Tourism Malaysia has launched the Global Travel Meet 2025 (GTM 2025), marking the start of a major international tourism business event from 1 to 3 October at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
The three-day programme gathered 600 international buyers and 100 media representatives from around the world to connect with 400 Malaysian sellers, including hoteliers, travel agents, airlines and a diverse range of tourism product providers.
GTM 2025 has been positioned as a strategic platform to strengthen Malaysia’s role as a leading travel destination and to build momentum towards Visit Malaysia 2026, targeting 47 million international visitor arrivals.
Delegates took part in business-to-business meetings, strategic business matching activities, networking sessions and familiarisation trips across the country. The programme is designed to showcase Malaysia’s wide-ranging offerings, from cultural and heritage experiences to eco-tourism, gastronomy and adventure travel.
Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the event would play a key role in advancing the nation’s tourism goals.
“Global Travel Meet 2025 is more than just an event. It is a platform where ideas are transformed into action. This event stands as a vital catalyst in igniting renewed energy and driving strong momentum into the year ahead through the collective efforts of government, industry players and partners in realising our ambitious goals for Visit Malaysia 2026,” he said.
The event is supported by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air, as well as major industry associations such as the Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) and the Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association (MITTA).
Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to show strong recovery. The country welcomed 38 million international visitors in 2024, up 31.1 per cent compared to 2023 and 8.3 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Between January and July 2025, Malaysia recorded 24.5 million international arrivals, a 16.8 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Brunei remains one of Malaysia’s key visitor-generating markets, with consistent growth recorded in recent years. Strong connectivity and cultural ties continue to drive travel between the two nations, and Brunei buyers and media are among those participating at GTM 2025, reinforcing the importance of the Brunei market to Malaysia’s overall tourism landscape.
With the positive momentum, GTM 2025 is expected to play a central role in boosting international confidence, expanding business partnerships and reinforcing Malaysia’s reputation as one of Asia’s most dynamic tourism destinations.
THE BRUNEIAN | KUALA LUMPUR
