Charming Pearl of Orient beckons
PENANG has made it into the list of ‘The 15 Best Islands in the World to Retire On’ this year.
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Also known as the Pearl of the Orient, Penang came in third after Malta and Mallorca, Spain, on a list compiled by International Living.
On its website where the list was published, Penang was noted for its friendly and helpful populace.
“The island of Penang, off the coast of Malaysia, has been a firm favourite among savvy expats for decades.
“Here, the lifestyle is First World – it’s possible to trade-up. A couple can live well on a monthly budget of between $1,500 and $2,500 a month.
“It’s a luxury life on an affordable budget with all the comforts and conveniences of home,” the publication wrote.
International Living is widely known to promote the idea of living better for less overseas, with works to research and provide information on destinations which are cheap, safe, healthy and free.
Penang tops the list among other islands in Asia, ranking ahead of Bali in Indonesia, Koh Samui in Thailand and Phu Quoc in Vietnam.
Other islands on the list included Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker in Belize, Ireland, Roatan in Honduras, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel in Mexico, Isla Colon in Panama, Las Terrenas in Dominican Republic and Crete in Greece.
Welcoming and rejoicing over the spotlight shone on Penang, tourism players said such rankings were good acknowledgement for the state.
Penang Tourist Guides Association president Chin Poh Chin said Penang might have made the list due to its slow-moving lifestyle and ease of communication as English is widely spoken on the island.
“This attracts retirees as they love our laid-back lifestyle, along with the strong elements of heritage, culture and nature.
“This is a good acknowledgement and we should continue to preserve, conserve and sustain what we have.”
Meanwhile, Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the accolade proved that “Penang is still a relevant and competitive tourism powerhouse in the international market, even in times of uncertainties.
“Despite international borders being shelved for nearly two years, Penang has continuously received globally-renowned recognitions and listings.
“With such recognition and the recent Penang Hill Unesco Biosphere Reserve listing in place, it gives international visitors all the more reasons to visit Penang when our international borders reopen,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
In April this year, Penang was also listed by another travel publication catering to senior travellers as the third best island in the world and first in Asia to retire in 2021.