SUNWAY SIGNS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM MALAYSIA TO PROMOTE MALAYSIA VISIT YEAR 2026-27 | News
Sunway Hospitality Group, Malaysia’s leading hospitality company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tourism Malaysia that will support the Visit Malaysia Year 2026-27 campaign and position this vibrant Southeast Asian nation as a destination of choice for international travel and tourism.
Signed on June 15, 2026 at a grand ceremony attended by Mr. Alex Castaldi, CEO of Sunway Hospitality Group, and Mr. Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, this MoU will lay the foundation for these two like-minded organizations to undertake a wide range of joint marketing initiatives, with the aim of helping Malaysia achieve its target of 47 million international arrivals by 2026.
Malaysia’s tourism industry is booming. The country welcomed 42.2 million visitors in 2025, a 20% increase from 2019’s pre-pandemic total, and regained its position as the most visited country in Southeast Asia. Building on this success, Tourism Malaysia has now launched Visit Malaysia Year, which aims to showcase the country’s diverse natural attractions, rich cultural heritage and immersive guest experiences, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As of April, Malaysia recorded 14.0 million visitor arrivals, a growth of 4.7 percent compared to 13.3 million visitor arrivals in the same period last year
As a proud Malaysian company founded by its visionary Founder and Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO, to promote sustainable development and responsible tourism, Sunway will now work side by side with Tourism Malaysia to showcase the country to audiences around the world.
The partnership will focus on joint promotions making direct contact with the travel industry, media and influencers. Sunway will actively support Tourism Malaysia’s introductory tours and experiences across the group’s portfolio of twelve (12) world-class hotels and resorts in Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. The two parties will come together for overseas sales missions and international trade events, while also launching co-branded campaigns and marketing initiatives in key regional and long-haul markets.
Mr Alex Castaldi, CEO of Sunway Hospitality Group, commented: “It is a great honor to join hands with Tourism Malaysia and play a key role in supporting Visit Malaysia Year, which will reaffirm the country’s position as a global hub for travel and hospitality. Following the vision of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO, our strategies are always aligned with Malaysia’s broader needs and the UN SDGs. Through this partnership, Sunway will standing shoulder to shoulder with Tourism Malaysia as we strive to create a prosperous future for the nation.
And. Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, said: “By combining Tourism Malaysia’s expertise with Sunway’s broad hospitality footprint, we will drive powerful digital engagement and bring the best of Malaysia to a new global audience. I expressed my gratitude for Sunway’s recent developments and innovations. With its focus on education and sustainable development, Sunway has proven its deep commitment to the nation’s long-term success and prosperity.”
Sunway Hospitality Group is fully committed to promoting Malaysia and elevating the tourism industry to the highest level of international excellence. For example, at Sunway Resort Hotel, the flagship hotel in the heart of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, guests can discover iconic global brands such as Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, while Banjaran Hotsprings Resort, nestled among ancient limestone hills and geothermal springs in Ipoh, was awarded at the Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific and named Malaysia’s “Best Destination Hotel” by Tatler. The group is also part of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest network of independent hotel brands, which operates the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program with 35 million members.
To celebrate this strategic partnership and support the objectives of VM2026, Sunway Hospitality Group has launched a special promotional campaign. The campaign offers guests up to 30 percent off room rates and a free room upgrade at participating hotels and resorts in Malaysia, along with double DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) for GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program members. The offer is available for bookings made through July 31, 2026 for stays through September 30, 2026 through www.sunwayhotels.com. This initiative aims to encourage travelers to explore more of Malaysia while enjoying more valuable and rewarding experiences during their stay.
For more information about Sunway Hospitality Group, please visit www.sunwayhotels.com.
