08/08/2025

FRIDAY | AUG 8, 2025

LYFE 21 Malaysians prepare for Sept 15 holiday F OLLOWING Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of an additional public holiday on o Online surge in lodging searches Top 5 domestic destinations 0 Kuala Lumpur 232% 0 Penang 260% 0 Malacca 254% 0 Port Dickson 373%

0 Langkawi 175% Top 5 international destinations 0 Hat Yai 203% 0 Bangkok 73% 0 Singapore 169% 0 Batam Island 221% 0 Bali 60%

Sept 15, which effectively turns the Malaysia Day weekend into a four-day break, searches by Malaysian travellers between July 23–29 (immediately after the announcement) for accommodation between Sept 13–16 showed a marked increase compared to the two weeks prior. According to Agoda, which took a look at how travel interest shifted in the days that followed, domestic accommodation searches rose 245%, while international accommodation searches rose 117%.

Many Malaysians are planning for a weekend getaway. – PICS FROM PEXELS

Domestically, top destinations include Port Dickson, Penang and Malacca.

Malaysia, Scoot in promotional partnership SCOOT, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, and Tourism Malaysia have sealed a three-year memorandum of

collaboration (MoC) to jointly promote Malaysia as a must-visit travel destination across key regional markets, in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). The MoC formalises a partnership until Aug 5, 2028 and seeks to drive awareness of various Malaysian cities through integrated marketing campaigns and co-branded initiatives. These will include targeted digital campaigns and familiarisation trips to inspire travel to Malaysia. The partnership will focus on driving visitors from countries including Australia, China, Indonesia and Singapore. Scoot currently operates to 11 cities in Malaysia including Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, Kuching, Langkawi, Malacca, Miri, Penang, Sibu and Subang. With the launch of Kota Bharu on Oct 26, Scoot will operate 115 weekly flights to 12 cities in Malaysia. “Malaysia has always been an important market for Scoot, and we hope that this collaboration will allow us to drive even more awareness and interest in the various Malaysian cities

Sunway Lagoon unveils Malaysia’s first hybrid water coaster The Wild Chase Water Coaster offers a blend of coaster thrills and splashing fun in a lush tropical setting.

(From left) Scoot chief commercial officer Calvin Chan, Yap, Tourism Malaysia (Singapore) director Norliza Md Zain and High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar at the signing ceremony.

attract more international visitors to explore Malaysia’s unique offerings. As of May 2025, Malaysia recorded a 20.4% year-on-year surge in international arrivals, reaching 16.9 million visitors. Singapore remained our top source market with 8.3 million arrivals, followed by Indonesia, China, Thailand and India. We are confident that this collaboration will contribute significantly to our 2025 target of welcoming 43 million international visitors,”said Tourism Malaysia director general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy.

that Scoot serves. Regional travellers, including Singaporeans, enjoy a 30-day visa-free stay in Malaysia, and with this MoC, we hope to connect more travellers to Malaysia from Singapore and the rest of Scoot’s extensive network,” Scoot marketing, communications and loyalty director Agatha Yap said. “This partnership with Scoot comes at a crucial time as we ramp up efforts for VM2026. Leveraging Scoot’s network will allow us to tap into high-potential regional markets and

SUNWAY Lagoon has launched the Wild Chase Water Coaster – Malaysia’s first hybrid water coaster that fuses the heart-racing excitement of a roller coaster with the splashing fun of a water slide. Located within Sunway Lost Lagoon, one of Sunway Lagoon’s seven unique experiences, the Wild Chase Water Coaster was developed with an investment of RM30 million. Guests will speed through over 280m of winding track, navigating high-banked curves, sudden drops and exhilarating water

sprays, all set against a lush, tropical backdrop. The ride is now open daily from 10am to 6pm. It is closed every Tuesday, except during Malaysian school and public holidays. Sunway Lagoon is a multi-park destination that spans 88 acres in Sunway City. The theme park features seven unique experiences: Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, X Park, Scream Park, Sunway Lost Lagoon and Sunway Lagoon Night Park, home to Captain Quack Land.

Legoland Malaysia supporting Visit Johor Year 2026 LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort will continue to highlight local cultural elements with distinctive Malaysian flair in support of the Visit Johor Year (TMJ) 2026 campaign. Malaysian identity,” he said. The Johor government is targeting 12 million visitors – domestic and foreign – in conjunction with TMJ 2026. and food and beverage outlets. This, in turn, generates job opportunities for the local community,” he said. Lim also shared that

comprehensive preparations are already underway to accommodate the expected surge in visitors by 2026. These include upgrading key facilities, enhancing staff skills, hiring additional personnel and planning for improved visitor capacity management, which may involve extending the park’s operating hours, he said. Lim said Johor has the potential to emerge as a leading regional tourist destination, citing its strategic location and the development of key infrastructure projects such as the Rapid Transit System Link and expanded transportation networks. – Bernama

Lim said package deals with itineraries that combine Legoland Malaysia and other locations, such as Mersing Island, Desaru, as well as eco-tourism and cultural heritage attractions, are also offered to allow visitors to explore interesting destinations in Johor. He said the park currently receives a significant number of visitors not only from within Malaysia but also from neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Indonesia, which contributes to strong economic spillover in the Iskandar Puteri area. “Our presence supports the local economy, including hotel operations, shopping malls, transport services,

Its vice-president CS Lim said the theme park has always prioritised the promotion of local culture through its seasonal celebrations and thematic events. “Although Legoland Malaysia is an international theme park, we always prioritise celebrating local culture and festivals through Lego-themed decorations and construction, cultural performances and activities that highlight Malaysian heritage. “Therefore, ahead of TMJ 2026, we will continue to enrich this cultural touch through seasonal campaigns, special events and strategic collaborations to ensure visitors enjoy a unique experience with

Selangor Local Government, Tourism and New Village Development executive councillor Datuk Ng Suee Lim flags off the first ride of the Wild Chase Water Coaster.