Kuala lumpur: The routine flow of passengers and train announcements at KL Sentral was given a festive twist today with cultural dance performances, held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the performance stole the spotlight, drawing newly arrived domestic and international passengers into the rhythm featuring the Magunatip, a traditional dance of the Murut community in Sabah. Upon arrival at the hall, Electric Train Service (ETS) passengers were welcomed by senior officials from Tourism Malaysia and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), who handed out souvenir bags containing VM2026 promotional items. Titus, a 30-year-old French tourist, described his journey on the ETS as an exciting experience that made travelling around Malaysia much easier.
Titus expressed that the train service was fantastic and very convenient, recommending an increase in the number of daily trains to accommodate more people. He praised the service’s cleanliness, professionalism, and friendly team. Having stayed in Singapore for three days before taking the train from Johor Bahru, Titus and his friends planned to explore Malaysia’s cultural and heritage attractions, sample local cuisine, and visit locations with remarkable views.
Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia Human Resources Division director Muhamad Nasir Pahmi stated that his team would continue to strengthen strategic collaboration with KTMB by offering innovative and engaging tourism packages. He emphasized the importance of transportation in promoting attractive domestic tourism packages.
To further boost the tourism sector, the government is implementing various initiatives through e-Tourism Malaysia, including grants like the Galakan Melancong Malaysia (Gamelan) and support grants for the craft and tourism sectors. Muhamad Nasir noted that these grants were aimed at assisting local tourism industry players in enhancing their promotional and product development activities in conjunction with VM2026.
Additionally, KTMB chief operating officer Afzar Zakariya revealed the company’s expectations for a rise in local and international passengers, following the addition of four ETS trains on the southern sector for the KL Sentral-JB Sentral-KL Sentral route. He anticipated a more encouraging increase in passengers with improved ETS connectivity from southern hubs like Johor Bahru to key cities including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Butterworth, and Padang Besar.
The increase in passengers is expected to continue throughout the year in conjunction with VM2026. Today marks the first day of the campaign, providing the ideal opportunity for KTMB at KL Sentral, which serves as the stop for 42 ETS trains daily. Tourist welcoming ceremonies in conjunction with VM2026 were also held at several locations, including Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar, Kedah, and Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh, Perak.