By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 9: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing announced that the Global Travel Meet (GTM) 2025 generated an economic impact of RM420 million, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a regional tourism hub ahead of Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.
In a WAI.fm news, Tiong highlighted that GTM 2025, organised by the private sector, was the first event of its kind in Malaysia, attracting over 600 international buyers and 100 foreign media representatives.
“The success of the event reflects strong confidence among global industry players in the potential of Malaysia’s tourism sector in the post-pandemic era,” he told the Parliament when responding to a supplementary question from Sri Aman MP Dato’ Sri Doris Sophia Brodie, who sought details on the actual impact and added economic value of GTM 2025.
Doris also inquired how the programme aligns with the objectives of VMY 2026 and supports efforts to enhance Malaysia’s international image.
Earlier, Dungun MP Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli raised a question regarding the Ministry’s guidelines to ensure that all official functions, including privately sponsored events, comply with Service Circular 3/2003, particularly the prohibition on serving alcoholic beverages at official government programmes.
In response, Tiong emphasised that the Ministry strictly adheres to the guidelines and strives to balance tourism promotion with respect for local cultural sensitivities.
He assured that the Ministry maintains close communication with organisers to ensure that official events uphold the country’s image.
“The successful organisation of GTM 2025 demonstrates Malaysia’s capability as a premier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism, with significant potential to attract new investments and create job opportunities,” he said.
Highlighting the event’s economic impact and extensive international media coverage, Tiong described GTM 2025 as a key catalyst for the VMY 2026 agenda, which aims to boost tourist arrivals and national revenue.
The GTM 2025 recently sparked controversy after alcoholic beverages were served during a gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 1. The dinner, clarified by three industry groups, was funded by tourism industry players, and not Tourism Malaysia or the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
The issue gained attention after Bersatu MP Mass Ermieyati Samsudin posted a video on Facebook last Saturday, questioning why alcohol was served at what she perceived as a government event, and asserting that it breached cultural and constitutional norms.
In response, Tiong clarified that no alcohol was served at a government-hosted gala. He emphasised that the dinner was organised by private sector partners to celebrate Malaysia’s first global travel event of its kind. — DayakDaily
