Malaysia is intensifying its focus on India’s high-potential secondary markets as competition for outbound Indian travellers continues to grow across Southeast Asia. Tourism Malaysia has now expanded its promotional efforts in Gujarat through a dedicated Visit Malaysia 2026 roadshow in Rajkot and Vadodara.
Tourism Malaysia organised the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) Roadshow from 19–21 May 2026 to strengthen engagement with travel trade partners in Rajkot and Vadodara and promote Malaysia’s tourism offerings, experiences, and upcoming campaigns.
The roadshow was led by Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director, Tourism Malaysia Mumbai, alongside a delegation of 13 Malaysian tourism stakeholders representing travel agencies, airlines, tourism boards, and tourism product operators.
Gujarat emerges as key outbound market
The initiative reflects Tourism Malaysia’s growing focus on tier-two Indian cities as outbound demand diversifies beyond traditional metropolitan markets.
The roadshow created direct networking opportunities between Gujarat-based travel trade partners and Malaysian tourism sellers to strengthen business relationships and explore future collaborations.
Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director, Tourism Malaysia Mumbai, said, “India continues to be one of Malaysia’s key source markets, and Gujarat has shown tremendous growth potential for outbound tourism.”
She added, “Through this roadshow, we aim to enhance our partnerships with the travel trade fraternity in Rajkot and Vadodara, the tier-two cities in Gujarat, while showcasing Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings and experiences during the ongoing Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.”
Air connectivity supports tourism growth
Tourism Malaysia also highlighted the strong aviation connectivity between India and Malaysia, supported by carriers including Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Batik Air, and IndiGo.
Currently, more than 237 weekly direct flights operate between India and Malaysia, connecting 16 Indian cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Amritsar.
For Gujarat specifically, 12 weekly direct flights currently operate between Ahmedabad and Kuala Lumpur through Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, improving accessibility for travellers from the state.
Tourism Malaysia said it will continue collaborating with airlines, travel trade partners, media representatives, and tourism stakeholders in India to support visitor growth under the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.