Penang most-visited destinations, a tourism statistics from Tourism Malaysia generally indicate that Penang is particularly popular with visitors from neighboring countries—especially Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand.  

According to recent tourism data, Penang Island is among the world’s most-visited destinations by international visitors. In fact, a Wikipedia list on cities by international visitors shows that Penang Island ranked with around 3,437,100 international visitors, with a reported growth of 7.6% over a given period.

Many reports suggest that Singaporean tourists top the list, thanks to Penang’s accessibility, cultural offerings, and reputation as a food haven. However, this can vary year by year and depends on the source of the data.

However, as of 2024, Indonesia remains the leading source of international tourists to Penang Island. In the first quarter of 2024, Penang welcomed 98,013 visitors from Indonesia, marking a 30.44% increase from 75,141 during the same period in 2023.

Tourist arrivals from China have also seen significant growth, with a 370.22% increase from 4,746 in the first quarter of 2023 to 22,420 in the same period of 2024.

Additionally, Penang International Airport reported a 51.43% year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals from India in 2024, with numbers rising from 7,348 in 2023 to 11,127 in 2024. thestar.com.my

Overall, these statistics highlight Indonesia as the top contributor to Penang’s international tourism, followed by notable increases in visitors from China and India. JeaniesPhotography