JOHOR BARU: Players in Johor’s tourism industry must sharpen their hospitality skills and improve English proficiency to ensure the success of Visit Johor Year 2026, said Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He said both aspects were essential to provide a positive experience for domestic and international visitors, and to make Johor a preferred repeat destination.
“In any business, service matters. We want tourists to return, not just visit once.
“We must give them a reason to come back,” he said after presenting the Visit Johor 2026 roadmap at a town hall event at DoubleTree by Hilton today.
“English is a basic but powerful tool. Mastering it will help us attract more foreign visitors and enhance their experience here,” he said.
Also present were State Unity, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman K. Raven Kumar and Johor Tourism director Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim.
Onn Hafiz said 33 infrastructure projects worth RM116.35 million were either under construction or in the upgrading phase between last year and this year, all aimed at strengthening the state’s tourism landscape.
The projects include the upgrading of Gunung Ledang and Johor Zoo (phase two), redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Melayu, the opening of the Royal Botanical Garden, and the restoration of the Royal Abu Bakar Museum at Istana Besar Johor.
“Johor has many under-promoted attractions, and now is the time to turn that around.”We are targeting 12 million visitors in 2026. This is our chance to elevate Johor to the next level,” he added.
