Floral beauty: Tiong (sixth from left) admiring flowers in Genting Highlands along with Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman (third from left), Tourism Malaysia director general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy (fifth from left), RWG chief operating officer Aaron Chia (fourth from right) and other VIPs. — LEONG WAI YEE/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians must help to reinforce the country’s reputation as a welcoming, multicultural and united destination to build momentum ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026).
“We must let the world see Malaysia as vibrant and harmonious,” said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He added that Malaysia’s rising global appeal would be undermined if political instability continues to dominate headlines.
Tiong also noted that the country recorded a total of 38 million tourist arrivals last year, surpassing the original VM2026 projection of 35.6 million.
The government is hoping to attract 40 million visitors this year, driven by strong global demand.
Tiong was in Genting Highlands to witness a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between Tourism Malaysia and Resorts World Genting (RWG) to boost promotions, enhance visitor experiences and showcase highland attractions as part of VM2026.
With tourism numbers rising and industry players strengthening partnerships, Tiong said Malaysia has a real opportunity to shine – if unity remains the nation’s guiding message.
He also said Genting Group is being proactive in promoting tourism, and that local people can enjoy the experiences without needing to go to Singapore or Taiwan.
Tiong added that Genting has world-class attractions, exceptional hospitality and eco-sustainable experiences to strengthen the country’s position as a premier global destination.
On Genting’s planned toll road leading to the highlands, he said maintaining the road in good condition can be expensive, but any proposed toll rate must be reasonable and transparent, based on actual maintenance costs over the years.
“It should not be for profit like other highways.
“They must calculate the average cost and charge fairly per vehicle,” Tiong said.
