MPC Expands Productivity Grant for 2025: Empowering Businesses Across Diverse Sectors
20 January 2025, Petaling Jaya – The Tourism Leaders Summit (TLS) 2025, held on 20 January 2025 at the Mercure Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie, underscores the Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN)’s commitment to fostering a robust, competitive, and sustainable tourism industry, with productivity as a key driver to enhance operational efficiency, optimise resources, and support overall industry growth.
The summit brought together over 100 organisations and individuals, including tourism industry leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders, to kick off 2025 with a strong start in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
TLS 2025 served as a platform to exchange ideas, debate strategies, and establish collaborative frameworks to elevate Malaysia’s tourism industry to new heights.
Central to these discussions was a shared aspiration to transform tourism into a dynamic force for sustainable practices, economic growth, cultural enrichment, and environmental preservation.
The summit highlighted that the success of Malaysia’s tourism industry hinges on the collective ability to pool resources, tap into diverse talents, and champion ethical stewardship of the nation’s natural and cultural heritage.
TPN Champion, Rohizam Md Yusoff, set an ambitious, optimistic, and unified tone.
“The intersection of culture, environment, heritage, and community within Malaysia’s tourism narrative is essential for the industry’s success.
The revitalisation of tourism is not just about increasing visitor numbers or generating higher revenues; it centres on harnessing the industry’s multifaceted potential to promote social cohesion, safeguard delicate ecosystems, and enhance national pride.”
“This comprehensive approach requires digitalisation, innovation, the continuous pursuit of knowledge, and collaboration across a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
While the industry faces fast-evolving challenges, such as shifting traveller preferences and the global push for environmental responsibility, these obstacles also present new opportunities for reinvention.”
“TLS 2025 sends a clear message: with determination, creativity, and concerted cooperation, Malaysia can emerge as a premier destination that delights the modern traveller while fostering profound respect for the nation’s cultural roots and ecological treasures.
Sustainability is the game-changer for the industry’s productivity and competitiveness.
TPN’s Sustainable Tourism Roadmap serves as a guide for Malaysia’s tourism industry players to enhance sustainable practices,” said Rohizam.
Insights from the Director General of the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), Zahid Ismail, further amplified TLS 2025’s message.
He highlighted the tourism industry’s significant economic impact, emphasising its pivotal role in driving national productivity, creating extensive employment opportunities, and enhancing Malaysia’s global competitiveness.
“Enhancing the tourism industry’s productivity aligns with broader national goals to revitalise diverse sectors, strengthen workforce capabilities, and pivot towards a future where technology, sustainability, and innovation take centre stage.
Through its extensive value chain, tourism acts as a catalyst for socio-economic progress,” said Zahid.
Among TPN’s core initiatives in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 are the holistic Sayangi Malaysia campaign, the Malaysia Tourism Excellence (MatEx) Business Certification programme, and TalentCorp’s MyMahir initiative.
Throughout the summit, there was a strong emphasis on multi-stakeholder collaboration to unify the efforts of local communities, government agencies, and private enterprises in co-creating meaningful solutions.
With the countdown to Visit Malaysia Year 2026 well underway, the summit concluded on a note of palpable optimism.
Malaysia has set an ambitious target of welcoming 23.5 million international arrivals and generating USD 17 billion in tourism receipts.
About Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)
MPC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). It drives national productivity holistically at the national, sectoral, and enterprise levels through three main thrusts: developing future talent, driving digitization and innovation, and building a robust ecosystem. It collaborates strategically with the private and public sectors by emphasising productivity as a key agenda to boost productivity growth and national competitiveness, ultimately leading to shared well-being and prosperity.
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