Penang stands out in UK's Holiday Money Report, highlighting its value for money
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has solidified its position as an affordable and exceptional holiday destination.
The Pearl of the Orient secured 12th place globally in the prestigious UK Post Office Holiday Money Report 2025.
The annual study evaluates the cost of holidaying across 47 international destinations, highlighting those where travellers can maximise their budget.
The 47 destinations were surveyed for the Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, with the help of national and local tourist boards.
Eight items, namely, a three-course meal for two with wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a glass of wine, a bottle of still water, sun cream and insect repellent, were selected as representative of the purchases UK tourists are most likely to make.
Prices were cross-checked by Post Office researchers.
It costs £83.05 (RM479.94) in Penang.
Topping the list of the top 20 are Algarve in Portugal (£58.95), Cape Town in South Africa (£59.84), Tokyo in Japan (£63.34), Kuta in Bali (£66.88), Delhi in India (£69.52), Sunny Beach in Bulgaria (£71.46), Hoi An in Vietnam (£73.23), Prague in the Czech Republic (£75.92), Phuket in Thailand (£76.10), and Costa del Sol in Spain (£76.51).
Others on the list include Mombasa in Kenya (£77.20), Lanzarote in the Canary Islands (£85.42), Marmaris in Turkey (£86.00), Sliema in Malta (£88.91), Paphos in Cyprus (£91.26), Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt (£91.48), Toronto in Canada (£92.78), Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (£93.09), and Santiago in Chile (£94.13).
Tourism Malaysia London director Sulaiman Suip was quoted in a report by Travel and Tour World as saying that Penang's inclusion in this year's UK Post Office Holiday Money Report as a top-value destination was a fantastic endorsement for Malaysia.
"It shows that travellers can enjoy world-class experiences in Malaysia while still getting exceptional value for their money.
"We're delighted to see Penang recognised on the global stage and hope this inspires more UK travellers to discover what Malaysia has to offer," he was quoted as saying.
The timing of this recognition aligns with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), a campaign aimed at highlighting the country's diverse attractions and enticing more international travellers.
With this year acting as a prelude to the landmark initiative, the honour provides a timely boost to Malaysia's growing global profile and tourism appeal.
Penang secured 13th place in the UK's 2024 Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report, ranking among 32 global resorts and cities surveyed for affordability.
Post Office Travel Money is the UK's largest foreign exchange provider and accounts for one in four of all UK currency transactions.
As part of its market-leading services, Post Office Travel Money offers news briefings on topical currency-related stories and provides informed commentary on currency movements and trends, with intelligence from industry-leading experts.
It was reported in April last year that Penang was ranked as the 11th best-value destination in the 2024 edition of the Holiday Money Report, ahead of Phuket in Thailand, Delhi in India, Costa del Sol in Spain, and Montego Bay in Jamaica.
The report was by Post Office Ltd, the biggest retailer in the UK.
The Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, published in the report, found that prices for meals, drinks, and tourist items had fallen since 2023 in 25 of the 40 resorts and cities surveyed.
Eight items — a three-course meal for two with wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a glass of wine, a bottle of still water, sun cream and insect repellent — were selected as representative of typical UK tourist purchases, and prices were cross-checked by Post Office researchers.Penang stood out with a total weekly cost of just £74.57.[Hyperlink:
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