Kuala lumpur: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) is targeting 100,000 tourist visits to rural destinations through 25 Desa Kirana@KKDW locations nationwide in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that this target is expected to be achieved by the end of next year. This initiative is aligned with the government's aspiration to ensure rural areas benefit economically from tourist arrivals.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stated that most tourists visiting Malaysia come from the ASEAN region, Oceania including Australia and New Zealand, and Europe. A smaller number of tourists originate from North or South America, with the largest groups arriving from China and India. He emphasized the importance of rural communities benefiting from tourism, rather than being mere spectators to the economic activities brought by tourists.
Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Development Minister, mentioned that data indicates strong interest among tourists from South Korea and Japan in exploring Malaysia's rural lifestyle. He urged all stakeholders, including homestay operators, village heads, and individuals, to maintain the promoted locations to ensure their sustainability beyond the Visit Malaysia Year campaign.
He expressed concern over the state of some homestays he revisited in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and other areas, which were poorly maintained due to aging operators. He stressed the importance of continuity and a culture of maintenance to avoid neglect of these locations after the campaign.
Ahmad Zahid added that KKDW, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, will support related tourism products to enhance the economic standing of rural communities. KKDW stated that the Desa Kirana programme, encompassing 25 locations across Malaysia, is a strategic initiative offering a comprehensive and unique rural tourism package, with local communities as the main drivers.
The ministry also aims for a 20 percent increase in income for local communities next year, considering the potential and unique attributes of each location.