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RENOWNED for its heritage buildings and its food, culture and arts, Penang is now looking to promote rustic villages in semi-urban localities as a new tourism product while boosting the creative segment of the economy.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that he is optimistic that the rustic villages can transform the countryside, especially in the Prai mainland, into vibrant mini-townships for tourism.
Five townships were selected to be rebranded from traditional villages into eco-tourism enclaves, called Kota Warisan Seberang Prai by the urbanisation specialist, Think City Sdn Bhd.
The villages would receive federal aid for the initiative under Think City.
"We hope that such efforts can generate a good outcome for the villages. We also want to cultivate eco-tourism through the respective communities and help drive a momentum that the mainland can complement the island to attract the tourism dollars," said Chow.
Chow launched the initiative at Kampung Lebuh Banting here, where, next to it, lies the relocation settlement of previous flood victims.
Think City has appointed the travel firm - NL Travels & Tours Sdn Bhd to oversee the initiative.
The agency is headed by former Pulau Bentong assemblyman Datuk Dr Muhamad Farid Saad.
Farid said that they plan to revive the padi festival event here, as part of boosting tourism in semi-urban localities.
The agency will also guide the village cooperatives to be involved in the effort, so the spillover can be enjoyed by the surrounding communities.
The other villages besides Kampung Labuh Banting are Kampung Terus, Kampung Pengkalan Machang, Kampung Kota and Kampung Air Itam Dalam.
If proven successful, the project will add to the strong arsenal of tourism products which Penang possess to make the state a big winner on the travel front.
Besides the village-based eco-tourism, there are the gastronomic cravings, heritage, culture, arts, beaches and hiking adventures which have attracted a fair bit of tourists.
Penang has attracted scores of tourists from the neighbouring countries, China, India, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. - February 9, 2026
