JOHOR BARU: Tourism players have been urged to make the most of Malaysia’s role as the Asean Chair by creating well-planned marketing and promotional campaigns that align with Visit Malaysia 2026.
Malaysian Indian Travel and Tours Association (Mitta) president Datuk A. Aruldas said they should use this opportunity to enhance their campaigns to leverage the expected increase in tourist arrivals.
“Malaysia stands out among Asean nations because of our multiracial and multicultural community. We should highlight this uniqueness,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Aruldas also noted that Malaysia is a preferred tourist destination due to English being widely spoken, as well as for our efficient public transport system.
“Although India is a major market, we should also focus on Asean countries like Thailand and Vietnam, which have significant potential.”
Asked about Mitta’s promotional plans, Aruldas said the association is working to promote Sabah and Sarawak to Indian nationals.
“For the Peninsular Malaysia market, the situation is well- established. We have strong products and connections in places like Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi.
“However, for Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, the Indian market is relatively small. We are addressing this and have reached out to state governments to collaborate.”
Aruldas said that one reason Indian nationals prefer Peninsular Malaysia is the similarity in food and culture.
“About 30% of Indian tourists are vegetarians, so they look for states with a significant number of Indian restaurants and shops.
“Most of their spending is on food, beverage and clothing. Many also visit Malaysia for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) events,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that one key challenge is the lack of direct flights
In the case of Penang and Langkawi, he said they have become popular destinations due to newly-introduced direct flights, such as from Bengaluru to Langkawi and Chennai to Penang.
Last month, Malaysia announced an extension of visa exemption for Indian nationals until Dec 31, 2026.
Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Awang Alik Jeman said this was in line with Malaysia’s 2025 Asean chairmanship and preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026.