SEPANG, Jan 6- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants all ministries and states to focus on efforts to improve the capacity of the tourism sector in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026).

He emphasised that the preparedness in making the tourism program a success must involve all the states in the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak, without any being left out or left behind.

"I have asked all ministries to focus (on the tourism sector) so that Malaysia can increase its capacity in the field of tourism, investment and economy without any region or state being left out," he said when he officiated the launch of the VMY2026 campaign here today.

The Prime Minister added, in line with Malaysia's role as the ASEAN 2025 Chairman, all the programmes implemented this year will make sure that each state becomes a major tourist destination.

"This year itself, in our efforts to make ASEAN a success, we will make sure that all the programmes carried out can guarantee that every state, without any exception, becomes a major tourist destination, both this year and the next," he said.

He also praised the VMY2026 theme song which is considered inclusive enough to cover all districts and states and highlight each of their specialties.

The ceremony was also attended by both Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof together with Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

VMY2026 targets the arrival of 35.6 million tourists with a potential income of RM147.1 billion.