TAIPING: A stroll through the heart of Taiping reveals a town rich in heritage yet still waiting to unlock its true tourism potential. The old wet market, built between 1884 and 1885 and regarded as the oldest in the country, recently received a much-needed facelift. But questions remain on when it will reopen and in…
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor is in the final stretch of preparations for Visit Johor Year 2026 (VJY2026), with nearly 90% of its tourism infrastructure and products already in place as the state looks to welcome 12 million visitors. Tourism Johor director Mohammad Nazrul Abd Rahim said efforts were being intensified through large-scale promotions targeting key gateways…
KUALA LUMPUR: Tourist arrivals from ASEAN countries to Malaysia have surged by 15.5% in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2024, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said the increase was a testament to the country’s targeted promotional efforts and its strategic advantage…
GEORGE TOWN: A holiday purchase to Chengdu turned into a dream trip to Paris for Penangite C.L. Lim, who walked away with the grand prize in the MATTA Fair Penang 2025 Buyers’ Contest. The lucky draw, a much-anticipated highlight of the fair, saw Lim clinching two round-trip economy class tickets from Penang to Paris, courtesy…
KUALA LUMPUR: Several tour companies in Tawau, Sabah, believed to be locally owned, have instead been found to be controlled by Chinese investors and involved in a range of illegal operations. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said investigations uncovered that some of these operators had constructed overwater chalets without permits,…
SINGAPORE: Malaysia is stepping up its tourism game in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), with low-cost carrier Scoot joining the push through a strategic three-year partnership aimed at fuelling regional travel to the country. The Singapore-based airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, inked a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) with Tourism Malaysia, pledging to…
GEORGE TOWN, July 31 – Penang is set to become the beating heart of a nationwide conservation movement as the IKHTIAR Foundation launches its month-long “Love Our Turtles: Call-to-Action” campaign, a sweeping initiative dedicated to protecting Malaysia’s endangered sea turtles and promoting sustainable environmental stewardship. Running from August 15 to September 14, the campaign will…
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Hill Festival 2025 (PHF2025) came to a meaningful close yesterday evening with its signature event Music on the Hill – East Meets West, bringing the curtain down on a four-day celebration of heritage, culture and environmental appreciation atop one of Penang’s most iconic landmarks. Held at the historic Bellevue Hotel, the…
KLANG – Selangor is intensifying its efforts to position itself as one of the region’s top medical tourism hubs, capitalising on its world-class healthcare infrastructure and growing international interest in health travel. According to State Government and Tourism Committee Chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim, Selangor has intensified its promotional campaigns over the past two years…
MELAKA, July 17- The Melaka state government is set to roll out a smart tourism initiative called “Smart AI Tourism Melaka” by September this year, aimed at enhancing the digital tourism landscape, Bernama reported. According to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, the initiative will utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the overall visitor…
