Kuala Lumpur: Tourism Malaysia is actively promoting northern states, particularly Penang, in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) campaign. Tourism Malaysia Northern Region director Abdul Hadi Che Man said efforts included collaborating with travel agencies to offer attractive packages focusing on unique destinations in Penang, Kedah, and Perlis.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abdul Hadi highlighted that for Penang, they are focusing on the Heritage Tour, while eco-tourism products are being showcased for Kedah and Perlis. This strategy aims to attract visitors to explore all northern states. Additionally, Tourism Malaysia will participate in the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair, held in Penang for the northern region. This event will feature travel agencies from Kedah, including Langkawi, Perlis, and Penang, alongside hotel operators from across Malaysia, to promote tour packages.
Abdul Hadi mentioned that travel agencies in the north would be introduced to counterparts in other states to enhance the marketing of tourism packages. Today’s event is part of Tourism Malaysia’s efforts in line with the VMY2026 campaign, conducted in collaboration with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB). Tourists arriving on 22 international flights were greeted with lion dance performances and given mandarin oranges as a symbolic gesture of the Chinese New Year celebration.
He noted that the tourists arrived from Taipei, Kuala Namu (Indonesia), Singapore, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to create a memorable experience for those visiting Malaysia. This was the first time Tourism Malaysia organised such an event, held simultaneously at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 (KLIA 1 and 2), Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah, and Kuching International Airport in Sarawak.
According to him, Malaysia recorded 38 million visitor arrivals last year, generating RM102.2 billion in tourism revenue, while VMY2026 is expected to attract 36 million international tourists.