‘’Be Nice!’’ Malaysians Reminded To Be Friendly To Tourists Ahead Of Visit Malaysia 2026

Some tourists have raised concerns about unfriendly behaviours from locals during their visit here.

Credit: Malay Mail

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It appears ‘’budi bahasa budaya kita’’ has left some of us and it’s bad enough until tourists have raised concerns about unfriendly behaviours, like impatience and hostility from locals. Whoa, what happened to our Malaysian hospitality?

Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has called on Malaysians to adopt a more open and friendly attitude towards visitors since Visit Malaysia 2026 (VMY2026) has started.

a man in a suit and tie is talking to another man with the words " no fighting " below him

I urge all Malaysians to work together to show that our country is a welcoming, friendly and culturally rich destination.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

For the past year, Malaysia has been stepping up its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign and promotional efforts have been positive so far, judging by the major turnout in Bukit Bintang for the new year countdown event.

On top of this, everyone is also reminded to raise cleanliness standards and to take waste management seriously. This was referring to complaints that a mess was left behind after the countdown party in the city.

While we cannot place excessive pressure on tourists, we will do our best to educate and gently remind them. Cooperation from all parties is essential. These efforts will also be supported through health promotion and early education initiatives among the local community, including children.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

Some Visit Malaysia 2026 initiatives have included the introduction of Bandung Pandan Spritz mocktail as the official VMY2026 mocktail and welcome drink in hotels, and the romantic comedy movie Worth the Wait made in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia.

And how can we forget the introduction of the official VMY2026 sun bear mascots, Wira and Manja?