PETALING JAYA: Malaysian travellers can look forward to a wide range of value-for-money holiday deals and tourism promotions at the Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026, which will tour six states beginning next month.
On Wednesday (June 24), Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with Star Media Group Berhad (SMG), launched the Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026, a nationwide tourism initiative aimed at boosting domestic travel, strengthening industry participation and showcasing Malaysia’s diverse attractions in support of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
The carnival themed "Discover, Experience, Explore" is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors nationwide.
It will make its first stop in Pahang from July 3 to 5, before heading to Johor, Sabah, Penang, Selangor and Sarawak.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man said at the launch that Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026 plays an important role in supporting the objectives of VM2026.
"For Malaysians, it offers more than just attractive travel deals.
"The carnival supports Tourism Malaysia’s Destinasi Indah, Harga Rahmah initiative, which seeks to make travel more accessible and affordable for Malaysians," he said.
He added that it provides a unique opportunity to discover new destinations, experience cultural performances, enjoy local culinary delights and gain inspiration for future travel adventures across the country.
Chiew noted that a total of 17.5 million international visitor arrivals were recorded between January and May, a 3.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
"These achievements reflect the continued confidence of travellers in Malaysia as a preferred destination and reinforce our position as one of Asean's leading tourism destinations.
"Equally encouraging is the sustained growth of domestic tourism.
"More Malaysians are choosing to explore the wealth of experiences available within our own borders, whether through family holidays, short weekend escapes, cultural explorations or balik kampung journeys," he said, noting that last year, domestic visitor numbers increased by 11.5%, while domestic tourism expenditure grew by 13.6%, compared to 2024.
SMG chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt said the carnival is designed to bring travellers and tourism businesses together through an engaging platform that makes travel discovery and holiday planning more accessible and convenient.
"Through this initiative, we aim to inspire greater travel participation while supporting the growth of Malaysia's tourism industry.
"As a homegrown media organisation, Star Media Group is proud to collaborate with Tourism Malaysia in supporting the objectives of Visit Malaysia 2026.
"Leveraging our extensive media reach and platforms, we look forward to promoting Malaysia's unique destinations and encouraging more people to experience the country's rich tourism offerings," he said.
The carnival will be open to the public and feature exclusive travel packages, accommodation promotions, attraction deals, destination showcases, holiday giveaways and travel-planning opportunities.
The schedule is as follows:
Pahang (July 3-5): East Coast Mall, Kuantan
Johor (July 31-Aug 2): Paradigm Mall, Johor Baru
Sabah (Aug 14-16): Imago Shopping Mall, Kota Kinabalu
Penang (Sept 24-27): Sunway Carnival Mall, Seberang Prai
Selangor (Oct 23-25): Sunway Pyramid (Orange Zone), Petaling Jaya
Sarawak (Oct 30-Nov 1): Plaza Merdeka, Kuching
