PenangOnSea:Mega-liner facilities 09

[GWR]

2008/06/05
Penang is a hit with cruise ships
By : Lee Keng Fatt

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is now regarded as a popular must-berth destination among the international cruise ships plying the region.

State Tourism Committee chairman Law Heng Kiang said this was reflected in the regular berthing of the ships at the Swettenham Pier.

"We are now receiving a few thousand visitors on a monthly basis.

"We have an average of 2,000 visitors every week and this augurs well for tourism in the state," he said yesterday.

Law said Penang could expect more tourist arrivals when the new RM60 million international cruise terminal was completed in March.

"We now have to make do with make-shift tents to welcome the tourists but that did not deter the international cruise ships from making a beeline to the island."

Law was speaking after greeting about 2,600 Australian tourists from the Sun Princess cruise ship here for a day-long visit to the island.

He said among Penang's main attractions were its heritage value, food and historical sites.

Law also said he was happy that there was enough transport to cater to the tourists upon their disembarkation.

"We have stage buses, trishaws and taxis all readily available to ferry the tourists."
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2258992/Article/index_html

[GWR]

2008/06/13
'Excite tourists with round-the-island cruise'

GEORGE TOWN: The local tourism industry players should expand activities by introducing round-the-island cruises.

State Tourism Committee chairman Law Heng Kiang said such cruises could provide both local and foreign tourists a different point of view of the island.

He said the scenic Penang Bridge, the beaches along Batu Ferringhi and the sight of ferries plying on the channel between both the island and mainland, would certainly be an added attraction for the state's tourism sector.

"These will excite the tourists visiting Penang," he said.

Law said the state government supported such cruise ventures because it promoted public awareness of sea-ecology, the endangered species and the "raw" beauty of the island.

The state's current sea-related tourism attractions are water-jet skis, parasailing and banana boat rides.

He was speaking after launching the Blue Whale Cruises at the Tanjung City Marina here.

The cruise's promoter, Steve Burton, said the 15-metre craft boat would depart daily from the marina.

"Besides offering a pleasant and informative sea-going experience, those taking the cruise will also be able to explore the island's natural assets and beauty not normally accessible to the public," he said.

Burton said among the packages available were afternoon and evening dinner cruise, all-day-round-island and private chartered cruise.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2266458/Article/index_html

[GWR]

I believe this project is hugely delayed due to bickering between the authorities and the contractors:

Wednesday August 20, 2008
RM65m pier ready next year
By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG

THE hassle of transporting passengers of large cruise ships in small boats to shore will be over when the RM65mil redevelopment project at Swettenham Pier, George Town, is completed in May next year.

State Tourism Development, Cul-ture, Arts and Heritage Commit- tee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said that for many years, larger cruise ships such as the Queen Mary II had not been able to call at the port.

“At the moment, the smaller cruise ships that come to the island are anchored out in Penang waters and passengers have to wait to be ferried ashore in small boats.

“The passengers are greatly inconvenienced as it takes a long time to transfer them to shore,” he told a press conference after welcoming more than 1,200 passengers from the Star Aquarius cruise ship that anchored near the Tanjung City Marina in Weld Quay, George Town, on Monday.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/8/20/north/pier.jpg
[Photo: The Star - Day trippers:Star Aquarius cruise passengers arriving at Tanjung City Marina.]

Transport Ministry Datuk Ong Tee Keat had said on Friday said that the project, which includes the building of an international cruise terminal, started in May 2006 and was originally scheduled for completion in April but was now only 82% complete.

Law said there were 60,000 to 70,000 cruise ship passengers arriving at the island each year.

“For the Star Cruise line itself, the Star Aquarius arrives every Monday with more than 1,000 passengers - mainly from Singapore and Australia - per visit,” he said, adding that the SuperStar Gemini would arrive on certain Tuesdays with passengers from various countries.

Law said the Star Aquarius passengers were in Penang from afternoon to night and each trip generated about RM500,000 on food, shopping and sight-seeing for Penang.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/8/20/north/1837354&sec=North