Traffic jams, sold-out hotels and durian feasts: Penang's tasty chaos as school holidays meet fruit season
Thousands of visitors from across the country, as well as foreign tourists, have been flocking to the state since Thursday, the first day of the school break, with the numbers increasing steadily from Saturday to today.
A Bernama survey found that not only were roads leading to Balik Pulau — an iconic destination for durian lovers in Penang — heavily congested, but nearly all major tourist spots such as Penang Hill, Padang Kota and Batu Ferringhi were also packed with visitors.
According to durian seller Ahmad Salim Suhaimi, 45, the season for the 'king of fruits' in the state began earlier this month and will last until August, with Balik Pulau continuing to be a hotspot due to its reputation as a producer of premium-quality durians.
'Since Thursday, we've been receiving durian lovers, with the peak occurring from Saturday until today. More visitors, especially from within the country and from abroad — particularly Singapore — have come here to buy and eat durians, causing traffic congestion from Balik Pulau to Teluk Bahang.
'Although the durian season is just beginning and the supply isn't in full swing yet, it's expected to increase in the next one to two weeks. Still, many are visiting now because of the long weekend and school holidays,' he said, adding that he is able to sell hundreds of premium durians daily.
It is said that the taste of Balik Pulau durians is uniquely distinctive, with a softer texture and richer flavour compared to durians from other states. — Bernama pic
Durian lover Siti Hasmuna Rohaimi, 38, said she and her family travelled from Negeri Sembilan to Penang over the long weekend to enjoy the king of fruits in Balik Pulau.
She said the taste of Balik Pulau durians is uniquely distinctive, with a softer texture and richer flavour compared to durians from other states, and that her three children also love the fruit.
'Coming directly to Balik Pulau is more satisfying because you get to enjoy fresh durians — some just fallen from the trees — with unique flavours. What's more, they're cheaper and more authentic than those sold in other states,' she said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang Chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh said hotel bookings across the state have been near full capacity since Friday, particularly in Batu Ferringhi and George Town, with some hotels even offering durian feast packages at orchards or in open-air settings on hotel grounds.
'The price for durian feast packages at orchards is cheaper — around RM80 to RM100 per person — because the hotels collaborate directly with orchard owners, allowing tourists to enjoy the durians either at the farms or in open areas at the hotel, such as by the beach or poolside,' he said.
In addition to durians, tourists are also taking the opportunity to enjoy other attractions on the Pearl of the Orient, such as nasi kandar, street food, beaches, and popular resorts.
Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai said Penang, especially the resort area of Penang Hill, continues to draw large crowds of tourists from both within and outside the country, including Singapore, where the school holidays have also begun.
'By 6.00am, there are already queues at Penang Hill, even though the funicular train service only starts at 6.30am. The number of visitors has doubled — 8,183 on Saturday and 9,396 yesterday — compared to around 4,000 on regular days,' he said.
Apart from the congested roads to Balik Pulau, the Penang Bridge and major roads around the island — especially in George Town and Batu Ferringhi — were also jammed with traffic.
Armenian Street remains a popular attraction among tourists. — Bernama pic
Locations such as Chew Jetty (also known as Tan Jetty), a small fishing village built over water, Armenian Street, Penang Hill, and Padang Kota are among the major tourist hotspots. — Bernama
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