More Music Events & Festivals in Penang

THREE major music events will be held in Penang this year as part of the state government's efforts to woo tourists with music tourism.

Among them is the Penang World Music Festival which will be held from May 2 to 4.

Hot on the heels of the success of the inaugural Penang World Music Festival last year, the state government is in the midst of planning a bigger and better show this year, said Penang Tourism Action Council general manager Chin Yin Fat.

“The three-day festival last year sold 7,000 tickets despite heavy rain and it led to the state’s exposure as a music destination,” he said after greeting motorists at the Penang Bridge toll plaza on Thursday.

Also present to distribute goodie bags, bunga telur and Penang’s Calendar of Events 2008 to motorists were Penang Tourism Hospitality Committee chairman Cheang Chee Gooi and Tourism Malaysia Penang director Sani Sham Ahmad.

Hospitality gesture: Cheang, with an entourage clad in cultural costumes, distributing goodie bags to motorists at the Penang Bridge toll plaza in Prai.

Chin said the Penang Island Jazz Festival, which featured over 50 local and international performers and attracted 6,000 fans last year, would be held in December.

He said a new music event lined up this year as part of the expansion of music tourism in the state was the Penang Shanghai World Star Quest 2008 which would be held on March 29 at Auto City in Juru.

“It is a ‘star quest’ stage show from Shanghai, China,” he explained.

Chin said the state would focus on music tourism along with its existing core tourism products because Penang had the potential to be a world class music destination.

He said Taman Kuari at the Penang Botanic Gardens was a new venue that could be used to hold open-air music events.

Source : STAR
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