By V. Sivaji
In gearing up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) today launched the “Penang Inspiring Meetings X Visit Malaysia 2026” campaign at the newly opened Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC).
The launch was officiated by key state leaders, led by Deputy Chief Minister II YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, together with YB Wong Hon Wai, State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy; YB Teh Lai Heng, Assemblyman for Komtar; PCEB CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran; and representatives from Penang’s hospitality and tourism sector.
Welcoming industry partners, Wong highlighted the significance of the campaign as Penang enters a strategic period of tourism and business events growth.
“This campaign arrives at a pivotal moment for Penang and Malaysia, where tourism, business events, and community partnerships converge to drive sustainable growth and strengthen our global presence,” he said.
Wong emphasised that Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is more than a tourism programme—it is a nationwide effort to showcase Malaysia’s cultural diversity, heritage, and world-class infrastructure.
“For Penang, VM2026 is an opportunity to elevate our position as a preferred destination for leisure and business travellers,” he added.
Wong noted that Penang’s tourism sector has shown encouraging growth in 2025, driven by increasing domestic and regional travel demand. Penang now boasts direct air connectivity to 20 international cities, including Bangkok, Phuket, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Taipei, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Dubai, Doha, Chennai, Yangon and others.
“Hong Kong Express recently doubled its flight frequency from once daily to twice daily, enhancing our regional links. This morning, we also welcomed the inaugural TransNusa flight from Jakarta, and soon we will receive Batik Air’s inaugural services for Medan–Penang and Singapore–Penang,” Wong said.
A key highlight of Wong’s speech was the opening of the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, which he described as a milestone for the state’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
“With PWCC fully operational, Penang has entered a new era for large-scale international exhibitions and conventions. The economic impact—from hotel stays to visitor spending and business collaborations—is highly encouraging.”
He added that the Penang State Government, through PCEB, continues to strengthen Penang’s position as a leading regional business events destination. PCEB’s global outreach includes participation in international trade shows, joint roadshows with MyCEB, and the successful hosting of the Penang International Travel Exchange (PITE).
“Aligned with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, PCEB will intensify efforts to attract more international events to Penang. With strong support from the State Government and industry partners, Penang is poised to emerge as a major regional hub for business events—contributing significantly to the state economy and creating more high-impact job opportunities,” he said.
Earlier, Ashwin in his speech said that as part of its CSR focus, they have chosen to highlight the turtle conservation efforts at the Penang Turtle Sanctuary in Pantai Kerachut as a symbol of sustainability for this campaign.
“This collaborations demonstrate how business events can deliver not just economic benefits but also positive contributions to Penang’s environment and community,” he added.
Following the official ceremony, guests mingled and enjoyed a selection of Penang’s iconic culinary favourites.
Sounds like Penang is really pulling out all the stops to make Visit Malaysia 2026 a huge success!