PETALING
JAYA — Tourism Malaysia in collaboration with Star Media Group Berhad (SMG),
today launched Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026, a nationwide tourism
initiative aimed at stimulating domestic travel, strengthening tourism industry
participation, and showcasing Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings in support
of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
Held
at Menara Star, the launch ceremony brought together tourism stakeholders,
industry players and media representatives, reflecting the importance of
strategic public-private partnerships in driving tourism growth, enhancing
destination awareness and generating greater travel demand across the country.
Carrying
the theme “Discover, Experience, Explore”, Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia
2026 will tour six states, Pahang, Johor, Sabah, Penang, Selangor and Sarawak,
and is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors nationwide. The carnival
serves as a platform to inspire Malaysians to explore the country's rich
tourism experiences while providing industry players with opportunities to
engage directly with consumers and promote their products and services.
Visitors
can look forward to destination showcases, exclusive travel promotions, tourism
products and interactive experiences, as well as opportunities to engage
directly with tourism operators and industry players. Bringing together state
tourism organisations, hotels, resorts, attractions, airlines, travel agencies,
adventure tourism operators, travel gear brands and tourism-related businesses
under one roof, the carnival offers a convenient one-stop platform for travel
planning and holiday purchases.
The
initiative also supports efforts to stimulate domestic tourism spending,
enhance consumer engagement and strengthen industry readiness ahead of Visit
Malaysia 2026. In support of the “Destinasi Indah, Harga Rahmah” initiative,
visitors will also have access to attractive travel offers and value-for-money
holiday packages that encourage Malaysians to explore destinations across the
country.
YB
Tuan Chiew Choon Man, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, expressed
that tourism is a key contributor to the nation's economy and a catalyst for
community development. Beyond generating economic opportunities, tourism
strengthens connections between visitors and local communities while supporting
the livelihoods of businesses, entrepreneurs and tourism operators across the
country.
“Every
journey creates opportunities for homestay operators, tour guides, transport
operators, e-hailing drivers, food vendors, handicraft entrepreneurs, and
countless small businesses that form the backbone of our tourism sector. In
this regard, Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026 plays an important role in
supporting the objectives of VM2026. As part of the year's calendar of tourism
events and promotional activities, the carnival provides a valuable platform
for tourism stakeholders to engage directly with consumers, promote travel
offerings and inspire greater exploration of destinations throughout Malaysia.”
He
added, “As VM2026 continues to gain momentum, every partnership, programme and
tourism initiative contributes towards strengthening Malaysia's position as a
preferred destination while encouraging Malaysians to take pride in and explore
the treasures within our own country.”
Star
Media Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chan Seng Fatt, said: "Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026 is designed to bring travellers and tourism
businesses together through an engaging platform that makes travel discovery
and holiday planning more accessible and convenient. Through this initiative,
we aim to inspire greater travel participation while supporting the growth of
Malaysia's tourism industry.
"As
a homegrown media organisation, Star Media Group is proud to collaborate with
Tourism Malaysia in supporting the objectives of Visit Malaysia 2026.
Leveraging our extensive media reach and platforms, we look forward to
promoting Malaysia's unique destinations and encouraging more people to
experience the country's rich tourism offerings.”
The
carnival is open to the public and will feature exclusive travel packages,
accommodation promotions, attraction deals, destination experiences, holiday
giveaways, travel planning opportunities and a variety of interactive tourism
activities designed to inspire visitors' next travel adventure.
The
six-state Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026 series will be held according
to the following schedule:
Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Pahang
Date:
3 – 5 July 2026
Venue:
East Coast Mall, Kuantan
Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Johor
Date:
31 July – 2 August 2026
Venue:
Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru
Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Sabah
Date:
14 – 16 August 2026
Venue:
Imago Shopping Mall, Kota Kinabalu
Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Penang
Date:
24 – 27 September 2026
Venue:
Sunway Carnival Mall, Penang
Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Selangor
Date:
23 – 25 October 2026
Venue:
Sunway Pyramid (Orange Zone), Selangor
Star
Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Sarawak
Date:
30 October – 1 November 2026
Venue:
Plaza Merdeka, Kuching
As
Malaysia prepares to welcome visitors under Visit Malaysia 2026, initiatives
such as Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2026 will continue to play an
important role in stimulating travel demand, strengthening industry
collaboration and promoting the diverse experiences that make Malaysia a
preferred tourism destination.
-Tourism Malaysia.