Data from Malaysian Hoteliers Association, Penang Branch (PMAH), showed total hotel occupancy in Penang for 2008 was 64.32% up from 64.04% in 2007, a mere 0.28%, said Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow.

However, he said the figures also revealed that the total hotel occupancy for the first six months of this year was 58.74% down from 62.55% for the same corresponding period of 2008.

“While PMAH’s figures consist only of star-rated hotels, it is impossible that the service apartments and budget hotels are running at more than 100% occupancy all year round to accommodate for such huge tourist arrivals,” said Teng in a statement.

Teng, who is former state tourism development committee chairman, was commenting on a statement by state tourism development and culture committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang that “not all tourists stay hotels, some stay at houses or service apartments.”

Law had also denied an allegation that the state government blew up tourist arrivals figure for last year, saying the statistics were supplied by the Tourism Ministry.

Law said it was the ministry that provided the figures of 3.49 million domestic tourists and 2.81 million foreign tourists for Penang for 2008.

To this, Teng, who is also Tanjung Gerakan division chairman, said Law’s reply demonstrated his inadequacy and lack of inquisitive attitude towards figures presented to him. “This nullifies the very notion of a competent, accountable and transparent government!”

Teng said he was doubtful about the figures, based on his own calculations and Law should have questioned the ministry over the methodology and accuracy of the figures.