Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) have embarked on a landmark partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (Apr 30). This three-year collaboration aims to reinforce Malaysia’s position as the gateway to Asia and beyond while elevating the country as a preferred tourist destination on the global stage.
The MoU, signed by Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director-General (Promotion II), Lee Tai Hung, and MAG’s Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines, Dersenish Aresandiran, underscored the commitment of both parties to driving tourism growth and enhancing air connectivity to Malaysia.
The ceremony, held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, was witnessed by Tourism Malaysia’s Director-General, Manoharan Periasamy, and MAG’s Chief Executive Officer of Airlines, Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi.
With promising prospects for the Malaysian tourism industry in 2024, the focus will be on target markets such as ASEAN countries, West Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. The aim is to attract 27.3 million arrivals and generate RM102.7 billion in tourism revenue this year. Looking ahead to Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026), Malaysia aims to welcome 35.6 million tourists, generating target receipts of RM147.1 billion.
Manoharan highlighted the collaborative efforts between Tourism Malaysia and MAG, aiming to provide unrivaled services and seamless connections. Joint activities planned include familiarization trips, marketing promotional activities, and advertising campaigns to showcase Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination globally.
Commenting on the partnership, Ahmad Luqman emphasised MAG’s commitment to supporting Malaysia’s tourism ambitions. Through collaborative efforts, the partnership seeks to achieve sustainable traffic growth and position Malaysia as the gateway to Asia and beyond.
The MoU will pave the way for the development of a three-year partnership program targeting key international markets, focusing not only on leisure passengers but also on MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and transit passengers.
Additionally, the partnership will leverage Malaysia Airlines’ Bonus Side Trip (BST) offering, providing passengers with complimentary flights to domestic destinations on the Malaysia Airlines network, thus enhancing the tourism experience for visitors.
