KUALA LUMPUR: Jan 27 – Malaysia welcomed 42.2 million visitors in 2025, marking an 11.2% increase from 38 million in 2024 and a 20.4% rise compared with 35 million recorded in 2019, providing a strong platform for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the encouraging performance highlighted the tourism sector’s continued momentum as a key driver of national economic growth.
To sustain this growth, he said the government would further strengthen coordination among all ministries and agencies ahead of the implementation of VM2026.
“The government is strengthening coordination across all ministries and agencies to ensure the tourism industry remains the main driver of the country’s economic growth,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the decision was made at the Tourism and Culture Cabinet Committee (JKPK) meeting, which involved various ministries, departments and key agencies in line with a whole-of-government approach.
He added that the meeting highlighted the strategic importance of tourism to national development, particularly its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), job creation and the strengthening of the country’s fiscal position.
“As such, the entire government machinery is urged to move in tandem and in an integrated manner to attract more international visitors, lengthen their stays and increase tourist spending in Malaysia,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also emphasised that, with VM2026 as a key national agenda, close cooperation between state governments, the private sector, and industry players, with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC) as the lead agency, is crucial to accelerating industry development and enhancing competitiveness.
“This strategic collaboration is vital to ensure that issues related to jurisdiction, regulation and enforcement can be addressed effectively and promptly,” he said.
He said the meeting also discussed several policy matters with direct implications for the tourism industry, including the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, the Premium Visa Programme (PVP), the proposed takeover of tourism vehicle regulation, the status of the Umrah transit hub and the development of cruise tourism.
“Overall, the meeting reflects the Federal Government’s continued commitment to strengthening cooperation among ministries, departments and agencies to ensure that all tourism-related issues are comprehensively addressed.
“All parties remain committed to ensuring the success of the VM2026 campaign so that its targets and economic impact can be achieved,” he said.
