Shah alam: The Selangor government has proposed extending the Visit Selangor Year (VSY) 2025 campaign into the following year to further promote the state’s attractions. State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim indicated that an announcement regarding this extension will be made soon by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed extension of the campaign is aimed at aligning with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM 2026) campaign, thereby boosting the number of tourists and enhancing the promotion of Selangor’s attractions. Ng emphasized the pivotal role Selangor plays in attracting both domestic and international tourists to Malaysia, given its strategic position as a gateway to the country.
Ng made these remarks at the Selangor Local Community Host (HKSS) Graduation Ceremony for the Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam districts. The event, attended by Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling, celebrated the efforts of HKSS as small ambassadors in promoting community-based tourism, which supports the state’s vision of agro-tourism growth, particularly in rural areas.
In related developments, Ng shared plans to meet with homestay operators statewide to explain the legalisation process for those operating without licenses. This initiative aims to ensure that such businesses comply with laws and regulations set by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and local authorities.
Additionally, Ng announced that the state government intends to form a committee under Tourism Selangor to work towards the recognition of the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The HKSS graduation event celebrated 49 participants from the Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam districts, recognizing their completion of a three-month training program. The ceremony also honored 18 companies and individuals with the Selangor Iconic Product Award 2024 and awarded the Malaysia Tourism Quality Assurance (MyTQA) Certificate of Participation to nine companies.
The HKSS program, launched in 2018 with support from local authorities, has provided communities with an opportunity to highlight Selangor’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. Participants received training in modules such as heritage asset mapping and sustainability in community host careers, equipping them to showcase local attractions like the padi fields in Sekinchan and the fireflies in Kampung Kuantan.
Participant Ummi Nabilah Shafry expressed that the program taught her to effectively promote Selangor and its unique local products, while another participant, Choo Siew Joon, found the training enhanced her understanding of local attractions and fostered creativity in promoting them.