Gerakan says it is "sorely disappointed" that the number of tourists visiting Penang last year plunged, despite the state being declared a Unesco world heritage site two years ago.

Gerakan Youth chief Oh Teong Keong said the party was angry that the state was not capable of attracting tourists despite many Penangites being dependent on the tourism sector.

Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen said yesterday that 6.3 million tourists visited Penang in 2008, but last year the figure dropped to 5.96 million.

Oh criticised the lacklustre performance of the state government in increasing tourist figures. Before the highly sought-after status was conferred, he added, Penang under the Gerakan-led Barisan Nasional government, ranked fourth in the country in terms of tourist arrivals.

"We are disappointed and sickened that the state government does not appreciate the Unesco status and there was no effort to promote the state," Oh told a press conference at the Opposition Leader's office at the Penang state assembly today.

He also said tourists in Penang were not aware that they were visiting a Unesco world heritage site due to the lack of proper information.

"The state's Visit Penang 2010-2012 campaign is nothing but empty talk and is insincere; the campaign is directionless as there are no new projects or innovation.

"All programmes are based on festivals and celebrations and there seem to be no sincere commercial activities for tourists," Oh added.