The government has extended the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign to 2027, citing the need to provide additional time for the global tourism industry to stabilise amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Economy minister Akmal Nasir said the decision was made by the National Economic Action Council as part of broader efforts to safeguard the tourism sector against external uncertainties. Despite the extension, Malaysia will maintain its original targets of attracting 47 million international visitors and generating 329 billion ringgit (US$70 billion) in tourism revenue.
He said the government is shifting its focus towards more resilient tourism markets, including South-east Asia, East Asia, Australia, and India, to sustain visitor arrivals and tourism revenue.
“In the current environment, ensuring the continuity of key industries is crucial to supporting the nation’s economic resilience,” he said.
Akmal revealed that the crisis in West Asia had led to the cancellation of 288 flights to Malaysia within a month, affecting 88,438 seats. However, he added that the segment represents less than 1 per cent of total tourist arrivals, limiting its overall impact.
When contacted, Consortium of Inbound Tourism Alliance chairman Uzaidi Udanis said South-east Asia has long been Malaysia’s core tourism market, contributing more than 70 per cent of total visitor arrivals.
He shared: “(South-east Asia) would remain crucial in sustaining the industry amid global uncertainties. China and India are our top two medium-haul markets respectively.”
He also noted a growing shift in travel preferences following the pandemic.
He pointed out: “Post-Covid, we are seeing growing numbers of FIT arrivals from China, India and elsewhere. Malaysian tour operators need to adapt to the new trend by getting onboard and listed on major online platforms to remain competitive and capture the FIT markets from China, India and our other core markets.”
