Visit Malaysia 2026 extended through 2027 amid Hormuz, haze disruptions

KUALA LUMPUR: The government, through the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac), has taken proactive steps to extend the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign until the end of 2027.

The extension is aimed at giving the global tourism market sufficient time to fully recover following ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have directly affected international travel trends.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said the VM2026-2027 campaign was targeting 47 million international visitor arrivals by the end of 2026.

"To boost promotions, the government has allocated more than RM700 million under Budget 2026, while the allocation for 2027 will be adjusted through the tabling of Budget 2027.

"The extension of the campaign will also help address the impact of the haze this season, which has placed short-term pressure on the outdoor tourism sector, such as ecotourism and beach recreational activities," he said.

To reduce reliance on outdoor activities during the haze season, Tourism Malaysia is intensifying promotions of indoor tourism products to ensure the campaign target remains on track without compromising the quality of visitors' experiences.

"Haze may limit outdoor activities, but the tourism sector will not come to a standstill. The focus of outdoor activities will temporarily shift to safe indoor alternatives.

"Through this strategy, Tourism Malaysia is prioritising gastronomy-based indoor products through the 'Eatventure' initiative, which includes culinary exploration and traditional cooking classes.

"The Year End Sale (YES) 2026 campaign and wellness packages at indoor spas are also being promoted as ideal options.

"Indoor theme parks and the staycation trend at air-conditioned hotels are also being strengthened to ensure family recreational activities continue as usual," he said.

For the cultural segment, visitors are encouraged to explore iconic indoor destinations such as the National Museum, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, KL Craft Complex and Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTIC).

The strategic approach is supported by strong and competitive domestic and international tourism performance.

Domestic tourism statistics recorded 290.1 million visitors in 2025, an 11.5 per cent increase from 260.1 million in 2024.

The positive momentum continued in the first quarter of 2026, with 74.7 million domestic visitors generating RM34.0 billion in expenditure.

For the international market, Malaysia recorded 21.1 million visitor arrivals up to June 2026, a 2.5 per cent increase from 20.6 million visitors during the same period last year.

"These resilient figures demonstrate that the country's tourism sector remains on a sustainable footing to face environmental challenges.

"This adaptive promotional approach, supported by strong data, is expected to ensure Malaysia's tourism economy remains sustainable and that the international visitor arrival target continues to be achieved."