By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 25: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing has called on all states as well as players in the tourism, arts, and culture industries to continue working shoulder-to-shoulder in strengthening the tourism ecosystem and ensuring that their destinations are ready to welcome a surge of visitors ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026).
Tiong, who recently completed a three-day working visit to Negeri Sembilan, said his experiences there reaffirmed the state’s strong tourism potential, with attractions rooted in history, culture, heritage, arts, and culinary traditions that could appeal to both domestic and international markets.
“Negeri Sembilan has unique and competitive tourism attractions, from historical heritage, architectural beauty, cultural uniqueness, traditional culinary authenticity to the creativity of its local communities,” he said in a post shared on his social media on Wednesday (Sept 24).
During his visit, Tiong was joined by Negeri Sembilan State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Arts and Culture Nicole Tan Lee Koon, MOTAC Negeri Sembilan director Dr Rackmawatie Lokman, and representatives from related agencies.
His itinerary included iconic and diverse attractions such as the Army Museum and Port Dickson Ornamental Fish Centre, Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson, Homestay D’Pelandok Best, Dickson Dragon Cruise, Lorong Seni Seremban, Kampung Baru Mambau, Zhi Yuan Tang Temple, Snowlim Wonderland, Masjid Sri Sendayan, and the Negeri Sembilan State Museum.
Tiong stressed that any tourism products requiring upgrades should be discussed in detail with relevant stakeholders to ensure that development efforts bring genuine benefits to the industry.
He also encouraged the organisation of more culture-based events at promising locations to further introduce the uniqueness of each state to both domestic and international tourists.
“These efforts not only support the aspirations of Visit Malaysia 2026 but also contribute to the success of Visit Negeri Sembilan Year 2026, while elevating the state and the nation as premier destinations that celebrate history, heritage, culture, and food on the world stage,” he said. — DayakDaily
