PETALING JAYA: As the country gears up towards Visit Malaysia 2026, celebrate Malaysia’s culture, sights, food, offerings and glory with the upcoming Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2025.
The event is a strategic partnership between Tourism Malaysia and Star Media Group Berhad (SMG) to promote local travels and boost domestic tourism.
The Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia series will take place across six key locations — Pahang, Klang Valley, Sabah, Sarawak, Penang and Johor — and is expected to engage more than 200,000 Malaysians through vibrant showcases of local attractions, cultural performances, travel deals and destination experiences.
The Klang Valley stop will be hosted within The Great Outdoor Expo — largest outdoor and travel showcase, giving visitors a combined experience of adventure, culture, and travel promotions under one roof.
It was launched by by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing alongside the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (Tourism) Chua Choon Hwa and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy here on Friday at Menara Star (Aug 22).
Also present was Star Media Group (SMG) chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, SMG chief operating officer Lydia Wang and SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng.
In attendance were industry players, and media, which marked a milestone collaboration between the public and private sectors to re-energise Malaysia’s tourism landscape through a grassroots, community-focused approach.
Speaking about the carnival, Tiong emphasised the need for inclusivity and innovation in tourism promotion while urging the carnival be expanded nationwide to highlight the beauty of each state in the country.
“From bustling cities to quiet kampungs, from coastal charm to rainforest majesty, and from deep-rooted heritage to vibrant modern lifestyles, in fact every of our states has a unique story to tell, and all deserve to be part of this national celebration.
“Tourism promotion must not be about clichés, but about discovering and showcasing hidden gems, culturally significant destinations, and products that are innovative, creative, profound and meaningful.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge our media partners to take the lead, not simply following trends, but shaping them to drive the tourism industry toward innovation, originality and renewed vitality,” he said, adding that media partners should move beyond the repetition of overused themes and familiar products.
During his opening remarks, Chan said the phrase Cuti-Cuti Malaysia always brought a smile to his face.
“It reminds me of family road trips, that little-known beach, a plate of char kuey teow in a small town, or that breathtaking view from a hilltop we never knew existed.
These are the memories and experiences that connect us to our country and to each other — and that feeling of connection and rediscovery is exactly why we are all here today.” he said.
On the Karnival series, Chan said that it was about creating impact and momentum through the six stops while aiming to drive footfall and spending in the host states, spotlight SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs, and promote travel itineraries that extend visitors’ stays.
As we look forward to Visit Malaysia 2026, he urged everyone to support local businesses, explore the towns and trails as well as share the beauty of Malaysia with each other.
The series will feature local crafts and tourism booths, cultural showcases and traditional performances, travel deals, flash sales and giveaways, family-friendly attractions and food fairs.
The locations for the Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia are held at Pahang – Kuantan City Mall, Kuantan (Sept 19-21), Sabah – Imago Mall, Kota Kinabalu (Oct 10-12), Sarawak – Plaza Merdeka, Kuching (Oct 17-19), Penang – Gurney Paragon, George Town (Oct 31 – Nov 2) and Johor – Paradigm Mall Convention Centre, Johor Baru (Nov 7-9).
The Great Outdoor Expo — SMG’s proprietary event — will return from Oct 3 to 5 at MAEPS Serdang.
