February 21, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR – Asean member countries have agreed to adopt the term “visitor” in tourism statistics, replacing distinctions like “tourist” and “excursionist” for more consistent reporting, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said this decision was reached during the Asean Tourism Ministers Meeting, which took place on Wednesday (Jan 19) in Johor,
Tiong said the change aims to accurately represent inbound and outbound travellers across member nations.
He said that countries like Thailand and Malaysia experience significant cross-border movement, and unified terminology would improve data collection and policy formulation.
In response to concerns raised by opposition MP Mas Ermieyati (PN-Masjid Tanah) about the adequacy of surveys, Tiong confirmed that comprehensive surveys have been carried out at various entry points, including airports.
“We have conducted surveys at airports to monitor the number of visitors from China, Arab countries, Singapore, and others. These are not arbitrary figures,” he said while winding up his ministerial reply on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address on Wednesday (Feb 20).
Meanwhile, Tiong also addressed the progress of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) promotional video.
He attributed the delays to pending submissions from various states concerning their respective tourist attractions.
“Some states have yet to provide information on their tourism products, which is why our officials need to visit these locations personally,” he explained.
The promotional video for VM2026, which is approximately 30 minutes long, was set to launch on Feb 26. It would showcase Malaysia’s tourism offerings, divided into five zones encompassing all states.
The previously released Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) teaser video has drawn criticism for omitting mosques while featuring other religious landmarks like Batu Caves and Christ Church Melaka.
Opposition MP Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin questioned the exclusion, prompting Tiong to clarify that the video was only a brief logo launch teaser.