PENANG Hill welcomed more than 16,000 tourists on the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, says Penang Hill Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Cheok Lay Leng.
According to informal statistics, Cheok said 7,400 tourists were recorded on the first day of Raya, followed by 8,700 tourists on the second day.
He said that if not for the violent storms on the afternoon of the first day of Raya, the number of visitors would have been even higher.
“In terms of the number of tourists over the mentioned two days, it does not break the record for the most tourists received by PHC. We’ve previously welcomed over 10,000 tourists in a single day.
“However, PHC prioritises the safety and comfort of tourists over setting record numbers of visitors.
“The current number of tourists is considered ‘just right’ for the organisation, easier to manage.
“This means tourists don’t have to endure long queues to buy tickets and can enjoy Penang Hill in a more relaxed and comfortable environment, which is even more important,” Cheok explained.
He said a large crowd is expected to visit Penang Hill today, being the third day of Raya, while the tourist numbers over the coming weekend are anticipated to be slightly lower than the previous two days.
Cheok observed that during the Raya holidays, most tourists to Penang Hill are mostly locals and foreign workers, in contrast to the Lunar New Year when many tourists hailed from China and Hong Kong.
He added that Penang Hill also organised a Hari Raya Festival programme, which attracted numerous tourists to participate. In addition to watching sideshows such as the Javanese horse dance, the first 100 visitors also received free comics at the Penang Hill Plaza.
Moreover, the Squirrel, the mascot of Penang Hill, delighted the children by distributing fish-shaped cakes to the children, adding to the atmosphere.
Cheok also shared the positive response to the Penang Hill Hari Raya free shuttle service provided by PHC in collaboration with Rapid Penang from April 10 to 14.
He said that the number of passengers utilising the free shuttle bus during these two days reached about 600, surpassing the previous record set during the Chinese New Year.
Nur Widad from Ipoh said that she seized the opportunity of the Raya festival to return to her hometown in Penang for the celebrations.
During their stay in Penang for a few days, she, accompanied by her husband, Nurqamarul Al-Hafiz, and their two-year-old child, Muhd Qaid, explored the attractions the city has to offer.
“Our first stop is The Top, because there are several themed hotspots, such as the Jurassic Research Center and the Aquarium. It is a great way for children to have fun and also learning.
“If we have enough time, we will take our child to Penang Hill and other attractions,” she said.
Many tourists also flocked to popular tourist attractions such as Kek Lok Si Temple, the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site, and the Batu Ferringhi beach.
In addition, they took advantage of the opportunity to savour Penang’s renowned street food and diverse cuisines.
Car salesman Andy Cheo, 42, from Pontian in Johor, brought his wife, Stephanie Er, 41, and twin children Zhan Qing and Yi Fee, both 11, for a three-day holiday in Penang.
The family was spotted queuing along Campbell Street for breakfast at Toh Soon Café, famous for its kaya toast, ½ boiled eggs and coffee
“Besides sightseeing, we come for Penang food. We discovered this place through TikTok. Yesterday, we visited Gurney Drive for cendol and Cecil Street for char koay teow.
“The last time I visited Penang was seven years ago. Now, the traffic is congested although getting around with Grab is easy. However, the food prices are reasonable compared to Johor,” Andy said.
A long queue was also seen at the Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul-Ice Kacang stall on Lebuh Keng Kwee in George Town.
A visitor from Melaka, who preferred to be identified as Raj, said he usually visits Penang once a year with his family.
“We are taking advantage of the Raya break to visit Penang. I have an aunt who resides here.
“I just purchased some packets of cendol and asam laksa. Penang cuisine is renowned in Malaysia. I believe everyone is familiar,” said Raj, who visited an Indian temple in Penang earlier this morning.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissa Thian, Christopher Tan and courtesy of Penang Hill Corporation