Malaysia: Malaysia is targeting 500,000 tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom (UK) as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He expressed optimism that the target can be met, citing a significant increase in the number of tourists from the UK during the first four months of this year. He is confident that this upward trend will continue.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid conveyed satisfaction with Tourism Malaysia's efforts in London, particularly in reaching the goal of attracting 500,000 UK tourists. He expressed his confidence in achieving this target during a press conference following the launch of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) on Tuesday.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid participated in a tourism roundtable session with key players from the UK tourism industry. During the session, he discussed a proposal to create a special package for tourists flying with Malaysian Airlines, offering stopover incentives to encourage them to spend time in Kuala Lumpur or other destinations in Peninsular Malaysia. This proposal is set to be presented to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Cabinet for implementation by 2026.
Malaysia Airlines had previously offered a similar package with success, leading to optimism about adopting the suggestion from the Malaysia Airlines manager in London. In his opening remarks, Ahmad Zahid noted that in 2024, 390,035 travellers from the UK visited Malaysia, contributing over RM2.5 billion in visitor receipts.
He highlighted Malaysia's approval of 103 new international routes, 29 additional flight frequencies, and five charter flights as preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026. According to him, these routes serve as gateways to opportunities for travellers, operators, and investors alike.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Wanderlust, the UK's leading independent travel magazine, Ahmad Zahid emphasized Malaysia's appeal as a destination offering authentic, culturally rich, and environmentally sustainable experiences. He shared insights into unique offerings such as homestay programmes, community-based tourism with the Orang Asli, the diverse ethnic cultures of Sabah and Sarawak, and the conservation of natural heritage sites like Kinabalu Geopark and Royal Belum.
He expressed hope that the interview with Wanderlust will strengthen Malaysia's promotion of Visit Malaysia 2026, aligning with the interests of international travellers, especially those from the UK who value meaningful and authentic travel experiences.