Latest news with #VisitMalaysia2026
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Malaysia to tap into Middle East market with ‘Brunei +' tourism model
Tiong says to support promotional efforts, Tourism Malaysia would offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. – Bernama photo PUTRAJAYA (May 31): Malaysia is poised to strengthen its tourism connections with Middle Eastern countries by adopting a successful model pioneered by Royal Brunei Airlines, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. According to him, Royal Brunei Airlines' well-established 'Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu' model, which offers travellers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before continuing to destinations like Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, has received encouraging market response and was recently extended to include Kuching. 'After seeing the success of this initiative, we plan to replicate it for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets, in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines, to attract more international visitors,' he said in a statement. Tiong said that during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market, he and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy held discussions with Royal Brunei Airlines' United Arab Emirates (UAE) regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman, which resulted in an initial agreement to adapt the 'Brunei +' model for the UAE market. The package would target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates living in the UAE and offer a seven-day, six-night tour covering Brunei and Malaysia, with Tourism Malaysia sponsoring a free one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. 'Our goal is to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries. 'I aim to finalise this package by the end of the year in support of our vision to welcome 45 million international tourists for Visit Malaysia 2026,' said Tiong. The minister said to support promotional efforts, Tourism Malaysia would offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. 'The familiarisation trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary expected to be finalised by the end of August.' Tiong also proposed for Royal Brunei Airlines to consider opening more connecting routes, such as direct flights from Dubai to Brunei with connections to destinations in Peninsular Malaysia like Melaka, Johor, Pahang and Perak. He said such routes could be implemented through codeshare agreements or chartered flights, helping to position Malaysia and Brunei as key gateways for regional travel. 'This strategy, where visitors enter via Brunei and depart from Malaysia, also aligns with efforts to grow the Muslim-friendly tourism segment between both countries,' said Tiong, adding that the ministry would work closely with the Transport Ministry to expedite any necessary approvals for new routes. — Bernama brunei Tiong King Sing tourism
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia To Tap Into Middle East Market With 'Brunei +' Tourism Model
GENERAL PUTRAJAYA, May 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is poised to strengthen its tourism connections with Middle Eastern countries by adopting a successful model pioneered by Royal Brunei Airlines, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. He said Royal Brunei Airlines' well-established "Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu" model, which offers travellers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before continuing to destinations like Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, has received encouraging market response and was recently extended to include Kuching. 'After seeing the success of this initiative, we plan to replicate it for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets, in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines, to attract more international visitors,' he said in a statement. Tiong said that during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market, he and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy held discussions with Royal Brunei Airlines' UAE regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman, which resulted in an initial agreement to adapt the 'Brunei +' model for the UAE market. The package will target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates living in the UAE and offer a seven-day, six-night tour covering Brunei and Malaysia, with Tourism Malaysia sponsoring a free one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. 'Our goal is to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries. I aim to finalise this package by the end of the year in support of our vision to welcome 45 million international tourists for Visit Malaysia 2026,' the minister shared. To support promotional efforts, Tiong revealed that Tourism Malaysia will offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. The familiarisation trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary expected to be finalised by the end of August. Tiong also proposed that Royal Brunei Airlines consider opening more connecting routes, such as direct flights from Dubai to Brunei with connections to destinations in Peninsular Malaysia like Melaka, Johor, Pahang and Perak.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia eyes Middle East tourists with 'Brunei+' travel package
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is set to deepen its tourism ties with Middle Eastern nations by adopting a proven strategy pioneered by Royal Brunei Airlines, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. He highlighted the success of the airline's "Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu" model, which offers travellers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before continuing on to destinations such as Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu. The initiative has received encouraging market response and was recently expanded to include Kuching. "Given the strong reception, we are planning to replicate this model for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets, in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines, to draw more international tourists to our shores," he said in a statement. Tiong said that during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market, he and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy held talks with Royal Brunei Airlines' UAE regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman. The discussions resulted in a preliminary agreement to adapt the "Brunei+" model specifically for the UAE market. The new travel package will target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates residing in the UAE, offering a seven-day, six-night itinerary that includes Brunei and Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia will sponsor a one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching as part of the package. "Our target is to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries. I hope to finalise this package by year-end in support of our target to welcome 45 million international tourists under Visit Malaysia 2026," he added. To support promotional activities, Tiong said that Tourism Malaysia would offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, enabling its representatives to explore key attractions across various Malaysian states. The familiarisation trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary to be confirmed by the end of August. In addition, he proposed that Royal Brunei Airlines consider expanding its network through more connecting routes, including direct flights from Dubai to Brunei with onward connections to Peninsular Malaysia destinations such as Melaka, Johor, Pahang, and Perak. These routes, he said, could be introduced via codeshare agreements or chartered flights, strengthening the positioning of Malaysia and Brunei as joint gateways for regional tourism. "This approach — where travellers arrive via Brunei and depart from Malaysia — also supports the growth of the Muslim-friendly tourism segment between our two countries," he said, adding that his ministry would work closely with the Transport Ministry to facilitate approvals for any new flight routes.
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Cultural welcome at KKIA marks Kaamatan Festival and gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026
Tourists arriving at KKIA receiving goodie bags from Tourism Malaysia. KOTA KINABALU (May 30): In celebration of Sabah's iconic Kaamatan Festival and in anticipation of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, Tourism Malaysia Sabah hosted a special welcoming event at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), showcasing the richness of local culture and tradition to arriving travellers. Throughout the day, 27 flights touched down during the event period, bringing in visitors from Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and across Malaysia. An estimated 930 international and 4,933 domestic passengers were greeted with festive cheer and immersive cultural experiences. Arriving guests were treated to traditional Magunatip (bamboo dance) and KadazanDusun performances, alongside tastings of local delicacies such as tapai (fermented glutinous rice), offering them an authentic slice of Sabah's heritage. The event was officially launched with a symbolic gong-beating ceremony by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The celebration also featured a traditional winnowing of rice by distinguished guests and a Kulintangan music performance, encapsulating the spirit of the Kaamatan Festival. Among the dignitaries present were Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah; Jefry Ramli, Senior Airport Manager of KKIA; Bobby Alex @ William, Marketing Manager of Sabah Tourism Board; Alex Chong, Deputy Chairman of MATTA Sabah Chapter; Vincent Sia, Chairman of the Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chapter; and Melanie Chu, Chairman of the Sabah Tourist Association (STA), along with representatives from various airlines. Celebrated annually in May, the Kaamatan Festival honours the rice spirit Bambaazon and is a time for thanksgiving, unity and cultural pride among Sabah's indigenous communities. This initiative aligns with Tourism Malaysia's mission to enhance cultural tourism and elevate visitor experiences ahead of VM2026. Malaysia's tourism industry continues to show robust recovery and growth. In 2024, the country welcomed 38 million international visitors — a 31.1 per cent increase from 2023 and 8.3 per cent above pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Visitor receipts surged to RM106.78 billion, marking a 43.7 per cent rise from 2023 and a 20 per cent increase over 2019. The positive momentum has carried into 2025, with 13.4 million tourist arrivals recorded in the first four months — a 21 per cent year-on-year growth. The top ten visitor markets from January to April were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, Brunei, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UnionPay and Tourism Malaysia Seal Strategic Partnership at ITB Shanghai to Power Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026)
SHANGHAI, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International and Tourism Malaysia officially exchanged a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) today at ITB Shanghai 2025, marking the start of an exciting new journey to enhance travel and payment experiences between China and Malaysia moving towards Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) Campaign. The ceremony was held at the Tourism Malaysia Pavilion between Ms. Zhuang Bei, Vice President of UnionPay International, and YBhg. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, underscoring a shared commitment in strengthening tourism cooperation and enhancing the travel experience for Chinese visitors. Part of this collaboration is an extension of its broader, ongoing efforts to make overseas spending more seamless and familiar for Chinese visitors. In Malaysia, over 90% of merchants accept UnionPay cards, making it more convenient for travellers to pay for both large and small purchases. For bigger ticket items, UnionPay cards are widely accepted, meanwhile for smaller purchases, Chinese visitors can easily use the UnionPay app to make QR code payments. This blend of card acceptance for larger transactions and QR code interoperability for everyday purchases ensures UnionPay cardholders to feel at home while traveling in Malaysia. Both parties are agreed on joint marketing and branding efforts to promote a wider acceptance of digital payments among tourism-related merchants in Malaysia, as well as introducing exclusive travel benefits for UnionPay cardholders. This partnership also supports the objectives of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), a national campaign focused on revitalizing international tourism by improving the travel experience and making Malaysia more appealing alongside accessible to Chinese travellers. "We are truly excited to be part of this meaningful collaboration, especially as Malaysia prepares to welcome the world for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). Malaysia continues to be one of the most preferred destinations among Chinese travellers—not only because of its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but also due to the deep historical and people-to-people ties between our countries. With this partnership, we're proud to contribute to making travelling more seamless and enjoyable for UnionPay cardholders, while supporting Malaysia's broader efforts to boost tourism and economic recovery," said Zhuang Bei, Vice President of UnionPay International. Tourism Malaysia emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in achieving its 2026 tourism goals. The agency noted that providing trusted and widely accepted payment solutions is a key enabler for increasing tourist satisfaction and encouraging repeat visits. About UnionPay International UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on the growth and support of UnionPay's global business. Working with over 2,600 partners worldwide, UPI enables card acceptance in 183 countries and regions with issuance in 84 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world's largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants. About Tourism Malaysia Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. The next Visit Malaysia, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia's social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok. View original content: SOURCE UnionPay International
