Tourism DG: Success of Visit Malaysia 2020 doesn't depend on logo, but on how much Malaysians care

PETALING JAYA: Tourism Malaysia has urged Malaysians to help promote the country wherever they are, and in whatever form they can.

Its director-general, Datuk Musa Yusof, said the success of Visit Malaysia 2020 will not be determined by how the campaign logo looks, nor does it solely depend on the promotional campaigns done by Tourism Malaysia.

“The biggest deliverers of the success of the campaign lies with all of you, all of us, who considers Malaysia our home.

“So, please join me and Tourism Malaysia in ensuring that this campaign will be a huge success.

“Let us show the world and the people of the world how amazing this beautiful country of ours is.

“Let us welcome our visitors and allow them to experience the kind of hospitality we are known for, ” said Musa on an Instagram post on Thursday (Aug 1), following the controversy surrounding the Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) logo which was recently launched.

The VM2020 logo received brickbats over its slogan, which reads: “Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020”.

Musa said he has been with Tourism Malaysia close to three decades and was not surprised when netizens offered their thoughts, opinions and even criticisms, “both constructive and the not so friendly ones.”

“To those who expressed constructive criticism, thank you. To those who were not too happy with the outcome, I also thank you all, the fact that you came out to voice your unhappiness means one thing – you all care.

“And that’s what we at Tourism Malaysia are hoping for, ” he wrote.

Musa said that it is pivotal for everyone to continue to help the millions of fellow Malaysians who depend and rely on the tourism ecosystem to provide for their families.

“Let us, most important of all, show our love and pride for this blessed land called Malaysia, ” he added.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the VM2020 logo last month and set a target of 30 million international tourist arrivals next year.

He said the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign is an opportunity to attract record numbers of visitors and make the country a destination of choice for leisure and business tourists.