Visit Malaysia Travel Meet 2025 kicks off in Melaka
- BT
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
AYER KEROH, MELAKA, 26 September 2025 - The Visit Malaysia Travel Meet (VMTM) 2025 was officially launched today at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) here. Held from today to 28 September in conjunction with World Tourism Day and the World Tourism Conference 2025, the event was officiated by Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, and was graced by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Organised by Tourism Malaysia, VMTM 2025 is a large-scale promotional platform aimed at revitalising domestic tourism and laying the groundwork for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026). The launch ceremony featured a special gimmick jointly officiated by Ab Rauf and Tiong.
In his address, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Manoharan Periasamy emphasised the important role of domestic tourism in sustaining the country’s travel industry. He said Malaysia recorded 260 million domestic visitors in 2024, and 143.5 million in just the first half of 2025.
“Domestic tourism is the backbone of our industry. These numbers reflect how domestic travel sustains employment, supports businesses, and preserves our cultural lifestyle,” he said.
VMTM 2025 brings together over 200 exhibitors from various sectors of the tourism industry, including travel agencies, homestays, glamping operators, airlines, hotels, and food vendors representing Malaysia’s multicultural heritage. More than 250 corporate buyers from sectors, such as oil and gas, insurance, education, and manufacturing are participating in business-to-business (B2B) sessions, while the public is invited to explore business-to-consumer (B2C) offerings, including exclusive travel packages at special rates.
Manoharan described the event as a storytelling platform where each state can share its unique tourism offerings with the world. Visitors can enjoy interactive cultural showcases, including traditional crafts, performances, and culinary experiences as well as lucky draws, while exploring various travel packages that highlight adventure tourism, nature, theme parks, and heritage experiences.
Agencies under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) such as Istana Budaya, ASWARA, Kraftangan Malaysia, and MyCEB are actively participating together with state tourism boards from Melaka, Pahang, Langkawi, Perak, Johor, and Sarawak.
Manoharan also addressed the challenges facing domestic tourism, particularly the need for affordable accommodations, clean and safe facilities, efficient transport systems, and warm hospitality.
“We must improve service quality and ensure transport safety whether in vehicles, infrastructure, or driving standards so tourists feel confident and comfortable,” he urged, calling on all stakeholders to collaborate proactively in addressing these issues.
VMTM 2025 is expected to catalyse growth in Malaysia’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector, thus positioning the country as a preferred destination for corporate events.
“The event aligns with the National Tourism Policy 2020-2030, which emphasises sustainability, integration, and competitiveness. To stay attractive, we must leverage our strengths multiculturalism, affordability, and unique cultural experiences through diverse tourism products, digital innovation, and sustainable, inclusive practices,” Manoharan stated.
He concluded by saying that tourism must not only drive economic growth but also empower communities, protect the environment, and strengthen Malaysia’s standing as a top regional destination.
Ab Rauf, when speaking at the launch event, highlighted the significance of VMTM 2025 as a strategic platform for tourism industry players and a bridge to expand international networks, pioneer new investment opportunities and open avenues for collaborations that can propel the nation’s tourism industry to greater heights.
Ab Rauf also announced that Melaka will host the official launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 in a prestigious ceremony to be held at Encore Melaka tomorrow evening, 27 September, which will be officiated by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The launch is expected to elevate Melaka’s profile as a premier stage for international tourism, with more than 155 international delegates including members of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) gathering in the historic city.
“The VMY 2026 campaign, themed “Malaysia Truly Asia” and “Surreal Experience”, aims to attract 35.6 million tourists from within and outside the country,” Ab Rauf said. He added that the festivities will begin at 6pm, featuring a special performance by national songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza as well as Misha Omar, staged over the Straits of Malacca. Guests can also look forward to a spectacular drone light show involving 1,000 drones.
Meanwhile, following the launch, Tiong and Ab Rauf toured the VMTM 2025 venue, where they engaged with exhibitors and viewed the offerings presented by participating tourism industry players.
