Feb 28, 2024

MANOHARAN PERIASAMY APPOINTED AS TOURISM MALAYSIA’S NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL

PUTRAJAYA, 28th February 2024 – YB Dato' Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has agreed to appoint Mr. Manoharan Periasamy as the Director-General of Tourism Malaysia under Section 10 of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board Act 1992 (Act 481), with effect from February 26, 2024.

Manoharan, who previously served as the Director of the International Promotion Division (Asia & Africa) (Covering Deputy Director-General (Planning)), has been appointed to replace Dato' Dr. Ammar Abd. Ghapar.

A graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences with Honors (Political Science) from the National University of Malaysia (UKM), Manoharan has 33 years of extensive experience in various tourism marketing and promotional activities, as well as strong relationships with industry stakeholders domestically and internationally.

During his tenure at Tourism Malaysia, Manoharan has held positions such as Senior Director of the Advertising & Digital Division, Director of Package Development Division, and Director of Corporate Communications Division.

Additionally, he has also played a significant role in leading the country's tourism promotion activities in South Asia when appointed as Director of Tourism Malaysia Mumbai and Director of Tourism Malaysia New Delhi in India from 2000 until early 2016.

During that period, Malaysia received several international recognitions through awards such as the Lonely Planet India Travel Award (Best Destination for Family), Lonely Planet India Travel Award (Best Destination for Food & Drink), Travel + Leisure Award (Best Green Destination (World)), and Conde Nast Traveller Award (Favorite Emerging Oversea Destination).

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

For enquiries, please contact:

Muadz Samat
Assistant Director
Corporate Communications Division
muadz@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8755

Khairul Abidin Nuar
Assistant Director
Corporate Communications Division
khairul@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8760

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