Johor targets RM42 bil in tourism revenue for Visit Johor year 2026
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this target was based on the projected arrival of 12 million tourists over the year.
'According to official data from Tourism Malaysia, the average per capita spending for tourists is RM3,500,' he said during a session at the Johor State Legislative Assembly in Kota Iskandar today.
'If we meet the target of 12 million tourists, the expected revenue, both direct and indirect, will total RM42 billion,' he added.
He was responding to a question from Hasrunizah Hassan (BN-Pulai Sebatang) regarding the tourism revenue and tourist targets for Visit Johor Year 2026.
Onn Hafiz also emphasised that the state government is focusing on attracting domestic tourists and visitors from Singapore.
Last month, he announced an allocation of RM116.35 million to upgrade public facilities, enhance tourism attractions and improve the overall visitor experience in Johor for 2024 and 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
7 hours ago
- Barnama
MM2H Gains Popularity Among Thais For Education, Lifestyle Appeal
WORLD Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing launching the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign in Bangkok here on Tuesday. By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock BANGKOK, July 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme continues to gain traction among Thais, driven by cultural familiarity, proximity, and a competitive cost of living, said Tourism Malaysia's Bangkok office. Director of Tourism Malaysia in Bangkok, Nurul Ain Mohammed Yunus, noted that an increasing number of individuals and families from the region are looking beyond short-term travel, opting instead for longer-term stays in countries that offer quality of life, stability, and opportunity. "Thailand has emerged as a promising market for the MM2H segment. 'A key appeal for Thai MM2H applicants is our education sector. Malaysia is fast becoming an education hub in Asia, with globally ranked universities, international schools, and a multilingual learning environment," she told Bernama after a business matching session held in Bangkok on Monday. Nurul Ain added that thousands of international students, including those from Thailand, are choosing Malaysia for its proximity, affordability, and academic quality. She said that Malaysia offers all these and more - a safe, affordable, and multicultural living environment with access to world-class healthcare, modern infrastructure, and a strong sense of community. On Monday, Malaysia's Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing made a working visit to Bangkok to enhance bilateral tourism cooperation and lay the foundation for stronger ties ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). Tiong paid a courtesy call to his Thai counterpart, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong, before meeting with tourism industry players in Thailand.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysia's cybersecurity on right track, keeping up with digital economy growth
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on the right track in cybersecurity as the government is introducing new policies and frameworks, said Zoho Corporation's ManageEngine regional director, Asia Pacific, Arun Kumar. Arun said Malaysia's cybersecurity is keeping pace with the rapid growth of its digital economy. 'There is a cybersecurity law in Malaysia about securing critical infrastructure, such as banks and government institutions. There is also the Personal Data Protection Act when it comes to handling data,' he said during a media roundtable today. Arun said these policies and frameworks are important first steps when moving towards a more secure cyber environment. However, Arun stressed that cybersecurity is not only a government responsibility and that the private sector and individual citizens also have a crucial role to play. 'More awareness, more investments (needed from the private sector and citizens),' he said. Arun reiterated that companies, regardless of size, should view government regulations, laws, and compliance requirements only as a starting point. 'Companies still need to invest in upskilling, adopt the right tools, and prioritise a 'cybersecurity-first' approach to stay protected.' Furthermore, Arun said, there are no unique cybersecurity challenges in Malaysia compared to other Asean countries. 'I see somewhat similar trends, challenges when it comes to cyber security or cyber preparedness.' The main issues across the region are the lack of skilled workforce to support digital transformation and cybersecurity needs. 'Most of the markets face challenges today when it comes to right skills in terms of workforce. Skilled workforce is one of the important steps every company, including SMEs, must take to build a safer nation,' Arun said. He noted there is a lot of momentum and strong growth expected from the digital transformation roadmap and the expanding digital economy. 'However, if these priorities are neglected, organisations will remain vulnerable to cyberattacks, and such threats are likely to increase over time.' Arun concluded the country will be well prepared to maintain a safe digital environ-ment if these steps are properly implemented. Malaysia has seen cyberattacks targeting financial institutions and government portals, including ransomware and phishing attacks aimed at stealing sensitive data. For example, in a high‑profile incident in March, computer systems at Kuala Lumpur International Airport were hit by an attack. The National Cyber Security Agency and Malaysia Airports Holdings said the hackers demanded a US$10 million (RM42 million) ransom, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rejected. Malaysia also recorded a staggering 4,017,161 internet-borne cyberthreats in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from Kaspersky. This translates to more than 44,000 daily attacks, reflecting a rising trend in cybercrime coinciding with the disbursement of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah government financial aid during the March–April period. A significant proportion of these cyberthreats stems from phishing scams distributed through popular messaging platforms.
The Sun
20 hours ago
- The Sun
SARA aid helps Malaysians cope with rising living costs
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The expansion of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) or basic Rahmah contribution initiative, to benefit 5.4 million recipients, starting April 1, has been described as a blessing, particularly for low-income individuals, those who have lost their regular income, and others struggling with the rising cost of living. For 76-year-old Shaari Yahaya, a retired private sector employee, the SARA aid has been a significant help, especially with the rising cost of basic necessities, after being out of the workforce for decades. 'As a senior citizen who has been retired for a long time, I have no income and rely entirely on my children. 'This SARA aid is very meaningful to me because it allows me to buy essential items like milk, soy sauce, and more. Today, I'll first take a look at the items in the supermarket, then decide what to buy,' he said when met by Bernama. He added that the people hope such initiatives will continue and be further improved to assist more groups in need. Similarly, 38-year-old mother of three, including a set of twins, Izlaily Nurul Ain Hussein, said that although the SARA assistance of RM100 a month for a year may seem small, it still provides meaningful relief to recipients. She said she has not yet spent the assistance received since April, and has now accumulated RM300, which she plans to use for household items at the end of this month. 'SARA is not just financial assistance - it's a reflection of the government's concern for people in need. At first, I didn't know I was eligible for this aid, but after my husband checked and told me, I am very grateful,' she said. 'With twins and another five-year-old child, our family expenses have gone up. So the SARA aid has helped ease our monthly burden to some extent,' said the part-time private sector employee. Another recipient, 35-year-old Hafi, who preferred not to disclose his full name, said this was the first time he had received such assistance and described it as extremely helpful. 'I'm more comfortable accumulating the assistance over two or three months before spending it all at once. That way, I can buy essential items in larger quantities,' said Hafi, who works in the customer service sector and lives in Gelang Patah. Hafi added that the rising cost of living has forced him to be more frugal, and the SARA assistance has provided some relief in managing his monthly expenses. Previously, the MADANI Government announced the expansion of the SARA initiative to 5.4 million recipients starting April 1, an almost eightfold increase from the 700,000 beneficiaries previously.
