Tourism Malaysia celebrated a significant milestone after winning two prestigious honours ‘Best National Tourism Organisation (NTO) Southeast Asia’ and ‘Best Destination Marketing Initiatives’ at the 8th Arabian Travel Awards held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay on 25 November 2025. These awards highlight Malaysia’s growing appeal as a preferred destination for travellers from the Middle East and affirm Tourism Malaysia’s dedication to strengthening promotional efforts ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). The accolades were received on behalf of the organisation by Mr. Mohd Faharuddin Hatmin, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Dubai, during a ceremony attended by more than 100 influential representatives from the regional travel trade, hospitality sectors, and media.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, noting that it reflects the agency’s continuous commitment to showcasing Malaysia’s rich and diverse tourism offerings to the world. As the country prepares for VM2026, he emphasised that Tourism Malaysia will intensify its market engagement, deepen strategic collaborations, and boost air connectivity to support sustainable and impactful visitor growth from the Middle East and beyond.
Malaysia recorded an encouraging 28.2 million international tourist arrivals from January to August 2025, marking a 14.5 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This upward trend showcases the enduring appeal of Malaysia’s vibrant cities, picturesque islands, cultural heritage, and celebrated gastronomic experiences that continue to draw visitors from across the globe.
Looking forward, the recent accolades provide further momentum for Malaysia’s preparations toward achieving its Visit Malaysia 2026 target of welcoming 47 million international travellers. Key initiatives include enhancing air accessibility to Malaysia, supported by new daily Batik Air flights from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur starting 1 January 2026, complementing existing routes operated by Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, Air Arabia, and others.
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