GEORGE TOWN, July 3 -- Penang state executive councillor for tourism and creative economy Wong Hon Wai has criticised the domestic tourism figures released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), calling them inaccurate.

He said the DOSM's 2024 domestic tourism survey placed Perak ahead of Penang in terms of domestic tourist numbers.

"It is based on a limited sample size using a flawed methodology," he said in a statement today, responding to a query by Penang Muda chairman Andika Putera.

Wong said the DOSM report was based on a sample survey rather than actual records of hotel room stays.

"The data was collected through household questionnaires and not from actual tourist sites, which makes the findings subjective and retros...