Tourism Ministry sharpens strategy, targets China, Indonesia, Japan, India and key long‑haul markets
Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man said the ministry is strengthening its strategy by focusing on high-performing and stable markets including China, Indonesia, Japan and India. — Bernama pic
Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 9:04 AM MYT
IPOH, June 28 — The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through Tourism Malaysia, is strengthening its strategy by focusing on high-performing and stable markets including China, Indonesia, Japan and India.
Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man said this included focusing on long-haul markets such as Russia, Germany and Australia to ensure market diversification.
He said the ministry would also continue to work closely with industry stakeholders to address operational challenges and cost pressures.
“The momentum of the country’s tourism sector is on a positive trajectory.
“As of May this year, the country has received 17.5 million visitors, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to 16.9 million last year. This current performance proves that we are on a strong track to maintain the positive momentum in 2026,” he said.
He said this when opening of the Festival Budaya Malaysia (FBM) 2026 at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah here, tonight.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture secretary-general, Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.
Meanwhile, Chiew said MOTAC is committed to placing arts and culture as the main attraction in promoting Malaysia on the world stage, especially in making the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign a success.
He said that through synergy with state governments such as Perak, culture would no longer be trapped as a treasure of the past, but would instead emerge as a dynamic economic driver capable of lifting the dignity of the people’s identity on the world stage.
“This cultural tourism synergy is very important because when we empower local cultures such as the dabus dance, labu sayong, gold thread embroidery art or the uniqueness of Ipoh gastronomy, we are actually building a sustainable tourism product with high value.
“This is a two-pronged strategy for us to preserve our national identity and at the same time, boost the grassroots economy through the creative industry,” he said.
Therefore, he said, to ensure that this desire and momentum of development does not stop, solid support in the form of infrastructure development is very critical.
He said that for the state of Perak under the 13 Malaysia Plan (13MP) the federal government through MOTAC has allocated RM 44,189,100 involving 13 projects, namely six large-scale projects and seven projects for the maintenance or improvement of tourism facilities totaling RM1,393,000.
Six large-scale development projects include the conservation of the Leaning Tower, Teluk Intan, upgrading of the building of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Perak Branch.
In addition, it includes the upgrading of the Tourism Area at Kinta Riverwalk, upgrading and renovating the existing information building at the Lumut Mangrove Discovery Centre, Manjung and developing the Bernam Riverfront in Tanjong Malim Town, Perak and developing the Lata Puteh Eco-Tourism in Selama. — Bernama
Lazy Short Term Vision of Bolehland's Politicians.
ReplyDeleteIf Only Bolehland had accepted The Commonwealth Federation's Offer in 2024 to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, after Melbourne changed its mind.
Melbourne pulled out because of their silly idea to host the games in rural Victoria, and had to spend billions building Brand new facilities.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games were originally budgeted at A$2.6 billion, but estimated costs ultimately blew out to an estimated A$6.9 billion to A$7 billion before the state of Victoria canceled the event.
The Malaysian Cabinet officially declined the Commonwealth Games Federation's (CGF) offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The government cited that the CGF's £100 million (approximately RM603 million) supporting grant was insufficient to cover the overall cost of the event and that the economic impact could not be determined in such a short timeframe.
Bolehland could have spun the games with VMY 2026 and generated Billions in Tourism. Most of the facilities are already built, for the 1998 Games.
Menteri Kong Kali Kong could generate RM400 million from one Water Fight. Ayam Sure he can Work Miracles and Generate Billions from a Multi-Disciplinary 10-day Games Extravaganza held in KL, Penang, Malacca, JB, Kuching and KK.
Russia ? Don't make the mistake.
ReplyDeleteMany Russian (to be fair, not all) visitors have brought crime - including organised crime - and social unrest to the few countries in Asia that give them Visa-free access or Visa-on-arrival.
Malaysia made the correct decision decades ago that it will not chase the bottom-of-the-pool tourism market that has brought much social degradation to places in Thailand, Philllipines , Cambodia , Bali , now worrying Vietnam.
Now is not the time to discard what was actually a correct tourism policy, in pursuit of absolute tourism revenue.