By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 1: Wira and Manja, the official sun bear mascots of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), took centre stage in welcoming visitors on the first day of 2026 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA T1), marking the official launch of the nationwide campaign.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, together with officials from his ministry and Tourism Malaysia, greeted arrivals and thanked all agencies and partners for their support.
“The close cooperation of all parties is crucial to ensure the campaign runs smoothly and effectively,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Welcoming programmes also ran simultaneously at 55 major entry points across all 13 states, highlighting the nationwide effort to greet visitors.
Tiong also emphasised the need for frontline personnel to maintain high service standards, reminding agencies to serve visitors with patience, friendliness and professionalism.
“Your role on the ground is vital in shaping the visitor experience and reflecting the genuine warmth of Malaysian hospitality to the world,” he added.
He further called on all Malaysians to play their part in making VM2026 a success, describing the campaign as more than a tourism initiative.
“It is a national movement that embodies unity, harmony, and cultural diversity. Our welcome to visitors from day one shows that Malaysia is ready to receive the world with confidence and openness,” he emphasised. – DayakDaily
