PENANG continues to make inroads as a preferred stopover for cruise liners with the Penang Port Commission (PPC) recently clinching a deal with China cruise operators to make stopovers.
The deal was sealed after PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin, who is also the Tourism Malaysia board deputy chairman, visited China recently.
A Chinese cruise ship plans to make Penang its home port starting late November – a first ever for a Chinese commercial vessel.
With a capacity of 1,760 passengers and 880 cabins, Piano Land will operate seven sailings between Nov 30 and Dec 13, offering several night cruises to Port Klang and Langkawi - a move which can galvanise the industry.
Tourism is seen as a sector which can help Penang weather the global trade uncertainties, which has undermined its manufacturing powerbase, especially in the semiconductor industry following the United States' move to impose import tariffs.
The move by the China cruise industry is expected to generate more than RM1 million per trip in direct economic impact, including average passenger spending of RM400 on shopping, dining, tours and transport, Yeoh revealed.
It will also strengthen Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal’s (SPCT) position as a regional cruise hub, with further benefits from port fees, crew spending as well as support services such as aviation, hospitality and retail.
Yeoh said the cruise homeporting would mark a milestone in the state’s cruise tourism development.
“This marks the first time a Chinese cruise ship is homeporting in Penang. If the response is strong, we aim to extend the contract and grow the industry next year."
Yeoh said this following the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MOUs).
The MOUs include an agreement between Hwajing Travel and Tours and SPCT to promote the terminal as a dedicated cruise homeport from 2025 to 2027.
Another is between Hwajing and Astro Ocean Cruise, which owns the cruise ship, to jointly market cruise packages.
Present were PPC general manager Datuk Dr V. Vijayaindiaran, Penang Port Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan, Hwajing managing director Kenny Cheong and Astro Ocean Cruise vice-president Jian-Feng Tong. - July 20, 2025.
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