Understand

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Penang Tourism Action Council 56th Floor, KOMTAR, Phone:+60 4 262-0202, Fax:+60 4 263-1020

Penang Heritage Trust 26 Church Street, Phone+60 4 264-2631. Fax+60 4 262-8421

Exotic Penang web site - official Penang State Tourism website

MATTA (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) organizes its promotional fairs several times nation wide within each year. One can find some good deals during the exhibition, either for inbound or outbound travels.

Tourism Malaysia

* Penang Tourist Centre: Bangunan Penang Port Bhd, Pesara King Edward. Phone:+60 4 261-6663

* Penang Development Corporation Tourism Division: 1 Persiaran Mahsuri, Bayan Baru. Phone:+60 4 643-2111, Fax:+60 4 643-2405

* Tourism Information Centre: Level 3, Concourse KOMTAR. Phone:+60 4 261-4461

* Tourism Malaysia Penang Branch: 56th Floor, KOMTAR. Phone:+60 4 261-0058 / 264-3494. Fax:+60 4 262-3688

History

Penang was part of the Malay state of Kedah until 1786, when Captain Francis Light built a fort at the site of present-day Georgetown and managed to get the island ceded to the British East India Company. Along with Malacca and Singapore. The island was one of the three British Straits Settlements.

The name Penang comes from the Malay word Pinang, means the betel nut (槟榔） tree (Areca catechu). The name Pulau Pinang translated literally from Malay means "betel nut island". The original name of Penang was Pulau Ka-satu or "First Island", it was renamed to Prince of Wales Island on 12 Aug 1786 to commemorate the birthday of the Prince of Wales, later, George IV. During the early and middle part last century, Penang Island was also known as "The Pearl of the Orient".

The capital Georgetown, was named after King George III of Great Britain. Penang, especially Georgetown, remains as it was, today.

Today, Penang has the highest population density in Malaysia and is the only Chinese-majority state. Penang state is today the third-largest economy amongst the states of Malaysia, after Selangor and Johor.

The cargo trade has largely shifted down to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore since Penang lost its free-port status in 1969, but now Penang makes a good living off tourism and electronics factories. The multi-national corporations that built their manufacturing factories in the Free Trade Zone include Intel, AMD, Dell, Agilent, Osram, Motorola, Seagate, and Jabil. Penang has been granted a Cyber-City status since 21 Jun 2004.

Orientation

Georgetown, at the north-eastern tip but sprawling down the entire eastern coast, is Penang's sole city of size or historical significance. The island's best beaches, and consequently heaviest tourist development, are on the northern side, particularly Batu Ferringhi.

When to go

Penang's high season is around Christmas, New Year's Day, and Chinese New Year (check the lunar calendar; it could fall on the end of January or early to mid February), when the east coast of Malaysia is drenched and hordes of sun-seeking Europeans descend on the island. Accommodation tends to be packed, and priced accordingly.

Eat

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Penang offers plenty of good, cheap Malaysian food, but is famed throughout the rest of the country for some specialities. Don't be fooled by the names: Penang laksa or hokkien mee are quite different...