KULAI: The success of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Football Club has turned Sultan Ibrahim Stadium into a must-visit destination, drawing visitors eager to tour the premier football venue.
Businessman Tan Wei Ming, 42, was among those who has included the stadium in his family itinerary.
Travelling from Penang, Tan and his two children, aged six and nine, arrived yesterday to spend the school holidays in Johor.
“My elder boy is a big football fan and loves JDT, so visiting Sultan Ibrahim Stadium is a must.
“I also want to see the stadium because I was told it is on par with top European football venues,” he said.
JDT recently made history by winning the Malaysia FA Cup for the fourth consecutive time on Dec 14.
For Indonesian tourist Erwin Salleh, a family holiday in Johor promised a mix of fun, shopping and familiar flavours. The 44-year-old from Jakarta arrived with eight family members.
He said his children were excited to visit Legoland Malaysia while Johor Premium Outlets was a must for his wife.
“The food here is also quite similar to what we have back home, which makes it comfortable for us,” he added.
Following Johor, the family will travel by van to Kuala Lumpur before returning home.
Another Indonesian tourist Raras Dwijanirmala, 38, said her husband wanted to surprise their three children with a long-awaited trip to Legoland Malaysia, describing it as their “dream vacation”.
Raras added that Johor was an easy choice due to its many child-friendly attractions.
“This is also the first time my children have ever boarded a plane, so they were extremely excited.
“We plan to spend four days in Johor,” she said when met at Senai International Airport.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said welcoming ceremonies were held at major gateways yesterday as the state kicked off Visit Johor 2026.
The state government is targeting 12 million visitors and an estimated RM42bil in economic impact this year, he said.
“The celebration marks the beginning of Visit Johor 2026 and aims to welcome tourists from within and outside the country,” he told reporters after greeting travellers at Senai International Airport.
Johor recorded 7.9 million domestic and international tourists who stayed at least one night as of September 2025, reflecting strong growth momentum heading into 2026.
“We are now ready to receive visitors from around the world,” he said, adding that the state has implemented extensive beautification and cleanliness programmes since the launch of the Johor Bersih campaign in 2022, involving all 16 local authorities.
Mohd Jafni said more than 100 tourism-related events have been lined up throughout the year.
Tourism counters at Senai International Airport have also been enhanced with brochures and information highlighting attractions across all 10 districts in Johor, he added.
On accommodation, Mohd Jafni said Johor has around 500 registered hotels, providing approximately 8,000 rooms.
