The agency said the initiative aims to attract students under 16 years old holding tourist visas to pursue short-term education programmes while holidaying in Malaysia.

Developed in collaboration with the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (NAPEI), the programme focuses on English language learning at local educational institutions and includes various components, such as cultural and heritage experiences.

It also involves collaborations with local schools, homestays, sports tourism learning, eco and nature experiences, and initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals.

“Presently, 19 private educational institutions and eight travel agencies have committed to developing Edu+ packages under this programme,” Tourism Malaysia said in a statement today.

Deputy tourism, arts and culture minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan expressed optimism about the programme’s potential, saying it would help build Malaysia’s reputation as an education hub for tourism.

“It is estimated that as many as 10,000 students will enrol in this programme in 2024, generating RM50 million for the country,” he added.

Tourism Malaysia also said the Edu+ programme focuses on the Japanese market, with plans to expand to other regions such as Korea, China, Russia, and Vietnam.

This initiative is part of Malaysia’s broader tourism goals in the lead-up to the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, which aims to attract 23.5 million tourists and generate RM147.1 billion in tourism receipts.