By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 19: The first day of the Lunar New Year on Feb 17, 2026, saw a wave of visitors arriving in Malaysia, with 32 flights bringing a total of 8,840 passengers through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 between 7am and 10.30am.
In a press release today, Tourism Malaysia said the surge underscores the growing momentum of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign in promoting Malaysia as a vibrant, inclusive and culturally rich tourist destination.
To welcome the festive arrivals, Tourism Malaysia organised celebrations at major airports nationwide, highlighted by KLIA Terminals 1 and 2.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing greeted visitors with official VM2026 souvenirs.
Council representatives from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and key tourism industry players also joined, reflecting strong public-private collaboration.
“The celebrations featured traditional performances, a showcase of Malaysia’s colourful cultural attire and lion dance performances.
“VM2026 mascots Wira and Manja added to the fun with interactive photo opportunities, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere for incoming travellers,” Tourism Malaysia said.
It also said such initiatives aim to provide memorable arrival experiences, strengthen Malaysia’s destination branding and encourage repeat visits. – DayakDaily
