By Sanath Weerasuriya
The latest launch of its Sales Mission to Colombo, Tourism Malaysia last week announced new promotion aimed at rejuvenating its presence and strengthening ties with the Sri Lankan tourism market.
This strategic initiative follows a remarkable rise in tourism statistics, with 58,015 Sri Lankans visiting Malaysia in 2024. This is a substantial increase of 122% compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019, when only 26,058 Sri Lankans travelled to Malaysia.
The mission highlights Malaysia’s potential as a key destination for Sri Lankan travellers. With 30 flights per week from Colombo and a total seat capacity of 4,990, the mission underlines the enhanced connectivity between the two nations, making travel to Malaysia more accessible than ever.
Tourism Malaysia Chennai (South India and Sri Lanka) Director Hishamuddin Mustafa commented: ‘Our presence here for this sales mission is to reconnect with the local tourism industry players, express our appreciation for their unwavering support, and to foster further collaborations. This initiative also brings 45 Malaysian sellers to Colombo for the first-ever largest group delegation. Their participation is a clear indication of our commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s position in the Sri Lankan market and exploring new opportunities for cooperation with Sri Lankan tourism professionals’.
In regard to the upcoming ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2026’ (Visit Malaysia 2026), he said they are targeting 100,000 Sri Lankan travellers.
‘Malaysia an attractive destination for travellers seeking a diverse range of experiences —whether it is for MICE, a dream wedding, or a family vacation, Malaysia has something for everyone. With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 on the horizon, we are excited to showcase all the new destinations, cultural experiences, and world-class venues Malaysia has to offer’ he added.
This mission is a key step towards not only boosting tourism exchanges but also ensuring a sustained, vibrant relationship between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The delegation of 45 Malaysian sellers is poised to explore partnership opportunities, share insights, and solidify the Malaysia-Sri Lanka travel connection.
The Sales Mission is expected to be a significant milestone in bringing more Sri Lankans to Malaysia, fostering cultural exchanges, and creating long-term economic benefits for both countries’ tourism sectors.
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.
The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).
Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand. Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.
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