Holiday fair kicks off with travel deals

Terengganu’s ‘nasi dagang’ caught the eye of this mother and son visiting the fair.

A WEEKEND stroll through East Coast Mall in Kuantan, Pahang, became a quick tour of Malaysia for shoppers dropping by the “Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026”.

Over the three-day event, visitors browsed booths featuring beach resort promotions, homestay packages, batik collections and local delicacies such as nasi dagang, patin tempoyak and kek lapis.

Besides domestic travel packages, visitors were also enticed by an array of local food like ‘patin tempoyak’ from Pahang.

On stage, traditional performances and interactive games kept visitors entertained.

Wira and Manja balloons being given out to young ones.

Wira and Manja, the official mascots for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, also made an appearance, drawing long queues of people eager to take photos with the sun bears.

A bird’s-eye view of the fair in Kuantan, which had a mix of everything from family breaks to food.

The event gave visitors a chance to discover destinations beyond Pahang, with booths showcasing travel packages and attractions from Johor, Sabah, Sarawak and Penang.

For families, the carnival was a convenient way to compare prices and plan their upcoming trips.

Many visitors looking around for local getaway promotions.

Kuantan is the first stop of the roadshow.

Cultural dancers putting on a colourful performance during the carnival’s launch.

The event will move next to Johor Baru (Johor), Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Seberang Perai (Penang), Bandar Sunway (Selangor) and Kuching (Sarawak).

For details, visit events.thestar.com.my/skccm/