KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM400mil has been allocated to prepare for the Visit Malaysia Year campaign in 2026, says Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
The Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister shared that the ministry’s budget for 2025 is RM1.4bil, with RM1.1bil earmarked for operational expenditure and the remaining RM229mil for development.
"This operational expenditure will be used for emolument payments amounting to RM102.4mil, services and supplies costing RM467mil, assets at RM3.7mil, grants and fixed charges totalling RM615mil and other expenses of RM2.8mil," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 25).
Khairul added that Budget 2025 aims to support the ministry’s vision of "Malaysia - A Sustainable Destination Rich in Culture," focusing on creating a more inclusive tourism and cultural ecosystem.
Additionally, he highlighted that Malaysia will promote its traditional cuisine throughout its Asean chairmanship in 2025 to boost the tourism sector.
Local dishes, he said, will be served to foreign delegations at Asean-related events hosted across the country.
"Delegates will experience the deliciousness of our heritage foods. We want to elevate our traditional cuisine as much as we can.
"Previously, the ministry did not focus much on promoting our heritage foods. During our tenure as the rotating chair of Asean, we will be showcasing our cuisine throughout the year, allowing representatives from every country to taste our food," he added.
