Tourism Malaysia aims to boost joint Penang-Kedah tour packages for international travellers, by inviting travel agents on a "familiarisation" trip.
Northern Region director Abdul Hadi Che Man said the move is designed to tap into the steady flow of foreign arrivals via the Penang International Airport (PIA), many of whom continue their journey to other northern destinations in the peninsula.
Agents catering to major markets like China, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong will be introduced to Kedah's tourism products, which can then be packaged and sold as combined itineraries.
"We're looking at offering packages that blend the best of Penang and Kedah. With the agents onboard, we hope to drive tourist spillover into Kedah and boost its local tourism industry.
"PIA currently handles around 55 international and over 30 domestic flights daily, cementing its position as the primary gateway to the north, with over eight million passenger movements recorded last year alone," he said after the Kedah Tourism B2B programme, which was also attended by Kedah Tourism general manager Mohd Zaidy Omar.
Abdul Hadi said Kedah's featured tourism products will include Gunung Jerai, Pulau Songsong, mangrove cruises along Sungai Merbok, Ulu Legong Hot Springs, Gua Sireh in Baling, and newer attractions in Sik like Kasa Kanda, Rock Village and the Sik coffee plantation.
These eco-tourism offerings, he noted, are expected to resonate particularly with visitors from Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, which are markets that crave nature experiences rarely found in their own urban landscapes.
Mohd Zaidy, meanwhile, said Kedah Tourism is doubling down on promoting new mainland destinations beyond Langkawi, as part of the state's push for Visit Malaysia 2026.
He highlighted that Kedah is rich in nature-based, geo-tourism and eco-tourism products with strong potential to attract both domestic and international travellers.
"Through collaboration with tourism players from Kedah, Penang and Perak, we're promoting Gunung Jerai, Sungai Merbok, Pulau Songsong, white water rafting in Kulim and Ulu Legong Hot Springs, to create more diverse tour packages," he added.
On the sector's performance, Mohd Zaidy said Kedah recorded over nine million tourist arrivals last year, comprising more than 7.1 million domestic visitors and over 2.2 million international tourists. Langkawi, meanwhile, is targeting over three million arrivals this year.
He said the B2B programme, which will connect 40 representatives from 30 Kedah tourism companies with nearly 100 buyers from Penang and Perak, is expected to boost cross-state cooperation and enhance marketing of mainland Kedah's destinations for Visit Malaysia 2026. – Bernama
