The promotion for “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” has started. The country is aiming to raise the number of tourists arriving to 35 million. This is phantastic news for everyone in the tourism and (people) transportation sectors. While the Ministry of Tourism promotes the general idea, will those offering bus services capitalise on the incredible amount of promotion that could land them millions of rides?

Arriving at KLIA for instance would open up a lot of opportunities for coach operators. Why not offer a more frequent bus route to Melaka, Port Dickson, straight to Kuantan or Penang. Someone from a faraway country, like Germany, may want to explore places other than Kuala Lumpur by Airport Express. Let’s mention Melaka here only because it is shown in the first video to promote the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign and close to KLIA; Same goes for other airports. I am sure Senai to Mersing could be a suitable route. Personally, I have not seen many ads for any buses operating from KLIA in recent years.

Obviously, getting around in Malaysia by bus is easy. However, again, I have hardly ever seen anyone promoting the idea of touring East Malaysia by bus. Having flown from Bintulu to Kuching recently, I was considering the bus too. If I were to be on a vacation, I would make Kuching the base, then use the bus to stop in Bintulu, Sibu, Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. There are many interesting sights to be seen along that route. For instance, the cultural village north of Kuching, home of the Rainforest Festival. In my books, said cultural village is a true tourism gem! One could stop at Niah Caves, a new UNESCO site, take Sandakan as jump-off point for diving.

The idea of the Hop-on, Hop-off buses has always intrigued me. This is a great way to explore a city. In Hong Kong, I would always sit on the top floor of the tram, as I get to see the place from a different perspective. Why not package this into a hotel stay, promoting bus tours.

Our city buses are also a great way to move about. Many places are well connected by bus. Again, there is no reason why tourists should not opt for the bus instead of hailing by e one of Malaysia’s most loved King of the Road. When travelling in a group, this could be a cost-effective way to not only transfer from point to point, but also get to see more of the place. Oftentimes, bus drivers also double up as tour guides. We all know that Malaysians are an extremely hospital people and when asked, the bus captain would certainly be more than happy to share his knowledge about the sights along the route.

Naturally, trains are also very good means of transportation. For instance, the route on the Eastern & Oriental Express through Malaysia looks epic! Let’s promote the idea of taking buses for the last mile (Actually, why “mile” and not Last 1.6 Kilometres?). Getting to the train station by bus might be faster, more convenient and cheaper than a taxi. All good reasons to hop onto the bus.

There is a lot of chatter on social media in other countries about the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Vietnamese publications have highlighted this campaign, drumming up interest in coming to visit our shores. In addition, Malaysians themselves are hyping up the campaign too. Merchandise seems to be flying off the shelves.

Whenever my friends go to a local travel fair, they talk about getting a good deal on overseas travel. How about Cuti Cuti Malaysia on a bus? There is a lot to be discovered on our own shores, as we ourselves found out during the #SuperNiceTour2022. Even after 14 years in Malaysia, I have seen new places, different things and experienced touring the country in a different way than driving around in my car or flying from one end to the other.

With all the promotion already done for the country, it could be a great time to leverage on the campaign for the bus industry and demonstrate how cool and fun bus travel can be. However, it is now up to the bus operators of all types to catch on and get people onto their seats.  

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of Stefan Pertz, Editor of Asian Trucker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Asian Trucker, its management, staff, or affiliated organizations. Any content provided by Stefan Pertz is of a personal perspective and is not intended to malign any individual, group, or entity. Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions based on the information presented.