PUTRAJAYA: The second meeting of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) National Main Committee has agreed to extend the implementation of VM2026 until the end of 2027.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision would, however, be brought before the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Ahmad Zahid, who chaired the committee, said the move was aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s tourism promotion strategies and positioning the country as a safe, stable and competitive destination amid shifting global travel trends.
He said the extension also takes into account current developments, including a conflict that erupted in the Middle East on Feb 28, which has significantly impacted regional stability and the global tourism sector.
“Projections indicate that tourist arrivals from the Middle East could decline between 11% and 27%, translating to a loss of up to 38 million visitors and economic losses reaching US$56bil,” he said in a statement on Monday (April 6).
Ahmad Zahid said the conflict has also disrupted international flight routes, increased travel costs due to rising oil prices and transportation expenses, and reduced traveller confidence, which could affect global tourism flows in the near term.
Earlier, he chaired the committee’s second meeting in Putrajaya, which discussed and reviewed these developments.
He said the meeting also served to coordinate ongoing programmes and plan further initiatives to boost the VM2026 campaign, a national agenda aimed at increasing tourism revenue, strengthening Malaysia’s competitiveness in the tourism industry and positioning the sector as a key contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The committee comprises six working groups led by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Communications Ministry, Housing and Local Government Ministry, and Transport Ministry, with participation from various related government agencies.
“Each ministry and agency presented their programme achievements and planned activities in conjunction with VM2026.
“The government remains committed to ensuring that VM2026 is implemented effectively and comprehensively, with all parties playing their roles in an integrated manner,” he said.
He added that the initiative is expected to enhance strategic cooperation, attract more visitors, increase tourist spending and length of stay, and further promote Malaysia as a safe, stable and competitive destination.
