SPEECH BY HE. MR. EDI IRWAN MAHMUD,
AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA TO THE LAO PDR
TOURISM MALAYSIA SURREAL EXPERIENCES FROM CITY LIGHTS TO ISLAND PARADISE, MALAYSIA HAS IT ALL SEMINAR, B2B & NETWORKING DINNER
VENUE: SOUPATHRA HOTEL, VIENTIANE
3 APRIL 2026
Mr. Phouthone Dalalom,
Deputy Director General of the Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department,
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR
Dr. Khairul Hilmi A. Manap,
Deputy Director of Internation Promotion Division
Tourism Malaysia
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all our friends and partners in Vientiane to the Tourism Malaysia seminar and B2B session, themed “Surreal Experiences – From City Lights to Island Paradise, Malaysia Has It All.”
2. Today’s event forms part of our ongoing efforts to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026). Achieving our aspirations requires close collaboration with all industry stakeholders, including tourism operators, state governments, and international partners. Through such partnerships, we aim to further strengthen the VMY2026 campaign and attract more visitors to Malaysia.
3. Malaysia’s tourism industry continues to grow from strength to strength, supported by strategic collaborations with airlines, hoteliers, tourism product owners, and travel agents—both in Malaysia and internationally, including here in the Lao PDR. These partnerships are essential in enhancing connectivity, expanding our outreach, and strengthening our multi-pronged strategy to increase Malaysia’s visibility, accessibility, and overall tourism appeal.
4. Beyond leisure tourism, Malaysia is also strengthening its position as a leading destination for healthcare travel. This year marks Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026), under the tagline “Healing Meets Hospitality.” Malaysia offers world-class healthcare services delivered by skilled professionals in modern, well-equipped facilities. Known for its accessibility and affordability, Malaysia provides high-quality care across areas such as cardiology, fertility, oncology, dental services, and wellness programmes. We also welcome potential partnerships in this important sector.
5. In addition, Malaysia continues to be an attractive destination for education. Our universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that combine academic excellence with affordability. With competitive tuition fees and a relatively lower cost of living, Malaysia presents a valuable opportunity for students from the Lao PDR seeking internationally recognised qualifications.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
6. The Embassy of Malaysia in Vientiane has undertaken proactive and sustained efforts to promote VMY2026 and MYMT 2026 in the Lao PDR.
7. As Ambassador of Malaysia to Lao PDR together with my capacity as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Chair of the ASEAN Consultative Meeting (ACM) in the Lao PDR, the promotion of VMY2026 and MYMT 2026 has consistently been incorporated into my engagements with members of the diplomatic corps,representatives of international organisations and also Laotian community.
8. Since last year, the Embassy has actively organised and supported various promotional initiatives, including a Malaysian Food Festival in December 2025, showcasing Malaysia’s rich and diverse culinary heritage. In addition, the Embassy has enhanced visibility of the VMY2026 campaign through the prominent display of its branding, including the Wira and Manja mascots, at all official events, while also highlighting their significance.
9. More recently, on 27 March 2026, the Embassy hosted a VMY2026 reception attended by representatives of the Lao PDR Government, Lao business community, NGOs, the diplomatic corps and international organisations. These sustained efforts have yielded encouraging results, as reflected in the positive feedback received from our counterparts in the Lao PDR, many of whom have visited Malaysia, while others have already made travel plans, particularly during the upcoming Pi Mai holiday.
10. These initiatives underscore the Embassy’s continued commitment to promoting Malaysia as a destination of choice and to strengthening tourism and people-to-people ties between Malaysia and the Lao PDR.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
11. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your continued support in promoting Malaysia as a preferred destination for tourism and education among the people of the Lao PDR. Malaysia remains committed to welcoming more visitors from Laos, and we look forward to working closely with our partners and members of the media to make Visit Malaysia Year 2026 a great success.
I wish you all a productive and fruitful session ahead.
Thank you. Khob Chai. Terima Kasih.