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Tiong in a photo with representatives from Russia travel industry during Sales Mission to Russia 2026 Gala Dinner in St Petersburg on Sept 29, 2026. Advertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 30: Malaysia is seeking to strengthen air connectivity with Russia, including exploring potential direct flights, to attract more Russian visitors to experience the country’s vibrant food culture and rich heritage, as well as its nature, adventure, diving, island holidays, wellness and shopping offerings.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said improving air connectivity remained a key priority as Malaysia continued to see encouraging growth in the Russian visitor market, with 98,466 Russian visitors recorded from January to August this year, up 4.3 per cent from the same period last year and 49 per cent above 2019 levels.
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“We are prepared to work closely with our aviation and tourism partners to facilitate these opportunities and encourage travel in both directions,” he said in a statement following the Sales Mission to Russia 2026 Gala Dinner in St Petersburg yesterday (Sept 29).
Tiong said he was scheduled to meet representatives of Russian airlines Aeroflot and Red Wings in Moscow today to explore potential direct flights between Malaysia and Russia.
He said air connectivity was also discussed during meetings with major Russian travel companies Space Travel and Russian Express, which operate networks involving about 15,000 travel agencies.
According to Tiong, the companies said Russian travellers were interested in Malaysia but awareness of the country’s tourism products remained limited among travel agents and consumers.
He said Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi were currently among the best-known Malaysian destinations in the Russian market, with some travellers spending only two or three nights in Kuala Lumpur before continuing to other Asian destinations.
“Malaysia is much more than the Petronas Twin Towers. Penang, Melaka, Johor, Perak, Pahang and Terengganu, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, each offer their own strengths in food, island holidays, diving, ecotourism and adventure travel,” he said.
Tiong said Malaysia’s objective was not only to attract more Russian visitors but also to encourage them to stay longer and explore more destinations across the country.
He said the absence of direct flights meant most Russian travellers currently had to transit through China, the Middle East or other regional hubs, resulting in longer journeys, while airfares also affected the competitiveness of travel packages.
“Moving forward, we will also look at strengthening connections and joint promotions with airlines from the Middle East, China and Vietnam, with the aim of securing more competitive fares,” he said.
Tiong noted that changes in air connectivity and developments in the Middle East had prompted more Russian travellers to consider China and Southeast Asia, presenting a fresh opportunity for Malaysia.
He added that Malaysia would step up business-to-business (B2B) engagement with Russian travel agencies through product training, online promotions, regional roadshows and industry exchanges.
“These efforts aim to deepen agents’ understanding of Malaysia and turn market interest into actual arrivals, while encouraging visitors to extend their stay and explore more of the country,” he said.
Tiong said concert tourism was also gaining traction in the Russian market, with Space Travel expecting its BTS concert packages in Malaysia to bring more than 100 Russian visitors to Kuala Lumpur.
He also said Visit Malaysia 2026 had been extended until December 2027, providing a longer window for Malaysian tourism players to promote the country’s diverse attractions to the Russian market.
He expressed appreciation to Malaysian and Russian tourism industry players, particularly those in St Petersburg, for their participation and continued support, and said the government hoped the Sales Mission would lead to stronger business partnerships, more attractive travel packages and greater tourism exchanges between Malaysia and Russia. — DayakDaily
English (US) ·