GEORGE TOWN: Penang has received two major tourism accolades in a week, earning a place on National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 list before making its debut among Asia’s top 10 cities for meetings in Smart Travel Asia’s Best in Travel Poll 2026.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the continued recognition from international travel publications and industry rankings would help strengthen Penang’s tourism brand and raise its profile among travellers worldwide.
“With the extensive reach and readership of these international travel publications, such accolades help introduce Penang to a wider global audience, inspiring more international travellers to discover the state and visit our shores.
“This, in turn, can generate fresh momentum for the local tourism industry and related economic sectors,” he said in a statement today (Oct 24).
Penang was the only Southeast Asian destination among the 25 places featured in National Geographic’s annual list, unveiled on Oct 20 after the publication’s editors shortlisted destinations from hundreds of nominations submitted by its writers, photographers, explorers and staff.
National Geographic described Penang as a state of two halves, highlighting George Town’s UNESCO-listed historic streets and beaches backed by rainforest on the island, alongside traditional villages, mangrove rivers and industrial hubs on mainland Seberang Perai.
It also highlighted the Penang Hill cable car, which is expected to begin operating between the Penang Botanic Gardens and the hilltop in 2027, as well as the expansion of eco-guided mangrove cruises by Penang River Cruise, as reasons to visit next year.
Wong had earlier noted that Penang was featured in National Geographic’s 2025 list of the best islands in Southeast Asia, where it was singled out for its food.
Smart Travel Asia’s reader-voted poll also placed Penang fifth among Asia’s Top 10 Holiday Destinations, sharing the position with Chiang Mai, Macau and Shanghai after climbing two places from last year.
Malaysia had three destinations on the list, with Kuala Lumpur sharing seventh place with Singapore and Siem Reap/Angkor, while Sabah shared ninth place with Goa, Udaipur and Bhutan. Both Malaysian destinations improved by one position.
In the Top 10 Cities for Meetings category, Penang made its debut in eighth place, sharing the position with Bangalore, India. Kuala Lumpur shared third place with Hong Kong, while Langkawi shared ninth place with Beijing.
Wong said Penang’s debut in the meetings category reflected the state’s growing potential as a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination.
He added that the opening of several convention and exhibition centres in recent years had strengthened Penang’s position in the business events sector.
Several hotels in Penang also featured across the poll’s hotel categories.
Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa climbed two places to second among Asia’s Top 10 Family Hotels and shared seventh place among the Top 10 Spa Hotels, while Shangri-La Golden Sands Penang shared third place in the family category.
Eastern & Oriental Hotel moved up one place to share sixth place among the Top 10 Wedding Hotels.
Soori Penang made its debut in the Top 10 New Hotels category, sharing second place, and also shared third place among the Top 10 Boutique Hotels.
Meanwhile, 1926 Heritage Hotel Penang shared ninth place among the new hotels, while Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion shared ninth place among the boutique hotels.
Wong said the recognition reflected the collective efforts of Penang’s tourism stakeholders, particularly those in the hotel and MICE sectors.
“Penang’s inclusion among Asia’s Top 10 Holiday Destinations and Asia’s Top 10 Cities for Meetings, together with the achievements of our hotels across various categories, represents an important milestone for the state’s tourism industry.
“More importantly, it is a testament to the sustained commitment, close collaboration and dedicated efforts of our tourism stakeholders, especially our hotel operators and business events industry,” he said.
Describing the accolades as recognition for the “entire Penang tourism community”, Wong said the state could further strengthen its position as an international tourism destination.
Smart Travel Asia, launched in 2003 as an online travel magazine, has conducted its annual reader-voted Best in Travel Poll since 2005. This year’s poll ran from June to late August.
The full 2026 rankings are available at https://www.smarttravelasia.com/travelpoll2026.htm.