BATU KAWAN: Design Village Penang Outlet Mall, the northern region’s first premium outlet mall, is looking to attract some 2.5 million visitors this year.
For the first seven months of this year, the outlet has attracted 1.1 million visitors with RM66 million in total retail spending.
Since it opened its doors last November, it has hosted 1.3 million visitors.
PE Land (Penang) Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Andy Song Chung Boon said the company is banking on the year-end crowd to boost the numbers.
PE Land is the project developer for the RM250 million outlet mall.
“Having recorded 1.1 million visitors for the first seven months, we are optimistic of achieving the set target.
“And with our unique set up, shopping experience and steep discounts, that sets us apart from other shopping malls, we are confident that people will come here to shop,” he told NST Business at the launch of The Food Bazaar outlet here today.
Song said the outlet enjoyed an equal share of foreign and domestic tourists.
“Thailand is number one for international tourist arrivals, but we have visitors from Indonesia, China, Singapore and the Philippines as well.
“We are working closely with travel agents to bring in more international tourists to visit the outlet,” he added, noting that they had recorded 338 coaches and vans bringing international tourists to the outlet in the first seven months of this year.
“We are looking to have at least 50 coaches and vans drop guests at the outlet daily, up from the current five.
“Although its a tall order, it is not impossible as we are slowly but surely picking up the pace since we opened for business,” he said.
Song said about 80 per cent of the 150 stores have been occupied, with occupancy rates expected to reach 90 per cent by the end of this year.
Among the new brands coming in are Sasa, The Kitchen Shop and The Morning After.
The 10.1ha mall built by PE Land, and marketed by Savills Malaysia, features a coterie of fashion shops, including international and regional brands at discounts.
Savills Malaysia is the leasing and retail development adviser for PE Land.
The outlet, located close to the landing point of the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge here, houses a diverse selection of brands, with 150 stores built on 400,000 sq ft within a tropical garden.
Among the existing brands are BVO Best Value Outlet, Sacoor Brothers, Timberland, Superdry, Esprit, Guess, Levi’s, Samsonite as well as Coffee Bean, Starbucks and Wendy’s.