By V. Sivaji
Penang’s appeal as a popular tourist destination remains strong as it secured two prominent spots among the Top 5 localities nationwide.
The survey was was carried out by Paid Accommodation Survey for the first quarter of 2026 by Tourism Malaysia recently.
Among the localities are Batu Ferringhi (securing 2nd spot) while Tanjung Bungah secured fifth spot. The top spot went to Genting Highlands with Sepang securing 3rd spot and Langkawi securing 4th spot.
The latest recognition was shared by Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai while speaking at the Penang Global Tourism (PGT) launch event of its “Fall in Love with Penang” campaign held at the Capri by Fraser, Penang earlier today.
The initiative marked the unveiling of PGT’s new website, a refreshed digital platform designed to enhance access to Penang tourism information and travel inspiration. It will will further benefit the tourism industry and its stakeholders.
In his opening speech, Wong added that the “Fall in Love with Penang” campaign is the latest domestic tourism campaign and another important initiative as Penang builds momentum in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 and 2027. “The message is simple, we want Malaysians to discover Penang, rediscover what they already love about our state, and find new reasons to return.
“At the same time, the way people travel has changed. Travellers today discover destinations through social media and videos, follow recommendations from content creators, compare options online and look for attractive deals before making their decisions,” shared Wong.
He also added that domestic tourism continues to play an important role in Penang’s tourism industry.
“While we continue to strengthen international connectivity and attract visitors from around the world, the domestic market remains an important foundation of our tourism economy.”
A strong domestic market is particularly important during periods of global uncertainty. Recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East remind us that international travel can be affected by circumstances beyond our control. Strengthening domestic tourism therefore helps us build a more resilient and diversified tourism sector, while complementing our international tourism efforts,” he added.
The various collaborations provide a platform for tourism industry players to participate in targeted promotions while giving consumers access to attractive travel deals.
“As we move forward with Visit Malaysia 2026 and 2027, Penang will continue to strengthen our destination branding, enhance the visitor experience and create more opportunities for our tourism stakeholders. Nevertheless, Penang’s strong appeal as a popular travel destination remains robust, with its development momentum continuing to hold steady,” added Wong.
Also present at the ceremony was YB Wong Yuee Harng, DR Annuar Mohamed (Penang MOTAC Director), Dato Tony Goh (Penang MAH Chairman), Ms Carolyn Leong (Penang MATTA chairman), Dato Ch’ng Huck Teng (Penang ATAP chairman), PGT Chief Executive Officer, Ooi Chok Yan, Ms Jessie Jessie Ong Vice President, Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association along with a host of other guests and industry players.