Malaysia’s Tourism Minister, YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, led a strategic visit to GCC nations from August 10 to 19, 2024, with the aim of bolstering tourism partnerships, promoting Visit Malaysia Year 2026, and driving economic growth. The delegation, which included Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, and Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Mr. Manoharan Periasamy, engaged in diplomatic discussions across Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This initiative aimed to strengthen bilateral tourism relations with the GCC countries, paving the way for ongoing partnerships. The delegation’s primary focus was to build and reinforce connections with key tourism stakeholders in the GCC, ultimately positioning Malaysia as a preferred tourist destination.
Meetings with government officials, airline executives, top travel agencies, and business magnates in cities like Muscat, Kuwait City, Manama, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai were pivotal to the delegation’s mission. The discussions centered around promoting Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, and exploring collaborative marketing efforts.
The delegation presented in-depth insights into Malaysia’s tourism development strategies, emphasizing quick-win and high-impact approaches. They also explored broader economic trade and investment prospects. The GCC is recognized as a leading source of tourism spending, with tourists known for extended stays, making these markets crucial for Malaysia’s tourism industry.
In 2023, visitors from Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE contributed significantly to Malaysia’s economic growth. Over 40,000 tourists generated approximately RM428.84 million in revenue. As the tourism industry strives to surpass pre-pandemic levels, expectations for 2024 are set high. Malaysia anticipates welcoming over 55,000 visitors from these GCC countries, contributing substantially to the projected 27.3 million international tourists and RM102.7 billion in tourism revenue.
