JETCO HOSTS B2B PUSH AS JOHOR BUILDS TOURISM MOMENTUM TOWARDS VJY2026

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

SINGAPORE, April 22 (Bernama) -- In a strategic push to build momentum ahead of Visit Johor Year 2026 (VJY 2026), more than 100 key trade partners from Johor and Singapore gathered for a business-to-business (B2B) networking session hosted by the Johor Economic, Tourism and Cultural Office Singapore (JETCO) here on Tuesday.

JETCO executive chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the event aimed not only to foster collaboration and joint ventures but also to update tourism industry players in the republic on Johor’s tourism initiatives and infrastructure development.

“With the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, it is timely for the tourism industry to encourage trade associations and tourism companies to work together and complement each other because of the changing patterns of travel.

“Instead of looking at Malaysia as a competitor, we can complement each other,” he told Bernama at the event.

Hasni added that Johor could also learn from Singapore’s approach to sustainable tourism as outlined in the Singapore Green Plan 2030, particularly as the state places increasing focus on sustainability.

Meanwhile, Johor State Executive Councillor (EXCO) for Unity, Heritage, and Culture, K. Raven Kumar, said that Johor is embracing smart tourism technologies, such as mobile apps, digital platforms, and interactive way-finding tools, to enrich visitors’ experiences and make travel more accessible, intuitive, and engaging.

He said that, in line with the goals of VJY 2026, the state government is spearheading a unified effort across the tourism ecosystem, encompassing ecotourism, family attractions, wellness, and cultural exploration.

“This momentum will be powered by public-private partnerships strengthened further by the support of regional allies,” he added.

As part of its long-term tourism strategy, Johor has prioritised infrastructure development, launching 15 tourism infrastructure projects valued at RM67.6 million under the 2024 state budget.

He said that for the current year, the state has identified 18 additional projects, totalling RM48.75 million.

“These initiatives are aimed at improving the overall visitors’ experience, from upgrading facilities to new attractions and enhancing public amenities in key cultural tourism clusters,” he said.

-- BERNAMA