The Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism drive kicked off with a major New Year’s Eve festival in Kuala Lumpur, targeting 43 million international visitors.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign officially launched with a large-scale New Year’s Eve celebration at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended the Visit Malaysia 2026 Countdown Festival, which marked the start of efforts to build early momentum for the national tourism sector.
The event targets 43 million international visitor arrivals, aiming to position Malaysia as a leading global tourist destination.
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Jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and The Fame Events, it featured a pyromusical fireworks display, laser projections and 3D anamorphic visuals.
The festival’s celebratory atmosphere was enlivened by the appearance of the VM2026 sun bear mascots, Wira and Manja.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the celebration was a symbolic event to ignite momentum for VM2026.
“Malaysia is now fully ready to showcase its unique culture, creativity and the warm hospitality of its people,” he said in a statement.
He added that it marks a strong head start towards the aspiration of 43 million international visitor arrivals.
The New Year’s Eve celebration featured a variety of cultural and entertainment performances reflecting local talent.
Well-known artistes including Shila Amzah, Aina Abdul and Belle Sisoski performed alongside a fusion of traditional and contemporary music.
The festival successfully attracted thousands of local visitors and tourists, strengthening Malaysia’s international tourism presence.
To expand the impact, several side activities were organised around the capital city.
These included the VM2026 Bazaar at Pavilion Bukit Jalil and an Arts and Culture Exhibition at Fahrenheit 88.
Food bazaars and street performances in the Bukit Bintang area offered the public closer engagement with local heritage.
The festival was supported by Tourism Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur City Hall as main partners. – Bernama
