MOTAC redirects VM2026 promotional efforts to Japan, South Korea, China and Australia amid ongoing global conflicts to sustain tourism growth.
SEPANG: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) is shifting part of its promotional and marketing focus for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign to markets that are not affected by ongoing conflicts and wars.
MOTAC secretary-general Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said promotional efforts are now being directed towards markets such as Japan, South Korea, China, Australia and other Asian countries to ensure the continued positive growth momentum of Malaysia’s tourism sector.
“So far, the Visit Malaysia campaign has been progressing smoothly. We just want to shift part of our focus.
“For countries involved in conflicts, we are redirecting our attention to other markets such as Japan, Korea, China, Australia and countries within Asia itself in terms of promotion and marketing,” he told reporters after officiating the Tadau Kaamatan and Gawai Day celebrations at the International Arrival Hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 today.
The country’s tourism sector performance in the first quarter of this year remained strong, reflecting the effectiveness of the government’s promotional initiatives, he added.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing previously said Malaysia achieved a new milestone by receiving more than 10.6 million international tourists between January and March this year, an increase of 5.4% compared with the same period last year.
Earlier, Shaharuddin officiated the Tadau Kaamatan and Gawai Day celebrations held at KLIA Terminal 1’s International Arrival Hall to promote Malaysia’s cultural diversity in conjunction with VM2026.
The programme featured cultural dance performances and the distribution of souvenirs to tourists arriving from various international destinations, providing them with a warm Malaysian welcome as soon as they arrived in the country.
Tadau Kaamatan and Hari Gawai are harvest festivals celebrated by indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak as an expression of gratitude for a successful harvest and the prosperity they enjoy.
The Sun Malaysia
