Curtin Malaysia sparks industry dialogue on Visit Malaysia 2026 and beyond

Miri, Sarawak – 14 May 2026 – As Malaysia gears up for the ongoing Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) convened tourism, hospitality, and marketing experts for a timely community engagement talk focused on the future resilience and competitiveness of the nation’s tourism industry.

Held on 9 May at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, the half-day programme brought together students, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas on navigating emerging global tourism challenges and opportunities.

Organised by Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business, Department of Management and Marketing in collaboration with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, the event featured expert-led discussions on issues shaping the sector, including geopolitical tensions, rising operational costs, evolving traveller expectations, and sustainability-driven transformation.

Opening the session, Associate Professor Samuel Adeyinka-Ojo explored the theme ‘Global Challenges and the Future of Visit Malaysia 2026 and Beyond,’ highlighting the importance of strategic preparedness and innovation in sustaining tourism growth.

Associate Professor Tek Yew Lew followed with insights into the economic, social, and environmental impacts of current tourism trends, while John Teo, Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels Sarawak Chapter and PR Director of Meritz Hotel, shared industry perspectives on building a more resilient hospitality and events sector.

The programme concluded with Alan Tham, Vice President of Food & Beverage at Interhill Hospitality, who outlined practical survival strategies for tourism and hospitality businesses operating amid global uncertainty.

The engagement underscored Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to bridging academia and industry while supporting national efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s tourism ecosystem on Visit Malaysia 2026 and beyond.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Hospitality, Tourism and Events (HTE) experts with organisers and participants at Curtin Malaysia’s community engagement talk in Miri.