GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s tourism industry is set to receive a much deserved boost after global broadcast network CNN’s travel edition listed the island state among its top places to experience in 2022.
In its article published on New Year’s Day, CNN Travel listed Penang among one of its 22 locations under its must-visit destinations.
In response to the article, state tourism exco Yeoh Soon Hin hailed the listing as a great start to the new year for Penang as it cements the state’s position as a major tourist destination.
Furthermore, tourism industry stakeholders when contacted said that the listing is the right tonic towards promoting Penang and Malaysia overseas.
However, they said more work needs to be done to manage the reopening of tourism, as the state suffers from an acute shortage of workers as well as the need to uphold tighter measures to avoid Covid-19.
In the article, which explained Penang’s entry into the list, CNN cites that the pandemic has left many tourists longing for an epic culinary-focused journey, with the island-state ranking up there with Asia’s best.
“This Malaysian island in the Andaman Sea offers a wide mix of traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes.
“And then there’s Baba Nyonya, also known as Peranakan cuisine, which incorporates regional ingredients and Chinese and Malay cooking methods.
“All of it can be found in hawker centres and shophouses throughout Penang’s capital, George Town, which is filled with historic buildings, from old English mansions to classical Chinese shop houses and Islamic mosques.
“But there’s so much more than just food and architecture to sustain wanderlust appetites on this 295-square-mile island,” the article stated.
Last September, the popular Penang Hill was designated as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve Home.
The iconic hill comes with excellent hiking trails that stretch from its peak down to the lovely botanical gardens, which were created in 1884 and serve as a repository of its flora and fauna – including more than 200 species of orchids.
Leading conservation efforts is The Habitat Penang Hill, a world-class rainforest discovery centre that offers guided walks and zipline tours.
Other destinations that made the list include Antigua and Barbuda; Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau; Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Chile; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Dijon, France; Disko Bay, Greenland; Gabon National Parks; Jordan; Lahti, Finland; Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert, Australia; Naples, Italy; Ollantaytambo, Peru; Orkney Island, the United Kingdom; Oslo and Palau; South Africa; St Eustatius, Netherlands; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Valencia, Spain; and Yellowstone National Park in the United States. – The Vibes, January 3, 2022
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