Penang cruise boom brings more visitors and business to northern Malaysia

Vessel calls at Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal increased to 538 cruise ship calls between January and September 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. — Picture courtesy of Penang Port Commission

By Opalyn Mok

First Published: Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 1:23 PM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 27 — Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) recorded 569,173 passengers from January to September this year, up 52.12 per cent from 374,171 in the same period last year.

Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said cruise ship calls rose to 538 from 134 over the same period.

“This reflected the continued confidence of the international cruise industry in Penang as a preferred destination,” he said in a statement today.

International passenger arrivals increased to 431,793 from 342,771, while domestic day-trip passengers surged to 137,362 from 31,400.

Yeoh said the growth would benefit hospitality, transport, food and beverage services and other local businesses, reinforcing SPCT’s role in developing maritime tourism in Penang and the northern region.

He said sustained growth would depend on close collaboration between port authorities, the state government, tourism agencies and industry players.