George Town's heritage brand travels far, named must-see destination for 2016 by LA Times

Penang's George Town has been named among the 16 "must-see" destinations for 2016 by the Los Angeles Times.

In its Boxing Day article titled "Looking for a 2016 vacation? Here are 16 must-see destinations", the US paper wrote that Penang's main city is a Unesco World Heritage site with a 500-year history of trading and a hotel boom in progress.

The report said as many as 10 new hotels are expected to open next year, with many cruise lines calling at the port.

"With luck, this growth will leave intact the city's most historic architecture and encourage its lively food scene," it said.

The report also gave a brief history of George Town, which has a population of about 500,000.

"George Town was a British trading post from the early 19th century (hence its name) until Malaysian independence in 1957. It gives you British echoes, Malay essence, Chinese and Indian commercial traditions, scattered rickshaws and a stew of religions," the report stated.

George Town joined other destinations, including Botswana, Bozeman in Montana, Cartagena in Colombia, Dublin in Ireland, Harlem in New York and Iran.

Other destinations included in the list are Myanmar, Natchez in Mississippi, Orange County Coast, Paris, San Sebastian in Spain, Seattle, Stratford-Upon-Avon in England, Washington D.C, and Williamstown in Kentucky. -- The Malaysian Insider