George Town was founded as a free port in 1786 to serve British interests in Southeast Asia. The development of the port made George Town a center of world trade, attracting foreign traders mainly from China, India and Arabia. As a result, George Town developed into the multi-ethnic community that exists today.
This diversity is reflected in the city's architecture and rich intangible cultural heritage. Today, the diverse cultural and religious communities living in George Town live in harmony through a multicultural understanding of traditions that are passed down from generation to generation despite cultural and ethnic differences.
Local people have a strong sense of ownership of their cultural identity and act as custodians and inheritors of this unique heritage.