The Desa Kirana programme aims to attract 100,000 tourists to 25 rural locations nationwide ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026
SEKINCHAN: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry is targeting 100,000 tourist visits to rural destinations through its Desa Kirana programme ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the target is expected to be achieved by the end of next year.
He said this aligns with the government’s aspiration to ensure rural areas benefit economically from tourist arrivals.
“Most tourists coming to Malaysia are from the ASEAN region, Oceania such as Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe,” he said when officiating the announcement of the Desa Kirana comprehensive tourism packages.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said data also showed strong interest among tourists from South Korea and Japan in experiencing Malaysia’s rural lifestyle.
He urged all parties, including homestay operators and village heads, to maintain promoted locations to ensure they are not neglected after the campaign ends.
“I was also saddened when revisiting several homestays in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and other areas to find them poorly maintained,” he said.
He stressed the need for continuity and a culture of maintenance within the rural tourism sector.
The ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to support the success of related tourism products.
Meanwhile, KKDW said the Desa Kirana programme covers 25 locations across Malaysia.
It represents a strategic approach to a comprehensive and unique rural tourism package, with local communities as the main drivers.
The ministry also targets a 20% increase in income for local communities next year, considering the potential of each location.
