SIBU: Sarawak’s strategic position as Malaysia’s main link with the tourism market in the Borneo and Southeast Asian regions continues to be strengthened as the state joins the simultaneous launch of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign at the national level.
Sibu was chosen as one of 55 gateways and strategic locations nationwide to make the campaign a success, thus highlighting Sarawak’s important role in the flow of domestic and international tourists.
Apart from Sibu, celebration events were also held simultaneously in Kuching and Miri, reflecting the state’s readiness to receive visitors from various destinations.
The reception ceremony at Sibu Airport today (Jan. 1) was led by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chiew Choon Man, who welcomed the arrival of passengers from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.
According to him, the simultaneous celebration was part of a national initiative to mark the official start of the VM2026 campaign at the country’s main gateway.
“In Sarawak, apart from the airports in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu, we also involve several major land gateways which are the heart of cross-border tourist movement,” he said when met by the media at Sibu Airport.
He explained that among the land gateways that play an important role are Sungai Tujoh, Tedungan, Tebedu, Biawak and Pandaruan, which connect Sarawak with neighbouring regions and regional countries.
This network, he said, places Sarawak in a strategic position as Malaysia’s natural gateway to the Borneo and Southeast Asian tourism markets.
Commenting on the VM2026 target, Chiew said the campaign was in line with the country’s aspiration to attract more than 40 million international tourists by 2026, with East Malaysia is seen as one of the main drivers of growth in the sector.
At the same time, he urged the local community to continue supporting domestic tourism by choosing destinations within the country, thus helping to maintain the momentum of the tourism industry throughout the VM2026 campaign period.
According to Chiew, through Tourism Malaysia, more than 300 programmes and events have been planned nationwide to ensure that the campaign continues and has a high impact on the local economy.
On the issue of financial support, Chiew informed that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) provides various grant schemes to support the organisation of cultural events, tourism activities, craft industries, and community-based initiatives.
“The ministry always encourages the involvement of local communities so that the tourism products featured are more authentic and can attract tourists to stay longer,” he said.
Meanwhile, the arrival of flights from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur to Sibu on the day of the celebration recorded an encouraging number of passengers, indicating the recovery and stability of air travel demand.
In a separate statement, Tourism Malaysia announced that the launch of VM2026 was carried out simultaneously at the country’s international gateway and main transport hub as a symbol of Malaysia’s commitment to welcoming visitors from all over the world.
The statement also stressed the close cooperation between the Federal Government and the Sarawak Government in positioning East Malaysia as an important pillar of the country’s tourism growth under the VM2026 campaign.
“VM2026 is not just a promotion of destinations, but reflects the spirit of unity, cultural diversity and hospitality of Malaysians,” according to the statement.
MOTAC Deputy Secretary-General (Tourism), Chua Choon Hwa, and Sibu Divisional Resident, Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, were among those present at the event.
