PENANG is strengthening its push to encourage domestic tourism through the inaugural ATAP Visit Penang Carnival 2026, bringing together leading tourism attractions, hospitality players and service providers under one roof to inspire more Malaysians to rediscover the state.
The four-day carnival, which kicked off earlier today at the South Atrium of Sunway Carnival Mall here, was officiated by state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
Organised by the Association of Tourism Attractions Penang (ATAP) in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the carnival showcases Penang’s diverse tourism offerings, ranging from heritage and nature to healthcare, wellness, education, gastronomy and sightseeing experiences.
In his speech, Wong praised ATAP for its longstanding commitment to uniting tourism stakeholders and advancing Penang’s tourism industry.
“Over the years, ATAP has remained steadfast in its mission of uniting industry players and advancing Penang’s tourism sector.
“Through its dedication in bringing together tourism stakeholders, strengthening industry collaboration and enriching our tourism ecosystem, ATAP has played an indispensable and significant role in the growth of Penang’s tourism industry.
“From promoting tourism attractions and enhancing visitor experiences to fostering greater collaboration within the industry, ATAP has always stood together with the Penang government. We have continued to inject fresh momentum into the sustainable growth of Penang’s tourism sector,” he said.
Wong said the Visit Penang Carnival was more than just a tourism showcase, describing it as a reflection of the strong spirit of unity, collaboration and shared commitment among Penang’s tourism industry players.
“By leveraging our collective strengths and working hand in hand, we continue to demonstrate the vibrancy, resilience and immense potential of Penang’s tourism industry.
“This carnival also embodies the shared vision of the state government, tourism stakeholders and our strategic partners to continuously promote Penang as one of Malaysia’s premier tourism destinations, allowing more domestic and international visitors to discover our rich cultural heritage, diverse tourism offerings and unique charm,” he added.
Highlighting Penang’s strong tourism performance, Wong cited Tourism Malaysia’s Paid Accommodation Survey for the first quarter of 2026, which placed Penang among the top three states in Malaysia for international hotel guests alongside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
He said Kuala Lumpur recorded 3,006,280 international hotel guests, followed by Selangor with 1,051,718, while Penang welcomed an impressive 967,742 international hotel guests.
“These figures clearly demonstrate Penang’s strong appeal as an internationally recognised tourism destination and reaffirm the continued strength and positive momentum of our tourism industry,” he said.
While attracting international visitors remains a key priority under Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Wong stressed that domestic tourism continues to play an equally vital role in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the state’s tourism sector.
“As 2026 is Visit Malaysia Year 2026, while attracting international visitors remains a key priority, it is equally important that we continue encouraging Malaysians to explore and appreciate the beauty of their own country.
“Domestic travellers remain an essential pillar of Penang’s tourism ecosystem, providing a stable visitor base throughout the year, supporting tourism-related businesses and ensuring the industry’s sustainable and resilient growth,” he said.
Wong also pointed to Sunway Carnival Mall as an example of a strategic regional destination that attracts visitors from Perlis, Kedah and Perak, connecting tourism, leisure and consumer spending across northern Malaysia.
He added that Penang must continue strengthening its competitive edge through innovation and the introduction of new attractions.
Among the latest tourism products introduced in recent years are the reopened Penang State Museum, Fort Cornwallis, Penang State Museum Automotive Gallery, Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery, Guar Kepah Gallery, Ferringhi Bay, Penang Ferry Museum, Penang River Cruise, Penang History Gallery, Straits & Oriental Museum, Entopia by Night, Penang Hill Gallery @ Edgecliff, Umi Umi, Forest Island, Penang Indian Heritage Gallery and Cultural Centre, as well as the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre.
“It is precisely because our tourism industry continues to innovate and evolve that Penang’s tourism landscape has flourished with such diversity and vibrancy. Therefore, a platform that brings together these rich and varied tourism offerings under one roof is both timely and essential.
“In this regard, the Visit Penang Carnival serves as an excellent platform for members of the public to discover Penang’s newest attractions and experiences, enjoy exclusive promotional offers, and plan their next family outing or holiday within our beautiful state,” he said.
Earlier, ATAP chairman Datuk Ch’ng Huck Theng said the carnival represents an important milestone for the association and reflects what can be achieved through close collaboration among tourism industry players.
“Today marks an important milestone for ATAP. As the Chairman of the Association, it gives me great pride to witness our members coming together for the first-ever ATAP Visit Penang Carnival.
“This carnival reflects what we can achieve when we share a common vision and work hand in hand to promote Penang as a premier tourism destination,” he said.
Ch’ng said the event, originally planned for last year, had to be postponed due to global economic uncertainties, making its launch this year even more timely.
He said the carnival focuses on promoting Penang’s attractions, services and products to Malaysians, particularly those from Penang, Perlis, Kedah and northern Perak.
“We understand the importance of domestic tourism especially during the Covid-19 time when international tourism was at its minimum. It was the domestic tourism that supported us and the numbers were very, very encouraging.
“This is why I am confident that if we can do it then, no reason why we cannot do it again now,” he said.
Ch’ng added that domestic travellers remain crucial as they can visit Penang multiple times each year.
“What we need to do is to make sure that Penang is filled with exciting attractions, products and services that are of international standards but with its own Penang-lang culture and identity,” he said.
He noted that Penang offers world-class attractions and experiences, including Entopia, The Habitat Penang Hill, Unesco Biosphere Reserves, Sunway Medical Centre Penang, David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terraces, The TOP Penang, SEGi College Penang, Aroema Boutique Spa and Ghee Hiang.
He also expressed appreciation to the Penang State Government through the Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE), Tourism Malaysia Northern Region, Sunway Carnival Mall, organising partners, exhibitors and tourism stakeholders for supporting the inaugural carnival.
Running until Aug 9, the carnival features exhibitors including Ghee Hiang, The Habitat Penang Hill, David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terraces, Aroema Boutique Spa, The TOP Penang, Entopia, Sunway Medical Centre Penang, SEGi College Penang and Red Bus.
Visitors can enjoy exclusive promotions, attraction discounts, health screening offers, educational rebates, spa packages, lucky draws, interactive games and the ATAP Stamp Collection Challenge, where participants who collect stamps from all 10 participating booths can redeem a special gift while stocks last.
Tourism Malaysia is also offering complimentary goodie bags for eligible purchases made at participating exhibitors, subject to daily redemption limits.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi