MIRI: Malaysia officially kicked off the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign with coordinated welcoming events at 55 major entry points nationwide, signalling the country’s renewed push to position itself as a leading global tourism destination.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chiew Choon Man, said the nationwide initiative was designed to celebrate Malaysia’s trademark hospitality while amplifying awareness of the Visit Malaysia 2026 logo and theme among international travellers.
“The objective is straightforward. We want visitors to immediately feel the warmth of Malaysia the moment they arrive, while reinforcing a strong and consistent national tourism brand,” he told reporters after leading the welcoming ceremony at Miri Airport on Thursday evening.
The event in Miri coincided with the arrival of Scoot flight TR410 from Singapore at 6:45 pm, followed shortly by a MASwings flight from Labuan which landed at 6:55 pm.
Passengers were greeted by tourism officials as part of the coordinated national launch marking the New Year.
Chiew said the government has set an ambitious target of more than 40 million international visitor arrivals in 2026, with an internal aspiration of reaching 43 million.
As of November 2025, Malaysia had already recorded more than 38 million foreign visitors, reflecting a strong post-pandemic recovery and renewed global confidence in the country as a travel destination.
“Based on current performance, we are on a positive trajectory. The momentum we are seeing gives us confidence that the 2026 target is achievable with continued collaboration across government, industry players and the media,” he said.
Beyond international arrivals, Chiew stressed that the government is also intensifying efforts to encourage Malaysians to travel domestically, describing local tourism as a critical pillar of economic resilience.
“The tourism sector generates income, creates jobs and stimulates the wider economy. Domestic travel ensures these benefits are felt across communities, including secondary cities and rural areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, reaffirmed the state’s strong support for Visit Malaysia 2026, noting that Sarawak remains a key contributor to national tourism growth.
Sarawak had set a target of five million tourist arrivals for 2025 and is close to achieving it, having recorded 4.4 million visitors as of November 2025, he said.
“This reflects growing confidence in Sarawak as a destination, supported by improved connectivity, product diversity, and sustained promotion,” Ting said.
He also expressed appreciation to media organisations for their consistent role in promoting tourism, describing the media as strategic partners in projecting Malaysia as a safe, attractive and globally competitive destination.
“Positive, accurate and compelling coverage is essential in shaping international perception and sustaining traveller confidence,” he said.
The Miri event formed part of Tourism Malaysia’s nationwide New Year initiative across airports, seaports and transport hubs, officially marking the launch of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
