On 8 January 2026, H.E. Dato’ Roseli Abdul, Ambassador of Malaysia, officiated the ‘Soft Launch of Malaysia Calendar of Events 2026’ programme in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026). The programme was held at the Malaysia Pavilion during the 55th Vakantiebeurs, the largest travel fair in the Benelux region, which is currently taking place from 8 to 11 January 2026 in Utrecht.
In his officiating remarks, H.E. Dato’ highlighted Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings - especially under the VMY2026 campaign - as well as the campaign’s key pillars. He also applauded the local co-exhibitors and partners for their continuous support and success in promoting Malaysia to Dutch travellers, as evident through the increasing number of Dutch tourists to Malaysia each year.
Besides the speech, the soft launch also comprised Malay traditional dances; a cake-cutting ceremony; and a cooking demonstration by Chef Norman Musa, a Malaysian-born, Europe-based chef.
