Malaysia hotels offer all-you-can-eat durian buffets to attract tourists

The Gurney Bay Hotel in Penang has partnered with the Penang Fruit Farmers Association to offer a three-day, two-night stay package that includes a complimentary one-hour durian buffet, The Star reported.

The buffet will be available from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at a stall outside the hotel.

Located just steps from the famous Gurney Drive, the hotel boasts 368 rooms with views of the ocean or Penang Hill.

This is the first time the hotel is offering such a package, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, said General Manager Benny Chung.

Cititel Hotel in Penang is running a program that allows guests to enjoy an all-you-can-eat durian buffet for two hours.

These packages are part of Malaysia’s Mega Sales Campaign, which runs through July 31, according to Tourism Malaysia.

Hotels are also organizing tours to take visitors to local durian farms.

A tour operator from 88Holidays mentioned that more bookings are being received from hotels looking to take guests on durian farm visits.

The durian season in Penang begins in mid-May and lasts until early August.

Penang, especially its town of Balik Pulau, is known for its durian orchards, producing some of the finest varieties, including Black Thorn, Musang King, and Ang Heh (Red Prawn).

Primarily grown in tropical countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, durians are distinctive for their large size, strong odor, and thorn-covered rind.

Malaysia received over 13 million foreign arrivals, in the first four months of this year, up 21% year-on-year.