KUCHING: Sarawak joins the nationwide launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) with welcoming events held at nine key entry points, including airports and land borders across the state.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said events were held at Kuching International Airport (KIA), as well as airports in Miri, Sibu and Bintulu, apart from the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Tebedu, Biawak and Sungai Tujuh.
He said the initiative, organised by Tourism Malaysia, aims to provide a warm welcome to both international and domestic tourists, including Malaysians travelling for leisure or returning home.
“Although Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is a federal initiative under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Sarawak remains fully committed to supporting the national tourism agenda.
“Malaysia is targeting 43 million tourist arrivals in 2026, up from 40 million in 2025. As of November 2025, total arrivals stood at 38.3 million, with the full-year target expected to be achieved,” he said at the launching of VM2026 at KIA, today (Jan. 1).
Through the VM2026 campaign, Malaysia aims to attract 43 million international visitors in 2026, aligning with ongoing efforts to strengthen the tourism sector as a key driver of the nation’s economic growth.
The tourism sector’s robust momentum is reflected in international visitor arrivals from January to November 2025, which reached 38.3 million.
Leveraging Malaysia’s immense potential as a world-class tourist destination, VM2026 is expected to drive a surge in visitor arrivals while generating employment, enhancing the nation’s global image, and delivering tangible economic benefits to local communities.
The campaign will also deepen cultural appreciation and stimulate growth across various sectors beyond tourism, including hospitality, transportation, retail, and the gastronomy industry.
For Sarawak, Abdul Karim revealed that visitor arrivals reached 4.42 million as of November 2025, against a target of five million.
He said, despite the final figures still pending, Sarawak recorded strong performance, with average tourism receipts exceeding RM1 billion per month during the first 11 months of the year.
He also highlighted a recent surge in arrivals from Indonesia and Brunei, particularly ahead of the year-end celebrations, attributing the increase to concerts and cross-border festivals held in Sarawak.
