Tourism Malaysia, IOI Partner To Turn Short Stopovers Into Extended Holidays

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia and IOI Properties Group Bhd ((IOIPG) are joining forces to turn brief stopovers into longer, higher-value holidays through special hotel packages, shopping promotions and integrated leisure experiences under the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said the strategic collaboration would capitalise on the country's hospitality and retail offerings to encourage international visitors, particularly transit passengers and day-trippers, to extend their stays and increase tourism spending.

He said the partnership would also strengthen Malaysia's position as a premier lifestyle and leisure destination by combining accommodation, shopping, dining and recreational activities into more attractive travel experiences.

He said Malaysia’s greatest strength as a destination lies in our ability to offer a complete, world-class ecosystem, seamlessly blending our rich cultural heritage with modern lifestyle and leisure comforts.

"To elevate Malaysia’s tourism landscape, we must forge alliances that redefine the visitor experience. Partnering with IOIPG enables us to integrate warm hospitality with strong retail offerings, transforming brief stopovers into extended, high-value holidays," he said at the exchange of a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) between Tourism Malaysia and IOI Hospitality Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of IOIPG, here today.

The MoC documents were exchanged between Mohd Amirul Rizal and IOIPG head of hotels Alan Yau. Mohd Amirul Rizal said the existing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)-IOI shuttle services could further encourage transit passengers and day-trippers to explore attractions within IOI Resort City rather than limiting their visits to short stopovers.

Under the MoC, IOIPG supports the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign with special stop-over flight programme packages at IOI Resort City Hotels including Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, Le Meridien Putrajaya, Moxy Putrajaya, Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Puchong, encouraging visitors to extend their length of stay.

Accompanying the initiative are promotions via Club IOI, offering hotel stays to top loyalty point earners. Concurrently, Tourism Malaysia and IOIPG will launch joint digital, physical and on-ground marketing campaigns to maximise visibility across both domestic and international markets.

Meanwhile, Yau said the collaboration with Tourism Malaysia would focus on joint marketing campaigns, digital promotions, and travel trade initiatives to strengthen Malaysia's appeal as a preferred international tourism destination.

He said the partnership built was upon previous successful collaborations, including the Citrawarna Speed Festival 2026, held at IOI City Mall from Sept 23 to Oct 4.

He said the group remained committed to supporting the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign through integrated hospitality, retail and leisure offerings that could enhance visitors' experiences and generate greater economic opportunities.

He expressed confidence that the continued collaboration with Tourism Malaysia would contribute to sustainable growth across the country's tourism industry.

"Our shared objective is clear … to inspire travellers not just to visit Malaysia, but to immerse themselves in our unique cultures, make memorable experiences and prolong their stay," he added.

-- BERNAMA