KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that the government is considering extending the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign until the end of 2027 as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s tourism strategy amid global uncertainties yesterday.
Zahid said he chaired the second high-level meeting on the “Mother Year of Visit Malaysia 2026” earlier this evening to review current developments and outline the next steps for the national tourism initiative.
“The meeting agreed to propose that the implementation of VM2026 be extended until the end of 2027. This proposal will be brought to the Cabinet for further consideration,” he said in a statement.
According to Zahid, the decision was made to allow Malaysia to enhance its promotional strategies, adapt to evolving global conditions, and capitalise on shifting international tourist flows.
He added that stronger coordination between ministries and government agencies will continue to be a priority to ensure all tourism-related initiatives are implemented in a more integrated and impactful manner.
“We want to ensure Malaysia remains a safe and trusted destination of choice for international visitors,” he said.
Zahid also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the tourism sector, expressing confidence that continued efforts will generate positive economic spillovers and benefit the rakyat.
“Insya-Allah, the government will continue to reinforce the country’s tourism industry so it can contribute meaningfully to economic growth and the well-being of the people,” he added.
–Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris
–Photo: FB Zahid Hamidi
