KUALA LUMPUR: The New Year celebrations held in a harmonious and festive atmosphere served as an early catalyst for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the celebrations also reflected the beauty of Malaysia's cultural diversity and the spirit of togetherness among Malaysians in welcoming visitors from around the world.
"The highlight of the celebration was enhanced by large-scale multimedia performances, including fireworks displays that lit up key tourist hotspots in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.
"May the organisation of such events continue to strengthen harmony and national unity, while opening a new chapter in positioning Malaysia as a friendly, inclusive and respected tourism destination on the global stage," he said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 1).
The Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign was officially launched through the Visit Malaysia 2026 Countdown Festival, a large-scale New Year's Eve celebration held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
The countdown, attended by Anwar, marked the start of efforts to build early momentum in the national tourism sector toward the target of 43 million international visitor arrivals, in line with the aspiration to position Malaysia as a leading global tourism destination. – Bernama
