GEORGE TOWN: Penang has made it into the list of "15 Best Islands In The World To Retire On In 2021".
Penang, also known as the Pearl of the Orient, came in third place after Malta and Mallorca, Spain.
The other Asian countries on the list were Bali in ninth place, Koh Samui, Thailand in 10th place and Phu Quoc, Vietnam in 15th place.
Also in the list were, Ambergris Caye, Belize (fourth place), Ireland (fifth), Roatan, Honduras (sixth), Isla Mujeres, Mexico (seventh), Isla Colon, Panama (eighth), Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic (11th), Crete, Greece (12th), Cozumel, Mexico (13th) and Caye Caulker, Belize (14th).
In an article published by Travel Awaits on Saturday, expert contributor Kara Williams started by saying that "if the idea of retiring to an island complete with sandy beaches, salty breezes, and a laid-back lifestyle appeals to you, the folks at International Living have you covered".
Williams said the list was curated by "in-the-know professionals" who have been covering overseas retirement trends for decades.
The criteria for their top 15 list included the ability to live a simpler, more peaceful life without breaking the bank.
On Penang, Williams described the former British colony as home to a mix of nationalities, and welcoming to North Americans, with English widely spoken on the island.
"If you're eager to travel in retirement, having Penang as your home base makes it easy to fly to many other countries in Southeast Asia.
"This island also appeals to foodies, with its plethora of food stalls, prominently found in the main city, George Town, as well as adventurers who like to hike, dive, and snorkel," she had said.
Describing Malaysia's My Second Home (MM2H) programme as a generous retirement visa, she however noted that it was now temporarily suspended due to the pandemic.
Travel Awaits described itself as "dedicated to the 50+ traveller who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list".
Meanwhile, state Tourism Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin took to his Facebook page to share the article, saying that "Penang ranks 3rd in the world and 1st in Asia".
In November last year, Penang was named as one of the "11 Best Islands for Retirement Abroad" by International Living, a website that covers global retirement or relocation opportunities.
In October and June the same year, Penang's Assam laksa made it into the list of "The World's 50 Best Foods" by CNN Travel while George Town made it into the list of "The 10 Best Destinations for Digital Nomads", citing good cost of living, ample co-working spaces, good level of free Wi-Fi and friendliness, respectively.