MANILA, 1 JANUARY 2026 – The Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign officially begins with a send-off ceremony for Malaysia Airlines passengers flight MH807 on the Manila-Kuala Lumpur route, coordinated by the Embassy of Malaysia Manila through its Tourism Malaysia Office in collaboration with Malaysia Airlines.

His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, the ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of the Philippines, attended the ceremony at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 alongside Mr. Mohd Faizal Sharip, the Tourism Attaché, Mr. Nor Jufri Nizar Edrus, the Deputy Chief of Mission and Ms. Diana Cher Lacsamana Batica, the Sales Manager of Malaysia Airlines.

The delegation also took the opportunity to meet the cabin crew and share aspirations regarding Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and expressed gratitude for their role in welcoming visitors to Malaysia.

At the boarding gate, 157 passengers received a warm welcome and presented with souvenirs commemorating Visit Malaysia Year 2026 as a gesture of hospitality for their departure to Malaysia with the assistance and support from Airport Station Head of Malaysia Airlines Philippines, Mr Michael Vince Betron.

Malaysia Airlines currently operates the Manila-Kuala Lumpur route with 21 weekly flights, while its sister airline Firefly, operates the Cebu-Kuala Lumpur route with 5 weekly flights.

As part of the VM2026 campaign, Malaysia will roll out a year-long calendar of more than 300 events highlighting the nation’s multicultural identity, artistic heritage, and festive traditions. Key highlights include the VM2026 Chinese New Year Festival, VM2026 Aidilfitri Festival, VM2026 Deepavali Festival, VM2026 Christmas Fest, as well as iconic cultural celebrations such as the Tadau Ka’amatan Festival and Gawai Festival. These curated events offer immersive experiences ranging from cultural parades and culinary showcases to traditional performances, spiritual observances, and community- led festivities throughout the year.

Malaysia aims to attract 47 million international visitors through the VM2026 campaign, in line with efforts to strengthen tourism as one of the nation’s key economic drivers. With its theme song “Surreal Experiences,” the campaign promises a vibrant year-long programme of festivals, cultural showcases, exhibitions, community celebrations, and uniquely Malaysian experiences.

Leveraging Malaysia’s strong potential as a world-class tourist destination, Visit Malaysia 2026 is expected to boost tourist arrivals while generating employment, enhancing the country’s global image, and delivering economic benefits to local communities. The campaign will also strengthen cultural appreciation and stimulate growth across multiple sectors beyond tourism, including hospitality, transportation, retail, and the gastronomy industry.