The Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia (SKCCM) 2026 is currently underway at Sunway Carnival Mall in Butterworth, Penang, offering a comprehensive showcase of domestic travel opportunities across Malaysia. The four-day event, which concludes today, is designed to support local tourism by presenting a wide range of travel packages and promotions from various destinations around the country.
Organised by Star Media Group in partnership with Tourism Malaysia, the carnival forms part of a nationwide roadshow that has visited multiple states, including Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Selangor, and Sarawak. The Penang stop represents the fourth leg of the SKCCM 2026 tour, aligning with the broader Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign aimed at bolstering domestic tourism.
With the theme “Explore. Experience. Excite.”, the event brings together 40 exhibitors including travel agencies, hotels, resorts, tourism operators, and activity providers. These participants collectively offer visitors enticing deals designed to showcase Malaysia’s diverse travel offerings, from its beaches and natural landscapes to cultural and heritage sites.
Mohd Roslan Abdullah, senior director of Tourism Malaysia’s domestic and events division and guest of honor at the carnival’s opening ceremony, highlighted the event’s success so far, noting that sales targets had been exceeded during the Sabah stop. He expressed optimism about reaching the expected total of 200,000 visitors across all six locations involved in the roadshow.
Citing data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Mohd Roslan noted continued growth in domestic travel activity. The first quarter of 2026 saw 74.7 million domestic visitors, a 7.2% increase over the same period in 2025, while domestic tourism expanded by 4.2% in the second quarter to 76.9 million visitors. Over the first half of the year, Malaysia recorded 151.6 million domestic visits, up 5.49% compared to the previous year.
Penang accounted for 17.7 million of the 290.1 million domestic travelers in 2025, demonstrating its significance as a major tourism hub within the country. Mohd Roslan emphasised the importance of domestic tourism as a driver of economic growth and sustainable development in the tourism sector.
He described SKCCM 2026 as a strategic initiative that supports Malaysia’s domestic tourism agenda by encouraging citizens to explore the country’s attractions and value its natural and cultural heritage. Mohd Roslan expressed his hope that the carnival will continue to serve as a catalyst for expanding Malaysia’s domestic travel ecosystem and strengthening local businesses.