Latest news with #VisitMalaysia
Tourism Breaking News
4 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Malaysia to launch global promotions across the Middle East, Asia and beyond
Post Views: 37 In an exclusive interview with TravTalkME, Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Head of Secretariat, Visit Malaysia 2026, highlighted that Middle East is their key target market to increase their revenue and global initiatives to promote Visit Malaysia 2026 are underway. He said, 'The Middle East is our key target market to increase revenue in terms of tourism to the country. Visitors from the region are among the highest-spending and longest-staying tourists—on average, they spend 11 days in Malaysia. We see them as a key source for driving tourism preparing for a major global campaign to promote Visit Malaysia through various campaigns. Creating demand is our priority across different countries and market segments. We want to ensure that people know more about Malaysia through promotions across Middle East, Asia and beyond. Our strategy includes strong partnerships with airlines, OTAs, travel agents, industry players, and MICE groups. We're also segmenting our markets, particularly targeting luxury travellers, who are a key focus for us. A major announcement is scheduled for World Tourism Day on 27 September 2025, in Malacca, Malaysia. More than 150 countries will participate in both the World Tourism Conference and the World Tourism Day celebrations. We take this opportunity to launch a bigger scale of Visit Malaysia 2026.'
Tourism Breaking News
26-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
ITB China opens with Malaysia tourism as its destination partner
Post Views: 122 ITB China officially opened last evening withTravTalk ME as media partner and Malaysia tourism as the destination partner. Speaking at the opening dinner last evening, David Ruetz, Senior Vice President Messe Berlin shared that they anticipate over 700 exhibitors from around 90 countries and regions, while the number of buyers is set to increase by 30%, reflecting the growing global interest in the event. The Honourable Dato Sri Tiong King Sing – Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia shared the importance of ITB China as they become destination partner promoting 2026 as Visit Malaysia year.
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia's first national mocktail is on the way
The winner of the Signature VM 2026 Mocktail Championship 2025 will have their drink crowned as Malaysia's national mocktail. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) KUALA LUMPUR : Many people already love Malaysia's national cocktail – Jungle Bird – created in 1973 at the KL Hilton. Now, history is about to be made again, but this time, no alcohol is involved. The Signature VM 2026 Mocktail Championship 2025 (SMC 2025) is on a mission to crown Malaysia's first-ever national mocktail, just in time for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Launched by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) and the Mixology Alliance of MFBEA (MAM), the competition aims to showcase the country's identity, culture, and creativity in a glass. During a press conference at Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur, Pravindran Palakrishnan, president of MAM, said: 'We wanted to give bartenders and mixologists the opportunities, recognition, and voice they deserve, especially in the non-alcoholic and mocktail space.' Pravindran Palakrishnan, president of the Mixology Alliance (second from left), pictured with (L-R) Hisham Tan, Samuel Lee, Isaac Raj, and Renda Low. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) SMC 2025, proudly sponsored by Yeo's Malaysia, is bringing together 32 participants from hotels across the country. Each contestant is tasked with crafting one signature mocktail that tells a Malaysian story – using local ingredients and drawing inspiration from the nation's rich heritage. The competition kicked off with its preliminary rounds on April 29, narrowing the field to 16 semi-finalists. While they present the same drink throughout the competition, each round introduces unique challenges that require them to incorporate new elements to elevate their creation. In the Grand Finals on May 27 and 28, just eight contestants will battle it out at Vivatel Kuala Lumpur. It is open to the public. Isaac Raj, CEO of MAH, said the championship is long overdue. 'Iconic signature drinks are an impressionable symbol of a nation's charm. Many of our neighbours already have their eponymous drinks, but Malaysia has yet to have our own iconic drink, aside from 'teh tarik ikat tepi',' he said with a smile. 'We believe it is high time we craft a drink that truly captures the warmth, spirit, and culture of Malaysia,' Issac added. Rachel Hor from Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, is one of the few female participants of the competition. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) Mixologists representing various hotels from across the country have taken part in the competition, including those from Melaka, Johor, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur. Rachel Hor from Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, one of the few female participants, presented her colourful creation called 'Sunshine Ria.' 'I used green to represent the land and forests of Malaysia, while yellow is for the warm sun,' she explained. Her drink featured pineapple, lychee, winter melon, and a double pandan mix. 'I also kept in mind that since this is going to be showcased across hotels in Malaysia, it shouldn't be complicated to replicate. Even our national cocktail, the Jungle Bird, is relatively easy to make.' Yeo's Malaysia, the sponsor of the competition, saw its drinks infused into each creation. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) Creativity and practicality were key judging criteria, alongside taste, presentation, technicality, local identity, and storytelling. Chang Yew Boon from Penang Marriott Hotel, a familiar face on the competition circuit with several awards already under his belt, said mocktails pose unique challenges. 'I used to participate in a lot of cocktail competitions, but mocktail competitions are actually quite challenging,' Chang shared. 'Without alcohol, there's a limitation, and many of the ingredients already have strong flavours. So it's a challenge to twist them and bring your own unique taste. You really need to be innovative,' he said. His drink, 'Cita Rasa Sayang', drew inspiration from the classic 'teh O limau ais' and featured a mix of Yeo's winter melon and kantan cordial, homemade calamansi sour plum cordial, jasmine green tea, and monin watermelon syrup. His finishing touch? A homemade calamansi sour plum wrapped with bunga kantan, floating delicately on top – a nod to zero waste. Mixologists representing hotels from Melaka, Johor, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur competed in the preliminary rounds. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) As the competition heats up, expectations for the finals are soaring. Pravindran said: 'The stakes will be much higher during the finals as we'll have global mixologist champions as judges.' With Visit Malaysia 2026 on the horizon, the search for a national mocktail is a bold toast to Malaysia's evolving food and beverage scene, offering visitors a true taste of the nation's spirit. GRAND FINALS of SMC 2025 Venue: Vivatel Kuala Lumpur, Viva Mall, 85, Jln Loke Yew, Taman Miharja, 55200 Kuala Lumpur Date: May 27-28 Time: 9am-5pm Follow the Mixology Alliance of MFBEA on Instagram.
Tourism Breaking News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tourism Breaking News
Malaysia welcomed 194,440 tourists from Middle East region in 2024
Post Views: 82 The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, through its agency Tourism Malaysia announced that Malaysia welcomed 194,440 tourists from Middle East region in 2024. Tourism Malaysia also launched 'Visit Malaysia' (VM2026) latest video which highlights surreal experiences in Malaysia. The Malaysian delegation is led by The Honourable Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, who is accompanied by Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia. The delegation consists of 82 different organizations, which include five (5) state tourism boards, 34 tour operators, 35 hotels and resorts, five Tourism Products, two tourism associations alongside one airline. The Honourable Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said: 'Our multipronged VM2026 strategy provides a comprehensive framework to boost Malaysia's visibility, enhance destination accessibility and elevate our tourism offerings.' The VM2026 logo, a symbol of Malaysia's vibrant culture, natural beauty, and global appeal, serves as a visual representation of the country's readiness to welcome tourists from around the world. Adopted as the campaign's official icon, the Malayan Sun Bear, a proud and endangered species, reflects Malaysia's deep commitment to wildlife conservation. Designed in a lovable, animated style, the mascot is intended to resonate with audiences of all ages, evoking a sense of warmth and joy while enhancing Malaysia's image as a welcoming and family-friendly destination. Official VM2026 theme song, titled 'Surreal Experiences' captures the essence of Malaysia's unique offerings. This song will be a key component of the campaign to attract global attention and engage visitors with the enchanting experiences Malaysia has to offer. Malaysia is eager to welcome 45 million international visitors and to achieve RM270 billion (USD60.8 billion) in tourism receipts by 2025. But more importantly, VM2026 will serve as a platform for innovation, sustainability, and community engagement within Malaysia's tourism industry.
CNA
23-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
Visa-free travel: Malaysia and China extend agreement for 5 years following President Xi's visit
'As of April, this year alone we recorded nearly 900,000 tourist arrivals from China. Last year, the total stood at four million,' he said, as quoted by NST. This is seen as a positive indicator for the government to continue such initiatives for the benefit of both countries, he said. 'China remains the top source of international tourists to Malaysia, followed by India. Among ASEAN countries, Singapore leads, followed by Thailand,' he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 'Tourism continues to be a key contributor to the national economy, given its immediate impact compared to other forms of investment,' Saifuddin said. Before the extension was announced, Malaysians could travel to China visa-free until only Dec 31 this year, while Chinese nationals could enjoy visa-free travel to Malaysia until Dec 31 next year, according to The Star. Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong said that the visa extension will allow the tourism industry to better develop the Chinese inbound market. 'There is stability for the industry to plan ahead and boost efforts to attract more Chinese tourists,' he was quoted as saying by The Star, highlighting the increasing demand for Chinese travellers looking for experiential tourism products. 'It's no longer just about the conventional tours. Instead, innovative and creative experiences like culinary tourism, heritage and culture, as well as ecotourism products, are popular with foreign tourists,' Nigel added. He also expects the benefits of the visa extension to go beyond the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. 'Tourism tends to spike after the Visit Malaysia campaign and this move will tie in very nicely,' he said. The Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign is a national drive to boost incoming tourism, with a series of bold targets, including 35.6 million international arrivals and RM147.1 billion (US$33 billion) in tourism receipts. According to the president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association Mint Leong, the visa-free extension will give industry players a clear direction when promoting Malaysia to Chinese tourists. 'Malaysia will also have the opportunity to attract more business events and business travellers due to this,' Leong was quoted as saying by The Star. Meanwhile, treasurer-general of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Koong Lin Loong said the move can further spur the national gross domestic product, as the 'hospitality industry is also set to benefit'. 'Chinese tourists will feel that there is less hassle due to the visa-free conditions and when they arrive, they will definitely be spending on goods as well as food and beverage,' he said. While Chinese tourist arrivals to Malaysia continue to increase, the Bangkok Post reported a decline in arrivals to Thailand, hitting a low for 2025 with only 5,833 visitors recorded on Apr 16, below the usual daily average of 15,000 to 20,000. Natthriya Thaweevong, Chairperson of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that the average number of tourists from Asia visiting Thailand has dropped, likely due to 'safety concerns' and the 'economic impact from the US tariff hike. The safety concerns likely refer to the high-profile kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in Thailand. As of Apr 20, the total number of Chinese arrivals this year was 1.5 million, followed by Malaysians at 1.4 million and Russians at 835,385, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Last year, then-prime minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin announced that Chinese nationals will be granted visa-free entry on a permanent basis starting Mar 1, 2024. Last January, Singapore and China also agreed to a 30-day mutual visa-free entry for their citizens, close to two months after the proposal was first announced.
