By WU VUIDE
PENANG: Tourism Malaysia Sabah is seeking to increase the number of visitors from Sabah to Penang and Perak through a domestic tourism promotion programme.
Its deputy director, Khairul Amir Anuar, said the initiative was expected to encourage more Sabahans to visit the two states and create potential demand for direct flights between the destinations.
The six-day Mansau-Ansau VM2026 familiarisation trip, led by tourism officer Fariza Zakaria, was held from Oct 29 to Nov 3. It involved six participants, comprising local media representatives and social media influencers from Sabah.
“Mansau-Ansau”, a Kadazan-Dusun term meaning “going for a walk”, was organised to promote northern Peninsular Malaysia as a domestic tourism destination under the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign.
Khairul said the programme, now in its third edition, was also in line with the Tourism Malaysia Strategic Plan 2022–2026, which aims to strengthen domestic tourism through media involvement.
The strategy includes familiarisation trips involving mainstream and new media practitioners, bloggers and key opinion leaders (KOLs).
Participants visited attractions in Penang, including George Town Heritage Walk and Street Arts, Chew Jetty, Penang Peranakan Mansion, The TOP Komtar, Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, The Habitat Penang Hill and Gurney Plaza, among others.
In Perak, the destinations included Kellie’s Castle, Lat House Gallery, Concubine Street, Birch Memorial Clock Tower, a Tambun pomelo agro farm and Tasik Cermin Ipoh.
The programme also introduced participants to local food in both states.
Popular Penang dishes include asam laksa, char kuey teow, nasi kandar, pasembur and cendol, while Perak is known for Ipoh nasi ganja, soy sauce noodles, chicken with bean sprouts, rendang tok, tau fu fa and Ipoh white coffee.
Malaysia recorded 151.6 million domestic visitor trips in the first half of 2026, an increase of 5.6 per cent from 143.5 million in the corresponding period last year.
Tourism Malaysia will continue working with industry players and strategic partners to diversify promotional efforts, expand market reach and support sustainable tourism growth under the VM2026–2027 campaign.
Participants of the Mansau-Ansau programme explore Penang Peranakan Mansion.
