Mr Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture Malaysia, was the guest of honour at a trade event staged by Tourism Malaysia in Sydney last night in order to launch Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
The event saw scores of travel agents hold B2B meetings with several Malaysian tourism suppliers ahead of a gala dinner with various cultural performances. The tourism roadshow now heads to Melbourne for similar exposure.
“Malaysia offers a wide variety of cultural and other attractions that are sure to appeal to our Australian friends,” said Minister Sing.
“We aspire for every visitor to leave with unforgettable memories and an appreciation of what makes Malaysia truly Asia.
“With your continued support we are confident that Visit Malaysia 2026 will be a resounding success, elevating our tourism industry to a greater height.”
Mr Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture Malaysia
Minister Sing said that while the latest visitation figures from Australia were good, there was room for improvement.
“For the first part of the year from January to April, we received 168,000 visitors from Australia. That is an increase of 16.8%, but I think the number of Australians who travel outbound is about 10 million so we still have a big move to make.
“That’s why Tourism Malaysia, especially in Australia, must be more aggressive.”
Minister Sing said he was encouraged to see tailor made packages being created to encourage more Australians to visit his country.
“So we urge you to please come to Malaysia and try out this nation.”
Minister Sing also paid tribute to the Australian travel agents and trade media who promoted Malaysia as a must-visit destination.
“Your dedication plays a pivotal role in driving our tourism industry forward,” he said.
“We look forward to working together in securing a prosperous future for tourism, benefiting both Malaysia and our valued partners in Australia.”
