Kuala Lumpur: The meeting of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) national main committee has agreed to extend the campaign until the end of 2027, subject to cabinet approval, the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Monday.
The proposed extension would allow Malaysia to adopt a more proactive approach in strengthening promotional strategies and positioning the country as a safe, stable and competitive tourism destination, he said in a statement.
The move would also enable Malaysia to respond to changing global travel patterns and external challenges affecting the tourism industry, he added.
The deputy prime minister noted that current global developments, including the Middle East conflict, have significantly impacted regional stability and the global tourism sector.
According to him, tourist arrivals from West Asia are projected to decline by between 11 and 27 percent, affecting tourism hotspots across Asia and the ASEAN grouping.
The conflict has also disrupted international flight routes and increased travel costs due to higher fuel and transportation expenses, which may reduce tourist confidence and affect global travel flows in the near term, he added.
