By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Mar 23: In conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), Tourism Malaysia (TM) welcomed 1,000 visitors at Kuching International Airport (KIA), who were treated to goodie bags and cultural performances.
These visitors included mainly international passengers from Singapore and Indonesia, as well as domestic visitors from Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.
According to Tourism Malaysia board of directors member, Synthia Law Wan Chin, the event was built upon the Chinese New Year celebration in February and the ongoing Hari Raya Aidilfitri, with visitors receiving complimentary gifts in the arrival hall.
“These are to give visitors the vibes that reflect the country’s signature hospitality and vibrant cultural heritage that defines the Malaysia Truly Asia experience,” she told reporters after launching the VM2026 montages at KIA today.
Law commended the ministries and agencies under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Arts (Motac), airlines, corporate sponsors, and tourism industry associations for the event’s success.
“Their participation reflects strong collective support in promoting Malaysia’s tourism industry and enhancing the overall visitor experience in line with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign,” she said.
At KIA, the event was enlivened further by Malay cultural performances, including a special appearance by the VM2026 mascots, Wira and Manja.
The main event was held at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA1), while similar welcoming ceremonies were held simultaneously in Sarawak, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Kedah, Perak, and Sabah.
Among those present were the acting chief executive officer of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak, Jason Tan Chin Foo; the head of events section of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Tracy Evon; the senior director of Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Maurice Balang; and the director of package development of Tourism Malaysia, Zuraini Abdul Ghani. — DayakDaily
