SINCE earning Unesco World Heritage Site status on July 7, 2008, George Town’s traditions have been the focus of Penang’s booming tourism sector.
A former British Straits Settlement, George Town gained the Unesco status for its “outstanding universal values” – tangible and intangible cultures that resulted from more than 500 years of trade and cultural exchanges between the East and West.
A year before the designation, tourist arrivals stood at 5.2 million, and jumped 21% to 6.3 million in 2008. Last year, the state estimated that some seven million visitors arrived via Penang International Airport alone.
As a tourism destination, the heritage city receives praises on Google Reviews for its old architecture, street art, food, multiracial and multicultural harmony, as well as for being great for “selfie tourism”.
The massive tourism potential has spurred some owners and investors to pump money into restoring and renovating many pre-war buildings in the 250ha heritage core and buffer zones and on their fringes. – July 10, 2018.
An aerial view of George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.An aerial view of the shop houses in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.An aerial view of the shop houses in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.An aerial view of the shop houses in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.A pre-war shop house now converted into a bar in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.Ornate doors and partitions at the beautifully restored Pinang Peranakan Mansion in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.VIPs and guests attending a malam joget at the beautifully restored Pinang Peranakan Mansion in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.Pre-war shop houses converted into pubs and boutique hotels in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.A tourist taking pictures with her mobile phone at Jalan Chulia in Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.Pre-war shop houses in their original state and ripe for refurbishment in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.Pre-war shop houses converted into pubs and boutique hotels at Love Lane in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.Pedestrians walking past the hoarding covering a row of shop houses being refurbished by the Penang government in George Town. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, July 10, 2018.
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