By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH – Malaysia is targeting 45 million international tourist arrivals and RM270 billion in tourism receipts under the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, which will align with the nation’s role as ASEAN Chair in 2025.
Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director-General (Planning), Shahrin Mokhtar, said the ambitious campaign requires strategic partnerships between government agencies, private sector players and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure its success.
“VM2026 is more than just a promotional campaign – it is a national platform to elevate Malaysia’s regional leadership in tourism,” he said.
He added that RM130 million has been allocated through tourism-related grants such as GAMELAN, GSSP and GSPC to stimulate events and travel-related activities nationwide.
Shahrin spoke during a Tourism Malaysia engagement session with industry stakeholders yesterday at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Ipoh. Also present was the chairman of the Perak State Tourism Committee, Loh Sze Yee.
He said the country is witnessing a steady rise in international arrivals, recording 6.7 million tourists as of February 2025 – a 31.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
In 2024, Malaysia welcomed 38 million foreign visitors, reflecting a 31.1% year-on-year growth.
Efforts to expand air connectivity are ongoing, with plans for 15 new international routes and increased seat capacity in collaboration with airlines and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
Shahrin also said Tourism Malaysia will intensify promotional efforts in second and third-tier cities across key markets such as the Middle East, China, India, South Korea and Central Asia.
“Local tourism players must be ready to meet the surge in tourist demand by crafting innovative travel packages and focusing on cleanliness and infrastructure,” he stressed.
