IPOH, June 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through Tourism Malaysia, is strengthening its strategy by focusing on high-performing and stable markets including China, Indonesia, Japan and India.
Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man said this included focusing on long-haul markets such as Russia, Germany and Australia to ensure market diversification.
He said the ministry would also continue to work closely with industry stakeholders to address operational challenges and cost pressures.
"The momentum of the country's tourism sector is on a positive trajectory.
"As of May this year, the country has received 17.5 million visitors, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to 16.9 million last year. This current performance proves that we are on a strong track to maintain the positive momentum in 2026," he said.
He said this when opening of the Festival Budaya Malaysia (FBM) 2026 at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah here, tonight.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture secretary-general, Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.
Meanwhile, Chiew said MOTAC is committed to placing arts and culture as the main attraction in promoting Malaysia on the world stage, especially in making the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign a success.
He said that through synergy with state governments such as Perak, culture would no longer be trapped as a treasure of the past, but would instead emerge as a dynamic economic driver capable of lifting the dignity of the people's identity on the world stage.
"This cultural tourism synergy is very important because when we empower local cultures such as the dabus dance, labu sayong, gold thread embroidery art or the uniqueness of Ipoh gastronomy, we are actually building a sustainable tourism product with high value.
"This is a two-pronged strategy for us to preserve our national identity and at the same time, boost the grassroots economy through the creative industry," he said.
Therefore, he said, to ensure that this desire and momentum of development does not stop, solid support in the form of infrastructure development is very critical.
He said that for the state of Perak under the 13 Malaysia Plan (13MP) the federal government through MOTAC has allocated RM 44,189,100 involving 13 projects, namely six large-scale projects and seven projects for the maintenance or improvement of tourism facilities totaling RM1,393,000.
Six large-scale development projects include the conservation of the Leaning Tower, Teluk Intan, upgrading of the building of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Perak Branch.
In addition, it includes the upgrading of the Tourism Area at Kinta Riverwalk, upgrading and renovating the existing information building at the Lumut Mangrove Discovery Centre, Manjung and developing the Bernam Riverfront in Tanjong Malim Town, Perak and developing the Lata Puteh Eco-Tourism in Selama.
-- BERNAMA
