TOKYO, 21 November 2022 – Tourism Malaysia continues to boost its promotion in Japan by organising a series of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) and homestay seminars as an effort to bring back the Japanese market in the post-pandemic.

Headed by Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, the Malaysian delegation comprises one (1) state tourism board, two (2) MM2H agencies, nine (9) homestay operators, one (1) travel agents and a digital agency from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

The seminar will take place in four (4) different cities, including Tokyo on 22 November, Nagoya on 24 November, Fukuoka on 26 November and Osaka on 27 November 2022. The seminar focused on promoting Malaysia to the Japanese as a retirement haven for their second home and learning the uniqueness of local culture and lifestyle through the Malaysia Homestay and Long-stay programme.

Japan remains among the top 10 tourist arrivals and tourist expenditure, besides recording a longer average length of stay prior to the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Malaysia recorded 424,694 tourist arrivals, with 504 million US dollars in tourist expenditure from Japan in 2019.

Tan Sri Dr. Ong said Malaysia is consistently among the top choices for Long-stay Programme for Japanese, and this popularity can be attributed to the relatively affordable cost of living, the short flight times and the warm weather in Malaysia. Thanks to the friendly-long stay policies implemented under the MM2H programme, the Japanese can enjoy a luxurious life in our beautiful country, Malaysia.

“The Malaysia Homestay Programme is where tourists could stay with a chosen family, interact, and experience the daily life of their homestay family and learn about the culture and lifestyle of the rural community in Malaysia. It provides a far more rewarding way of experiencing Malaysia and the hospitality of our people through our lifestyle, cultural and economic activities,” said Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng.

Malaysia opened its shores for quarantine-free travel on 1st April 2022 to welcome fully vaccinated international travellers. From 1st August 2022, travellers are no longer required to fill in the Traveller’s Card or undergo a PreDeparture Test (PDT) and On Arrival Test (OAT) for their visit to Malaysia. Travel insurance is also no longer a prerequisite for foreigners entering the country.

Meanwhile, Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme is an initiative by the Federal Government of Malaysia to attract and allow foreigners who fulfil certain criteria to stay in Malaysia for as long as possible on a 5-year renewable Pass with a Multiple-Entry Visa. It is open to all foreigners from countries regardless of race, religion & gender. All main applicants are to fulfil certain personal and financial criteria set by the Malaysian Government. They are allowed to bring their spouses and unmarried children below the age of 21 as dependents.

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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. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

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