Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong said the funds should be disbursed in a transparent manner to eliminate doubt and encourage the industry.

Wong said the travel business, especially in inbound travel, must be empowered with the funding and resources needed to sell Malaysia more aggressively for the Visit Malaysia Year.

“There is a need to ensure that we continue to up our promotion of Malaysia as an attractive, accessible and safe holiday destination,” he said.

“There must be a strategic approach, including extensive consultation with the private sector, to ensure optimum results.

The 2025 budget also allocated RM600 million to restore key cultural sites in Kuala Lumpur, and an additional RM110 million for improving tourist facilities, pursuing Unesco nominations for various cultural sites, and establishing ecotourism cooperation.

Malaysian Hospitality Association president Sri Kumar Sivakumaran said a portion of the RM550 million allocated for VM 2026 should be used for human capital development, noting that investing in training and skill enhancement is crucial for improving service standards.

Sri Kumar said it was important for foreign tourists to be able to access information in their native language as this facilitates better understanding of local culture, attractions, and services.

He also called for funds to be allocated for programmes to upgrade transport infrastructure such as ferries and jetties in certain tourist hotspots like Pulau Redang and Pulau Pangkor.

Visit Malaysia Year 2026 has a target of attracting 35.6 million tourists, generating RM147.1 billion in receipts.