Showcasing Malaysia’s travel gems

Four-day SKCCM carnival offers attractive promotions from across the country

BUTTERWORTH: Sun, sea, heri­tage, nature and leisure – Malaysia has it all, and the Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia (SKCCM) Penang is the place to be for domestic travel packages and promotions.

The four-day carnival at Sunway Carnival Mall, which ends today, serves as a one-stop centre for all matters related to domestic travel.

Showcasing unique tourism attractions in Malaysia, the carnival features 40 exhibitors offering attractive packages and promotions from destinations across the country.

The Penang edition is the latest stop in the nationwide SKCCM 2026 roadshow, organised by Star Media Group (SMG) in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia to encourage Malaysians to discover more of the country’s diverse travel experiences.

Carrying the theme “Explore. Experience. Excite.” and supporting Tourism Malaysia’s “Destinasi Indah, Harga Rahmah” initiative, SKCCM Penang has brought together travel agencies, hotels, resorts, tourism attractions and experience providers from across Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia’s domestic and events division senior director Mohd Roslan Abdullah said SKCCM 2026 received an encouraging response, surpassing its RM1mil sales target at its third stop in Sabah.

One for the album: Mohd Roslan (seated centre) with (seated from left) SMG events general manager Douglas Jansz, Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan, SMG client brand marketing (bureaus) general manager Simone Liong and Tourism Malaysia Northern Region director Abdul Hadi Che Man posing for a photo with performers and exhibitors at the Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Penang held at Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Perai. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

“I am confident that the target of 200,000 visitors across the six locations – Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Penang, Selangor and Sarawak – will be achieved and potentially surpassed.

“Penang is the fourth stop in the SKCCM 2026 tour, part of an ongoing carnival aimed at further strengthening the domestic tourism ecosystem, particularly in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign,” said Mohd Roslan, who was the guest of honour at the carnival’s opening ceremony yesterday.

He thanked SMG for collaborating with Tourism Malaysia to boost the tourism industry and give local businesses a platform to reach a wider market.

Citing Department of Statistics Malaysia figures, he said domestic tourism recorded 74.7 million visitors in the first quarter of 2026, up 7.2% from 69.7 million in the same period last year.

Penang recorded 17.7 million of the 290.1 million domestic visitors nationwide last year.

'I am confident that the target of 200,000 visitors across the six locations – Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Penang, Selangor and Sarawak – will be achieved and potentially surpassed.' - Mohd Roslan Abdullah

“Domestic tourism continues to record positive growth in the second quarter of 2026 with 76.9 million domestic visitors, compared with 73.8 million in the same quarter of 2025 – an increase of 4.2%.

“For the first half of this year, Malaysia recorded 151.6 million domestic visitors, compared with 143.7 million during the corresponding period in 2025, representing an increase of 5.49%.

“I am confident that this figure will continue to increase throughout the VM2026-2027 campaign,” he said.

Mohd Roslan said domestic tourism remained a catalyst for local economies and the growth of the country’s tourism industry.

He also said SKCCM 2026 was launched as a strategic initiative to support the campaign.

“We hope SKCCM will continue to serve as a catalyst for the development of domestic tourism and encourage Malay­sians to discover, appreciate and value the country’s treasures, in line with the aspiration of ‘Yang Indah Destinasi Kita’,” he said.