Sarawak Tourism Board to partner MAG for Visit Malaysia Year 2026

KUCHING: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will work with Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) to bring in international visitors leading up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

This comes after both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a three-year partnership here on Wednesday (June 19).

"We are aiming to contribute heavily to Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The MOU will look into mega events under STB, such as the Rainforest World Music Festival, Rainforest Youth Summit, trade fairs and consumer shows," STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor told reporters after the signing ceremony.

She said STB would collaborate with MAG to bring in key opinion leaders and familiarisation trips as part of initiatives to promote tourism to Sarawak.

"This is a win-win situation for the airlines as well as the destinations and the country as a whole," she added.

MAG is the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings.

Sarawak Deputy Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting, who witnessed the MOU signing, said the three-year strategic partnership aimed to jointly explore and implement activities using MAG's services for mutual benefit.

He said it would focus on attracting international visitors through a series of joint activities to enhance the nation's tourism industry.

"With this MOU, we are embarking on a journey to explore and implement various activities designed to promote tourism to Sarawak.

"Using the services and reach of Malaysia Airlines, we will develop and execute these initiatives on an annual basis, ensuring they are continually reviewed and refined," he said.

Ting added that the collaboration would complement and strengthen both parties' tourism promotion activities, contributing to the target of attracting 35.6 million tourists to Malaysia by 2026.

"This partnership represents a strategic and forward-thinking approach to achieving our tourism objectives, enhancing our global appeal and firmly positioning Sarawak as a top destination for travellers worldwide," he said.