The CruiseWorld Malaysia 2025 conference opened today in the vibrant state of Penang, setting the stage for Malaysia’s ambitions to emerge as a premier cruise tourism hub in Southeast Asia. In his keynote address, Minister of Transport YB Tuan Loke Siew Fook underscored the government’s commitment to positioning Penang—and Malaysia more broadly—as a world-class destination for the global cruise industry.

Welcoming delegates with the message of “Salam Malaysia MADANI,” the Minister highlighted Penang’s strategic strengths: its rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructure, and ideal geographic location. He described Penang not just as a beautiful stopover, but a natural home port with growing international appeal.

“Cruise tourism is not an afterthought,” he emphasized. “It is a crucial part of our broader vision to strengthen Malaysia as a transportation, tourism, and trade hub, especially with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 on the horizon.”

He outlined major infrastructure developments underway in Penang to support this vision, including the long-anticipated Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT), expansion of the Penang International Airport, and the upcoming Penang Hill Cable Car. These initiatives aim to create a seamless multimodal transport experience for tourists—from sea to land to air.

Beyond infrastructure, the Minister stressed the importance of community empowerment, job creation, and cultural connection through cruise tourism. He urged international cruise operators to consider Malaysia not only as a port of call but as a strategic base for regional operations.

“If we do this right,” he said, “the benefits are wide-reaching—more visitors, more economic activity, and a stronger national GDP.”

CruiseWorld Malaysia 2025 serves as a timely platform for collaboration between industry players, government agencies, and tourism stakeholders as Malaysia charts its course toward becoming a cruise tourism leader in the region.

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