THE safety of every tourist must be elevated to a national priority as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), according to Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community.
Lee said a tourism experience that is safe, seamless and trustworthy is critical to strengthening Malaysia’s global reputation as a destination of choice, stressing that tourism remains a cornerstone of the national economy and a vital source of income for millions of Malaysians.
“However, no amount of scenic beaches, vibrant cities or cultural richness can compensate for the perception – or worse, the reality – of unsafe travel conditions,” he said in a statement issued today.
He cautioned that reports of accidents, whether fatal highway crashes or maritime tragedies, spread rapidly and widely, with the potential to undermine Malaysia’s tourism ambitions as it approaches a major international campaign.
Lee urged the government and relevant authorities to place safety at the forefront of national priorities, emphasising that safety is not merely a matter of infrastructure or enforcement but the fundamental foundation of a successful tourism industry.
He called for a nationwide shift towards building a strong safety culture, underlining that safety cannot be achieved through enforcement alone. Instead, he said it must be embedded through strict enforcement of traffic laws and maritime safety regulations, alongside sustained education initiatives and public awareness campaigns.
These efforts, Lee added, must be supported by robust infrastructure investment, including accelerated upgrades to high-risk road stretches, improved lighting, signage and pedestrian facilities, as well as enhanced maritime navigation aids, higher safety equipment standards and better port facilities.
“The success of VM2026 will not depend solely on brilliant marketing strategies, but on the tangible reality of a safe and secure environment,” he said, adding that Malaysia should move decisively towards “Vision Zero”, a goal aimed at eliminating all preventable accidents.
Meanwhile, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has been reported as saying that more major tourism events will be held outside Kuala Lumpur to stimulate tourism activity and drive economic growth in other states.
Tiong said Malaysia is currently finalising a nationwide calendar of flagship events for VM2026, with targets of 47 million international tourist arrivals and tourism receipts amounting to RM329 billion. - December 25, 2025
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