FROM whispering bids at Kedah’s famed Pasar Bisik to chasing the seasonal Harumanis mango harvest in Perlis, northern Malaysia is carving a name for itself through immersive travel experiences that go beyond conventional sightseeing.
Tourism stakeholders say experiential tourism is increasingly drawing younger travellers seeking authentic encounters rooted in local culture, food and community life.
Tourism Malaysia northern region director Abdul Hadi Che Man said younger tourists, especially Generation Z, preferred to feel, see, smell and immerse themselves fully instead of just sightseeing.
“Both Kedah and Perlis provide experiences that are completely unique to the states as well,” said Abdul Hadi.
Speaking to reporters after a media familiarisation trip to Kedah and Perlis, he said one of the standout destinations was Pasar Bisik in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, where a silent bidding system was used to make purchases.
Here, buyers have to whisper their offers to the fishermen or fishmongers selling the produce and the purchase would only go through if the offer was accepted.
Abdul Hadi said Harumanis mango was one of the unique aspects of Perlis.
“Its harvest season from April to June coincides with the hot and dry season.
“Our hope is that the tourism industry here not only grows but helps uplift the surrounding communities and business operators.
“We don’t want Kedah and Perlis to just be a route that tourists take while heading to other destinations.
“Instead, try to spend at least a night and experience the wonders of these two states,” he said.
Perlis State Secretary Incorporation manager Mohd Irzat Rozaidy said there was growing interest in Perlis, referring to the number of visitors entering the state which has increased by two million since 2024.
“This is a significant increase and we are targeting improvements this year as well,” he said, adding that 2026 is the final year of the Visit Perlis campaign.
“Throughout the campaign, new tourism products were released and tourists began to see Perlis as a travel destination,” said Mohd Irzat, referring to the vast ecotourism destinations in the state.
Among them is Bukit Chabang, known for its iconic twin peaks.
“While this has always been around, our efforts to improve the infrastructure to make it more accessible has piqued interest among various tourist segments,” he said.
According to Mohd Irzat, there are also plans to establish Perlis Tourism.
Its priorities would include drafting a tourism strategic plan 2027-2030 ahead of future tourism campaigns in the state.
“At the same time, we have to improve our infrastructure to support the incoming number of tourists to the state,” he said.
