News Article Sin Chew Daily – Pulau Pangkor welcomes nearly 10,000 family tourists this weekend
(Sitiawan, 13th) — With the start of a four-day public holiday today, coinciding with a nine-day school break, Pulau Pangkor has emerged as a top holiday destination for families. As of 2pm, ferry arrivals had already brought about 8,000 visitors to the island.
Lin Hao, General Manager of Pan Silver Ferry Sdn. Bhd., which operates ferry services between Pulau Pangkor, Marina Island Jetty Complex, and Lumut Jetty, said the surge in passengers began early this morning. To cope with the demand, the company increased the number of sailings, nearly doubling its usual operations.
“Normally, we operate six ferries between the two terminals. But from this morning until about 1pm, we added four more, making it 10 in total,” he explained. “We also adjusted the schedule — ferries from Marina Island now run every 15 minutes, while departures from Lumut operate every 30 minutes.”
Lin added that while the company had anticipated a spike in online ticket sales, the number of walk-in passengers buying tickets at the terminals exceeded expectations. This required the immediate deployment of additional ferries.
“On an average Saturday, arrivals usually range between 4,000 and 5,000. But by 2pm today, arrivals had already reached 8,000. We forecast that today’s total will surpass 9,000 — nearly double the normal weekend figure,” he said.
He noted that based on online booking data, high passenger numbers are expected to continue through Sunday and Monday, before tapering off next weekend.
The tourism boom is being felt across the island’s hospitality sector. AVI Beach Resort manager Zeng Chengfu said the hotel’s 65 rooms were fully booked for Saturday through Monday, with reservations made two weeks in advance. Guests include both tour groups and individual travelers, comprising roughly 50% Malay, 40% Chinese, and 10% Indian visitors.
“Usually, our guests are mostly Malay families, but this holiday we are also seeing many Chinese tourists. The overlap of public and school holidays has encouraged more families to travel together,” he said.
Pangkor Island Hotels Association chairman Zam Suri confirmed that accommodation demand is strong, with occupancy rates during the holiday period ranging from 60% to 80%. “Most tourists are staying three days and two nights, which is very positive for the island’s hotel industry,” he said.
He added that resorts, homestays, and hotels near the beach are especially popular with families during school holidays.
The business community is also benefiting. Pangkor Specialty Store owner Zeng Yongfu, who runs a seafood and duty-free outlet along the pedestrian street, said the area has been bustling with visitors since morning.
“From what we’ve seen, this wave of tourists is very diverse — Malays, Chinese, and Indians alike. Families are the biggest spenders, especially Malays, who often purchase seafood, chocolates, and other duty-free goods to take home,” he said.
Homestay operators on the island also reported strong bookings, with many fully occupied in recent days.
Meanwhile, Lin Yutong, a local community leader and owner of a Chinese seafood restaurant, said Chinese tourists tend to travel when there are longer holidays. His restaurant has prepared by increasing stock and manpower to cater to the influx.
“Since this morning, we’ve seen many Chinese families arriving. We are ready to ensure they enjoy their meals here, so that their experience of Pulau Pangkor leaves a lasting impression,” he said.
