GEORGE TOWN, Sept. 23 -- Penang's tourism sector is set for a significant boost, with Batik Air launching a new direct flight from Singapore this December and HK Express increasing its Hong Kong service to twice daily from Oct 26.

Hailing the announcements, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the new and expanded services will significantly spur the state's tourism industry.

"Singapore has long been one of Penang's top three markets for visitors," Wong said in a statement today, noting that the strength of the Singapore dollar gives these visitors strong spending power.

Wong highlighted the strategic importance of these routes by referencing 2024 data from Airports Council International (ACI), which ...