VM2026 is a nationwide tourism campaign that officially launched in September 2025 to boost international visitor arrivals through promotions focused on cultural heritage, natural landscapes & hospitality. Today's travelers increasingly seek meaningful, authentic & environmentally conscious experiences. In a nutshell, VM2026 aims to promote Malaysia as a leading global destination & to ensure sustainable tourism growth as well as nature-based travel. (www.visitmalaysia26.com)
The year 2026 holds a special place in the heart of all Malaysians as we reflect and celebrate together our achievements & challenges in transforming a once colonial land, into a thriving, multi-cultural & dynamic country. Evidently, “Malaysia Truly Asia” is more than just a slogan, it's a real powerful brand identifier. The MADANI Government has correctly positions Malaysia as a unique travel destination and encapsulates our country's diverse ethnicities and vibrant cultures.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, aptly said “In 2024, the country hosted 38 million international visitors, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers, with receipts hitting a record RM106.8 billion. Domestic tourism also surged with Malaysians making 260.1 million trips and spending RM107.2 billion, up 26.3% from the previous year. In the first half of 2025, international arrivals rose 17.9% to 20.6 million while our domestic tourism registered 69.7 million trips in the first quarter, an 18.9% year-on-year increase.” (The Star)
Notwithstanding the major role of MADANI Government and industry players, I believed that people-to-people promotion for VM2026 involves fostering community-based tourism, strengthening bilateral partnerships, and directly engaging citizens to showcase Malaysia's cultural diversity and hospitality. This includes empowering grassroots communities, creating opportunities for local & rural entrepreneurs, and leveraging community-based initiatives & regional collaborations to ensure tourism benefits everyone and create a genuine connections in reaching out our overseas friends, alumni and associates.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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