Musang King durian. Photo by VnExpress/Manh Khuong
Hotels across Malaysia’s Penang island were at least 85% occupied over the weekend, with some fully booked, as travelers snapped up tour packages bundling unlimited durian feasts with accommodation.
“The hotels were bustling and performed strongly during the long weekend. Beachfront and town-area hotels were nearly at full capacity,” said Tony Goh, chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ Penang chapter, as reported by The Star.
As the durian harvest season aligns with school holidays, Penang hotels have been selling rooms in tandem with all-you-can-eat durian feasts, which promotes a unique tourism experience on the island.
“Penang is famous for its orchards, which yield durians unique to the region,” Goh said, adding that the local varieties are also sought after along the world-famous Musang King and Black Thorn.
“Each type has a distinct flavor profile, and for durian enthusiasts, these are intricate tastes to savor and explore.”
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Penang durian for sale. Photo by Facebook/LixinDurian |
Wong Hon Wai, Penang’s tourism committee chairman, described the king of fruits as a guaranteed crowd-puller.
He noted a spike in visitors led to increased ridership on the Penang Hill funicular train: a 38% spike between May 30 and June 2.
“The ridership reached 33,521 over the past four days, compared to about 4,000 on typical non-peak days.”
Durian is among the top fruit exports of Malaysia. Last year, US$212 million worth of the fruit went to China after the two countries signed a special protocol on durian imports.
Malaysia seeks to boost its durian exports to China by over 20% this year with a focus on preserving the authenticity and brand of the Musang King variety.
