Penang recorded 967,742 international hotel guests in the first quarter of 2026, ranking third in Malaysia behind Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, according to Malay Mail.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the data, from Tourism Malaysia’s Paid Accommodation Survey, placed Penang behind Selangor with 1,051,718 international hotel guests and Kuala Lumpur with 3,006,280.
“These figures clearly demonstrate Penang’s strong appeal as an internationally recognised tourism destination and reaffirm the continued strength and positive momentum of our tourism industry,” Wong said in his speech at the opening of the ATAP Visit Penang Carnival 2026 at Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Perai on Thursday.
The four-day carnival, organised by the Association of Tourism Attractions Penang (ATAP), brought together over 60 tourism members under one roof with special deals for visitors. ATAP chairman Datuk Ch’ng Huck Theng said the carnival reflected what could be achieved when industry players worked together to promote Penang. ATAP currently has more than 60 members contributing to about 30,000 jobs.
Separately, Penang International Airport recorded a 10 per cent increase in passenger movement in the first quarter, with overall movement exceeding 2.19 million compared to 1.99 million over the same period last year, The Vibes reported.
The growth comes despite global challenges including the Middle East crisis. Wong told the state legislative sitting that direct air links had illustrated Penang’s standing as an international inbound tourism market, with the spillover evident across hotels, food and beverage outlets, transport and retail.
For 2025, Penang recorded 8.76 million hotel guests, with 3.47 million international visitors and 5.29 million domestic travellers, Malay Mail noted in an earlier report. Despite its relatively small geographical size, Penang ranked fifth nationwide for total hotel guests after Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Johor and Selangor.
Wong said that while attracting international visitors remained a top priority for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, encouraging Malaysians to explore their own country was equally important. Domestic travellers remained an important demographic, providing a stable visitor base throughout the year.
“Tourism has always been one of the key pillars of Penang’s economy,” Wong said. He added that the tourism sector creates employment opportunities, supports local businesses and contributes significantly to the local economy.
