Latest news with #YeohSoonHin
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Hwajing Travel & Tours inks strategic partnership with Chinese cruise vessel M/V Piano Land
PENANG: Domestic premier cruise agency Hwajing Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd has signed a strategic partnership with Astro Ocean Cruise to bring the M/V Piano Land, operated by Astro Ocean Cruise, a Chinese cruise line, to Malaysia. This is a significant step by Hwajing Travel to establish Malaysia as a leading regional cruise hub. The recent signing ceremony, held at the Penang Port Commission, was attended by the Penang Port Commission and the deputy chairman of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin. The agreement was signed between Hwajing Travel managing director Kenny Cheong and Astro Ocean Cruise vice president Jian-feng Tong. 'In line with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's vision to position Malaysia as a premier homeport destination, we are committed to driving the nation's cruise tourism agenda forward,' said Yeoh. 'By encouraging travellers to begin and conclude their cruise itineraries in Malaysia, we aim to boost tourist arrivals, create local employment opportunities, and showcase Malaysia's vibrant culture, heritage, and cuisine on the global stage. 'With the right strategy, cruise tourism holds tremendous potential to deliver sustained economic benefits and uplift communities across the country,' he said. Making its maiden voyage on November 30, M/V Piano Land will be the first Chinese cruise ship to be homeported in Malaysia. This marks Hwajing Travel's second major international cruise collaboration, following last year's successful homeporting of an Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, operated by Costa Cruises. The upcoming itineraries will include a 3-day, 2-night sailing (Penang – Port Klang – Penang) and a 4-day, 3-night voyage covering Penang, Langkawi, and Port Klang. Passengers will be able to embark from either Penang or Port Klang, offering greater convenience and accessibility for Malaysian travellers, as well as those from neighbouring countries. In signing the partnership, Cheong said welcoming M/V Piano Land to Malaysia reinforces Hwajing Travel's commitment to making cruise holidays more accessible and enriching for both Malaysian and Southeast Asian travellers. 'This milestone comes at a special time for us, as Hwajing celebrates its 36th anniversary this year. We look forward to playing a key role in developing Malaysia into a thriving homeport hub for international cruises,' he said. The introduction of M/V Piano Land homeport operation is expected to stimulate tourism, boost local economies, and offer Malaysians and neighbouring markets more seamless access to cruise holidays. In addition to the regular itineraries, Hwajing will also feature a special 6-night New Year Countdown Cruise, sailing from Port Klang to Singapore, Nha Trang, and Hong Kong. Guests onboard will enjoy a festive celebration at sea, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over Hong Kong's iconic skyline—viewed directly from the ship as it welcomes 2026 in grand style. This celebratory sailing offers a unique way for travellers to ring in the new year with family and friends, surrounded by world-class entertainment, cuisine, and the magic of cruising. 'The deployment of M/V Piano Land is a key milestone in the company's strategic expansion across Asia. 'We believe a unique 'culture and cruise' model will effectively stimulate cruise travel demand in Malaysia and surrounding markets', said Tong.
Malaysia Sun
17-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
"Nihao! China" in Kuala Lumpur highlights top Chinese tourist attractions
KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Xinhua) -- With thousands of visitors, the second edition of the "Nihao! China" Travel Fair (Malaysia) has highlighted the popularity of China as a tourism destination while also playing an important role in strengthening people-to-people exchanges. Held at the Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Center in Kuala Lumpur, the promotional event ran from June 13 to 15, covering 3,000 square meters and featuring more than 200 booths. It showcased top Chinese tourist attractions to locals and drawing huge interest from those seeking to visit the country. Among those present at the launching ceremony was Yeoh Soon Hin, deputy chairman of Tourism Malaysia, an agency under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, who noted in his speech that cultural and tourism cooperation between Malaysia and China has grown increasingly robust and fruitful. For his part, minister of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia Zheng Xuefang said China has continued to optimize policies for inbound tourism in recent years. "As the benefits of these facilitation policies continue to unfold, more and more international tourists are choosing to travel to China, enjoy China, and love China," he said, adding that the international appeal and reputation of inbound tourism to China are steadily rising. Among members of the Malaysian public who came to visit the fair were Siti Sara Harun and Hafiz Ghazali. Siti, who had previously visited China's ancient capital Xi'an, is now looking to travel to another historical city. "It is very easy to get around, even in places that you would think are distant or rural. The cities are clean and neat, and e-payments are accepted almost everywhere," Siti said. For his part, Hafiz said he wanted to explore tourist spots across China via its vast high-speed rail network. "I have heard and read so much about it, and I want to see it firsthand. I'm sure that I will find a suitable travel package at the fair that will allow me to do this," he said.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
SPPP unveils plan for new petroleum terminal, upgrades
GEORGE TOWN: The Northern Petroleum Terminal (NPT) will be developed under the Penang Port master plan currently being drawn up. Penang Port Commission (SPPP) chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the NPT will be constructed at the port installation and will operate as a bulk petroleum storage facility designed to accommodate medium-range class tankers. He said the NPT will be built alongside the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) expansion, which involves 322.83 hectares of reclaimed land. 'The proposed development of these projects is in line with the Penang Port master plan developed by the SPPP,' he said in a statement today in conjunction with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's visit to Penang Port in Butterworth yesterday. Yeoh also said the development plan includes infrastructure upgrades at the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) ferry terminal, which will be rejuvenated with a modern concept to enhance visitor comfort and satisfaction, ultimately improving operational productivity. He said the commercial area will have an open-air parking area, a sea-view observatory deck, a food and beverage centre, a garden bridge, and other commercial activities with the potential to attract local and international tourists. Additionally, he said the extension of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) will allow Oasis-class cruise ships to dock simultaneously with a maximum capacity of 12,000 passengers. 'Furthermore, ferry services will also be improved with four new ferries and upgrades to the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) and PRTU terminals to improve public transport connectivity,' he added. Yeoh also said the SPPP has implemented the vessel traffic management system (VTMS), transforming manual traffic control into a more efficient shipping traffic control system to ensure a safer operating environment. Besides handling cargo imported and exported by sea, he said Penang Port also manages cargo via rail transport, with a 561-metre rail siding capacity at NBCT to handle up to 33 wagons at one time. He said the federal government has planned to extend the rail siding to 1,051 metres, which will allow 50 wagons to be handled at one time, a project currently being pursued in collaboration with various relevant parties. Loke was on a one-day working visit to Penang yesterday. He was briefed on the Penang Port development plan, visited the VTMS control tower, and toured the Penang Ferry Museum located at Tanjong City Marina.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Northern Petroleum Terminal to be built in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: The Northern Petroleum Terminal (NPT) will be developed under the Penang Port master plan currently being drawn up. Penang Port Commission (SPPP) chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the NPT will be constructed at the port installation and will operate as a bulk petroleum storage facility designed to accommodate medium-range class tankers. He said the NPT will be built alongside the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) expansion, which involves 322.83 hectares of reclaimed land. 'The proposed development of these projects is in line with the Penang Port master plan developed by the SPPP,' he said in a statement today in conjunction with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's visit to Penang Port in Butterworth yesterday. Yeoh also said the development plan includes infrastructure upgrades at the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) ferry terminal, which will be rejuvenated with a modern concept to enhance visitor comfort and satisfaction, ultimately improving operational productivity. He said the commercial area will have an open-air parking area, a sea-view observatory deck, a food and beverage centre, a garden bridge, and other commercial activities with the potential to attract local and international tourists. Additionally, he said the extension of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) will allow Oasis-class cruise ships to dock simultaneously with a maximum capacity of 12,000 passengers. 'Furthermore, ferry services will also be improved with four new ferries and upgrades to the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) and PRTU terminals to improve public transport connectivity,' he added. Yeoh also said the SPPP has implemented the vessel traffic management system (VTMS), transforming manual traffic control into a more efficient shipping traffic control system to ensure a safer operating environment. Besides handling cargo imported and exported by sea, he said Penang Port also manages cargo via rail transport, with a 561-metre rail siding capacity at NBCT to handle up to 33 wagons at one time. He said the federal government has planned to extend the rail siding to 1,051 metres, which will allow 50 wagons to be handled at one time, a project currently being pursued in collaboration with various relevant parties. Loke was on a one-day working visit to Penang yesterday. He was briefed on the Penang Port development plan, visited the VTMS control tower, and toured the Penang Ferry Museum located at Tanjong City Marina.
Daily Express
11-06-2025
- Daily Express
Penang ferry terminal to get seaview deck, commercial spaces in revitalisation effort
Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the revitalisation aims to modernise the terminal with an attractive design to improve visitor comfort and satisfaction. — Picture courtesy of Penang Port Commission GEORGE TOWN: The Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) ferry terminal on Penang island will undergo an upgrade to include a seaview observatory deck, commercial spaces, and open car parks, the Penang Port Commission (PPC) announced today. PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the revitalisation aims to modernise the terminal with an attractive design to improve visitor comfort and satisfaction. Advertisement 'This will boost operational productivity,' Yeoh said in a statement. He added that the commercial spaces will feature a food and beverage hub and a garden bridge, alongside other attractions to draw more tourists. The PRTU upgrade is part of broader efforts to improve ferry operations, Yeoh noted. In addition, he said the extension of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) now enables Oasis-class cruise ships to dock simultaneously, accommodating up to 12,000 passengers at a time. 'SPCT has been developed as a regional cruise ship hub, and projects around the terminal are being prioritised to complement these upgrades and attract more cruise ships to Penang,' he said. Yeoh also announced plans to collaborate with Printhero to establish a ferry museum showcasing Penang's iconic ferries, which once served as a crucial transportation link between Seberang Perai and the island. 'The conservation project aims to preserve the state's maritime heritage while offering visitors a chance to explore the history of water transportation in Malaysia. The old ferry, which carries countless memories, will be revived as a historical tourism attraction,' he said. Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook visited the PPC and reviewed key projects, including the North Butterworth Container Terminal Expansion Master Plan. According to Yeoh, the expansion involves reclamation work over 322.83 hectares and includes plans for a major petroleum hub in the northern region called the Northern Petroleum Terminal (NPT). 'The NPT will be a bulk petroleum storage facility designed to accommodate Medium Range (MR) class tankers,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
