Malaysia (Commonwealth Union)_ The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) expressed confidence in its efforts to establish Malaysia as the regional hub for the Umrah pilgrimage, believing that this initiative will drive and enhance the country’s tourism industry. According to Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Malaysia aims to be more than just a transit country for pilgrims from Southeast Asian nations like Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, South Korea, and Japan who wish to perform umrah in the Holy Land.
Tiong stated that by offering Muslim-friendly tourism packages to these pilgrims, Malaysia can indirectly increase its revenue and position itself as a leading global destination for Muslim travelers. This strategic move aligns with the National Tourism Policy 2020-2030’s commitment to fostering sustainable tourism. Further, in a recent development of this initiative, Minister Tiong has instructed the concerned departments to engage with umrah and haj travel associations to explore the proposal of establishing Malaysia as the umrah hub.
The ministry also plans to present the proposal to the Cabinet and identify the necessary acts or regulations to expedite its implementation. Tiong expressed hopes for the cooperation of industry players and the public in streamlining umrah management, which will contribute to a more organized umrah pilgrimage experience. Recently, Deputy Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan convened a meeting of the Umrah Regulatory Council (MKSU) and discussed recent issues and suggestions regarding umrah management.
The meeting involved various ministries, agencies, and umrah operator associations. Further, representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport, the Department of Waqf, Zakat, and Haj, and relevant agencies also participated, along with representatives from umrah operators such as the Association of Bumiputera Tourism Operators of Malaysia, the Association of Umrah and Haj Travel Agencies, and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents. These industry stakeholders expressed support for several initiatives to strengthen umrah management, including the proposal to establish Malaysia as the umrah hub in the Asian region.
