"Spooky Tour" launched to boost Penang tourists arrival

Malaysia's Tourism Promotion Board has launched the unique "Penang Spooky Tour" at the War Museum to boost Penang tourist arrivals.

Its Director of Domestic Marketing Division, Musa Yusof said the unique tour package was launched in conjunction with the Chinese Hungry Ghost festival from Aug 7 until Sept 4.

He said Tourism Malaysia was collaborating with the Penang War Museum to organise the Spooky Tour at night in the museum.

"Last year, the Spooky Tour attracted about 490 visitors to sign up for the package and this year we are eyeing about 600 visitors," he said after launching the Penang Spooky Tour Package 2013, here yesterday.

He said the highlight of the tour included a visit to the sites of the Hungry Ghost Festival, the T-junction which is known for ghost sightings, night tour of the War Museum, a tour at the Protestant cemetery and an overnight stay at the War Museum.

Meanwhile, the founder and chief executive officer of War Museum, Johari Shafie said the War Museum offered the real war-time sites.

He said dubbed as "Bukit Hantu" or Ghost Hill, the Penang War Museum bore a dark and cruel past especially during the Japanese occupation.

He said the place was first built as a military defense fortress in the 1930s by the British, and it served as a British stronghold till it fell to the Japanese invasion during the World War II in 1941.

Johari said shortly after the Japanese invasion of Malaya at that time, the army base became a camp for prisoners of war and hundreds of people were tortured and beheaded at the site.

"The museum's dark past and eerie atmosphere will attract more visitors to explore the tour package which ranges from RM199 to RM269 for a 2day/1night accommodation," he said.