KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia intensifies its global push ahead of Visit
Malaysia 2026, the country's tourism narrative is undergoing a structural
transformation.
Iconic images of island sunsets and heritage streets still define
its brand, but a new wave of attractions across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur is
reshaping how the nation competes for international attention.
Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and immersive
engineering, these attractions are shifting technology to centre stage —
becoming the attraction itself — and increasingly, a driver of capital
interest.
At i-City in the capital of Selangor, the AI World Experience Centre
— developed in partnership with AgiBot — offers a glimpse into this future.
Currently the largest public showcase of its kind in the country,
the centre features over a hundred lifelike humanoid robots capable of
real-time interaction. The setting is deliberately accessible; families gather
as children wave at machines that wave back, testing the natural communication
of AI in a leisure environment.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man recently
noted that these innovative centres are key to creating distinctive travel
packages.
The scale of this differentiation is critical as the nation aims for
a significant post-pandemic surge.
Chiew recently expressed high confidence in these targets, stating,
"The momentum we are seeing gives us confidence that the 2026 target of
over 40 million arrivals is achievable with continued collaboration across
government and industry players.
"Official projections for Visit Malaysia 2026 place the target
range between 35.6 million and 47 million visitors, generating between RM147.1
billion and RM329 billion in receipts.
"Yet the strategy goes beyond novelty. For developer I-Berhad,
these projects are demand engines embedded within a larger master-planned
ecosystem, where robotics-as-a-service and high-tech attractions help stimulate
hospitality demand," he said.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific president Ooi Joon Aun said
Wyndham i-City was not just about hospitality — it was about showcasing what
AI-powered living feels like.
He noted that global pilots have demonstrated the transformative
potential of AI and robotics in redefining hospitality, adding that the
partnership with i-City allowed for the delivery of "next-generation guest
experiences in one of Malaysia's most innovative destinations".
Property consultant Sam Goh noted that integrated ecosystems
combining attractions, technology and hospitality could reduce cyclical risk
for developers while capturing both visitor spending and long-term asset
appreciation.
"As experiential travel becomes a driver of destination choice,
real estate projects that embed attractions, technology and hospitality
elements are increasingly positioned to capture both visitor spending and
long-term asset value growth," he said.
The Wyndham collaboration with i-City also spans to Kuala Lumpur
City Centre (KLCC).
At Wyndham Suites KLCC, located minutes from the Petronas Twin
Towers, guests can experience WynSnow — an indoor snow environment engineered
within a tropical metropolis.
Behind this spectacle lies a sophisticated integration of
climate-control systems and sensory design, illustrating how technical
infrastructure can be repurposed into an experiential tourism asset.
Wyndham Suites KLCC operates under a hybrid hospitality-residential
model, allowing buyers to occupy units, retain them as secondary homes, or
participate in a professionally managed hotel rental programme.
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