GENTING HIGHLANDS, Nov 20 — The government is considering raising its initial target of 35.6 million tourist arrivals for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), following a stronger-than-expected performance that saw arrivals reach 38 million last year.
“We definitely want to revise the numbers; we’re still working on it. Hopefully, we can hit more than 40 million visitors, so we need everybody’s support,” said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Resorts World Genting and Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with VM2026, here today.
Also present were Tourism Malaysia director-general Manoharan Periasamy and Resorts World Genting sales, marketing and public relations vice-president Spencer Lee.
Responding to a query on the Genting Highlands road fees, Tiong said the road leading up to the highlands is owned and maintained by private parties.
“For sustainability, I think there is no choice but to do it. Because at the moment, I can see there is a lot of development coming up on both sides that do not belong to the Genting Group,” he said, adding that the new developments do not contribute to road upkeep.
He explained that a “user pays” contract model has been developed, which he believes offers better value. However, he noted the need for fair oversight, particularly concerning the Genting route, to ensure the entity does not become a public toll operator like PLUS.
Tiong added that the hilly, erosion-prone terrain demands extensive maintenance, and praised the operator for its quick and proactive repairs to maintain access.
He also called for toll exemptions for groups like local employees and motorcyclists to prevent undue hardship and urged businesses to similarly support their staff.
“I already told the management that they must take care of their employees and not charge them. They have also agreed on not charging motorbikes,” he said.
“I hope everybody will understand why they are implementing the toll,” he said, pointing out that the increasing number of vehicles, including heavy vehicles, contribute significantly to the rising maintenance cost.
