By Yasmin Ramlan
SEPANG, April 29 — The state government is collaborating with AirAsia to promote Visit Selangor Year 2025, with 15 AirAsia aircraft selected to serve as ‘mobile ambassadors’ (duta bergerak) for the campaign.
State executive councillor for tourism and local government Dato’ Ng Suee Lim said that under the ‘Surprising Selangor’ campaign, AirAsia aircraft will feature Selangor-themed visuals throughout their cabins, including on overhead compartments, to showcase the state’s unique attractions to millions of travellers across Asean and China.
“The initiative is part of a larger push to position Selangor as a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive travel destination, and help us achieve our target of eight million tourist arrivals and RM11.7 billion in revenue by the end of 2025.
“The state is focusing on main regional markets like China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand to boost its global tourism appeal further.
“On average, international tourists currently spend about RM4,068 during their stay in Selangor, with a target to increase this figure to RM5,000 per visitor,” he said during a press conference after the official launch of the Selangor and AirAsia tourism campaign at the KLIA Terminal 2 today.
Ng added that the state government has allocated RM2.6 million for the campaign in partnership with AirAsia.
The aircraft involved in the campaign operate flights from Kuala Lumpur to main Asean cities as well as destinations in China, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Ningbo, Nanning, Shantou, Guilin, and Quanzhou.
In 2024 alone, AirAsia flew nearly 1.3 million passengers from China to Malaysia, with approximately 12 per cent being transit travellers via Fly-Thru routes.
The campaign, jointly launched by Tourism Selangor, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), and AirAsia, was officiated by Ng and AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Captain Fareh Mazputra.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari was initially scheduled to officiate the event but was unable to attend.
The councillor is confident that the creative approach of branding aircraft with Selangor’s unique offerings would leave a lasting impression on international travellers.
Meanwhile, the Visit Selangor Year 2025 campaign is part of a broader strategy to position the state as a leading tourism destination in Malaysia, supported by a series of activities and promotions leading up to next year.
Ng said that tourism is considered a main sector for Selangor’s post-Covid-19 economic growth, investment promotion, and contribution to Malaysia’s gross domestic product.
