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 mari...