PUTRAJAYA: In a little over two years, Visit Malaysia Year 2026 will arrive and tourism authorities want every Malaysian to play their part to make it a success.
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board director-general Datuk Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar (pic) said the campaign will yield the best results if all Malaysians are proudly on board with it.With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 only two years away, he said, the country will be best promoted by Malaysians on the ground.
“Whether they are in the big city of Kuala Lumpur or living in a small village in the interior of Sabah, Malaysians are the most convincing little ambassadors as they know the country best.
“As much as it is our professional duty to develop the tourism industry as one of the nation’s top revenue-generating industries, we cannot do it alone,” said Ammar.
Currently, the government is targeting the South-East Asian market as 70% of tourists to Malaysia come from this region, he said in an interview.
China is also being eyed as a key market as many Chinese tourists are keen to experience Malaysian culture, food and scenery.
Ammar noted that visitors now tend to gather information from various sources before making decisions, and Malaysia boasts variety and diversity.
“Visitors to Malaysia today also do not just come as tourists for the snapshots and the souvenirs, but will opt for a package that has the right experience, a fantastic feel and an enjoyable environment,” he said.
He added that the branding of “Malaysia, Truly Asia” has always been important in promoting Malaysia to the global market.
Ammar said the industry is determined to achieve more than even in the days before the Covid-19 pandemic, such as in 2019 when the country recorded over 26 million tourist arrivals.
“We not only want to return those numbers but to surpass them and we are set on a target of RM97.6bil in tourist expenditure,” he said.
He added that with Malaysia’s wealth of offerings, there is much to be done to ensure tourists, be they domestic or foreign, find their money well spent.
“If we sell it right and the experience they get is satisfactory, they will return with more friends and family in tow,” he said.
Ammar also underlined the positive role that the media plays in promoting places of interest.
“When tourists visit a certain place, the people play a big part in making that experience memorable,” he said.
Tourism Malaysia deputy directory-general in charge of promotions, Datuk Musa Yusof, said most local councils are already involved in promoting tourism within their areas and some of them even have a dedicated unit for the purpose.
He added that Tourism Malaysia is also collaborating with the local media to encourage Malaysians to plan their internal holidays in line with its current tagline, “This is the time, cuti-cuti Malaysia”.
In an effort to rejuvenate an industry that was battered by the pandemic, the government has under Budget 2024 declared the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign and allocated RM350mil to boost tourism promotions and activities.
