KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is seeking additional allocations to support state governments in upgrading existing tourist attractions and developing new destinations across the country.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said greater investment in tourism infrastructure and new attractions was necessary to meet the changing interests of travellers, who are constantly looking for fresh and unique experiences.
He said several states had identified tourism sites with strong potential but lacked the financial resources needed to develop them.
“Let all the states work together to attract more tourists to visit and travel within our respective states. We must work on securing allocations for the states,” he said when officiating the opening of the Malaysia Cultural Festival (FBM) 2026, themed ‘WOW Malaysia’, at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here last night.
Also present were Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man and MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.
Tiong said the six-day festival, which runs until Wednesday, showcases Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage through traditional performances, exhibitions and various programmes featuring the country’s arts and heritage, including those from Sabah and Sarawak.
He said FBM, organised by MOTAC in collaboration with its agencies, strategic partners and arts and cultural practitioners, provides an important platform to celebrate Malaysia’s cultural identity while creating opportunities for communities and tourism industry players.
The festival has also demonstrated its economic potential, with previous editions held at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa and Johor Bahru last year, as well as in Ipoh, Perak, recently attracting a combined 772,192 visitors and generating an estimated return on investment of RM56.5 million.
Tiong said the impact of such events extended beyond tourism, benefiting local food operators, transport providers, small businesses, craft artisans and arts practitioners.
“This is the true value we wish to bring through tourism and culture, a growth whose benefits can be felt by the people,” he said.
He added that FBM would also play a role in promoting Malaysia’s cultural diversity to international visitors as the country gears up for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026-2027 (VM2026-2027) campaign.
Tiong urged Malaysians to embrace the “Mesra Malaysia” spirit by welcoming visitors, maintaining cleanliness and acting as ambassadors for the country.
He said continued collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments, communities and tourism industry players would be crucial in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a competitive, world-class cultural tourism destination.
The initiative to secure greater funding for tourism destinations could also provide states with an opportunity to bring more underdeveloped attractions into the tourism mainstream, while creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
