, Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao - Leung, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Rachel Teh Chuann Yien, Penang Global Tourism (PGT) chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Penang director Dr Annuar Mohamed, and Tourism Malaysia Northern Region director Abdul Hadi Che Man. - September 10, 2025.
