By V. Sivaji
The Association of Tourism Attractions Penang (ATAP) will organise its “Visit Penang Carnival 2026” from August 6 to 9 at the Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Jaya.
Present to announce the details of the inaugural event was Penang Sate Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai along with ATAP chairman Dato’ Ch’ng Huck Theng and his members at Komtar earlier today.
Among the participating partners are Ghee Hiang, Entopia, The Habitat Penang Hill, The TOP Penang, David Brown’s Restaurant, Areoma Boutique Spa, SEGi College Penang, Tropical Spice Garden and Sunway Medical Centre Penang, alongside other industry partners.
Wong welcomed the move as it will help promote domestic tourism in view of the current Middle East crisis which has affected overall tourism numbers.
“This is an excellent example of how the State Government and tourism industry stakeholders can work together to promote Penang’s tourism offerings, engage local communities and create greater awareness of the many experiences available throughout the state.
“This initiative is particularly meaningful as it will bring Penang’s tourism experiences directly to the community. More so when we are hosting Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“Tourism is not just attracting visitors from overseas as it is equally important to cultivate local support, encourage repeat visitation and foster stronger connections between tourism operators and the communities we serve,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ch’ng added that the event was conceived to bring Penang’s tourism experiences closer to the community while strengthening awareness of the state’s tourism offerings.
“”We are grateful for the support of PETACE, Sunway Carnival Mall as our host venue, Focal Concepts as our event management partner, and all participating members who have come together to make this initiative possible. This is a collective effort to promote Penang and contribute towards the momentum of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“Penang has an incredible diversity of attractions, from nature and heritage to gastronomy, wellness, education and family experiences. Through this carnival, we want to create a platform where visitors can discover these experiences in a fun and accessible environment while encouraging more people to explore Penang.
“Our members will also have special discounts and promotions available throughout the carnival too,” he added.
Other highlights include exclusive promotions, tourism packages, educational activities, workshops, contests, giveaways and interactive experiences throughout the four-day event.
In closing, Wong commended ATAP for coming up with the carnival as it will promote tourism from the Asian region and also domestic tourism.
ATAP represents approximately 60 members and is the only organization in the country dedicated to serving tourism attraction operators.