i-City anchors new visitor economy

 

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.

-nst online.