Malaysia Targets Tourism Growth With New Edu+ Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) today launched the Edu+ programme aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s edutourism sector and promoting cultural exchange, with an initial focus on attracting international students.

Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the programme combines education with a variety of experiences, including cultural immersion, homestay programmes, eco-tourism and sports activities.

“With 19 private educational institutions and eight travel agencies already committed to offering Edu+ packages, we are confident that the programme will draw significant interest.

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“It is projected to attract 10,000 students in 2024, generating RM50 million for the country,” he said in his speech at the launch of the Edu+ Programme here today.

Khairul Firdaus said the programme’s pilot phase would target the Japanese market with plans to expand to Korea, China, Russia and Vietnam while collaborating with the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (NAPEI) to reflect the synergy between the tourism and education sectors and create unique learning opportunities.

He said the programme offers international students under 16 with tourist visas the chance to pursue short-term education programmes while vacationing in Malaysia.

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Khairul Firdaus said this initiative aligns with Malaysia’s broader tourism goals ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, a national campaign aimed at drawing in 23.5 million tourists and RM147.1 billion in tourism receipts.

Meanwhile, NAPEI deputy president Datuk Lau Wai Cheng said the programme has received an overwhelming response from travel operators and agents during pre-launch promotions in Japan and South Korea.

“With the positive reception we’ve garnered from events like the Tourism Expo Japan, we are hopeful that Edu+ will continue to attract more students from the region,” she said.

EduCity Iskandar chairman Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim said the initiative not only enhances the educational experiences of international students but also strengthens efforts to promote cultural exchange and sustainable tourism in the region.

“The Edu+ initiative provides a unique platform for EduCity Iskandar as a key partner in Edu+ to showcase its world-class infrastructure and educational facilities to an international audience,” he said.

-- BERNAMA