PENANG has kicked off the New Year with a memorable mention in the authoritative CNN/New York Times Places to Visit 2026 listing.
Under the top 52 places to visit this year (2026), the state was listed with the likes of Adelaide (its sister Australian city), Algeria (nation), Aragon (Spain), East Timor (nation), Brussels (Belgium), Devon (UK), Oulu (Finland), and Philadelphia (US).
Penang was mentioned for its gastronomic treats, with the Peranakan culture singled out, its history, murals as well as a reference to the world-famous shoemaker, Datuk Jimmy Choo, who is originally from Penang.
State exco for tourism Wong Hon Wai took to social media to celebrate the listing, saying that it is one of the many accolades the state has chalked up.
With the "Visit Malaysia Year 2026" campaign underway to officially signal that the nation is moving on from the nightmarish period of the lockdowns of Covid-19, Wong expects Penang's tourism scene to fare better this year.
Penang Global Tourism posted that the listing is a global recognition of what makes Penang truly special.
"Penang has been named No. 15 on the highly-anticipated 52 Best Places to Go in 2026 — the annual travel package published by the CNN/New York Times. More proudly, Penang is the only destination in Malaysia to make the list.
“Penang is celebrated as a multicultural city rich in history that continues to honour and celebrate its storied past. From layered heritage streets and living traditions to cultures that thrive side by side, Penang’s story isn’t just preserved — it’s lived every day."
Meanwhile, former Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan said that to protect the legacy of the renowned hawkers and street food vendors, the local authorities must ensure that only locals cook the world-famous delights.
He took offence to reports of foreigners cooking at food courts, saying that there is a need to check against such alleged abuse.
"We want our heritage and legacy to be protected. If we cannot cook our own food, what is the meaning of all these accolades?"
The street food is part and parcel of the state's culture; it should not be compromised just to make more money or outsourced to third foreign parties when the locals must be able to cook it, said Raveentharan.
Travel trade practitioner Eric R. Sinnaya urged the tourism authorities to focus on sustainable tourism in conjunction with the VMY campaign.
He said that eco-tourism would help position the country better among foreign tourists instead of just urbanised settings of retail, amusement and landmarks. - January 7, 2025.
