Penang is planning to start direct flights from India, Shanghai in China and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this year.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the state was looking at strengthening its international flight network to boost the state's tourism industry.

"This year, we hope to add another three international destinations to India, China and the UAE. All this is aimed at boosting the state's tourism industry.

"This not only provides more choices to international travellers but travel comfort for those in the northern region of Malaysia.

"This not only helps Penang to strengthen its position as Asia's tourism destination, but also contributes positively to the state's economy," he said today.

Elaborating, Wong said he visited the IndiGo headquarters in New Delhi, India recently to explore the possibility of opening new routes for direct flight from India to Penang to provide travel alternatives to travellers from both countries.

"Besides that, the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran and his team met representatives from the travel industry in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Kochi with me to introduce tourism sources and MICE facilities in the state," he added.

Besides that, Wong said the state delegation was also in negotiation with airline company from Shanghai, China to discuss the possibility of having direct flight from Shanghai to Penang.

"This is aimed at strengthening collaboration with the Chinese market," he said, adding that he visited the China Eastern Airlines and JunYao Airlines headquarters in Shanghai when he participated in the ITB Shanghai tourism exhibition last September," he said.

Wong said he also sent Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan and his team to the UAE to meet with the management of Flydubai Airlines.

He said the meeting was to coordinate with regard to direct flight from Dubai to Penang, scheduled to be in operation from next month, with the hope to expand Penang's flight network inthe Middle East region.

At present, there are 13 international cities with direct flights to Penang.

They include Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City and Doha.