KUALA LUMPUR – The return of Formula One to Malaysia is expected to provide a major boost to the country’s tourism industry, with tens of thousands of international visitors anticipated to arrive for the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2-4.
According to Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Nigel Wong Chun Teik, the world’s premier motorsport championship has the potential to attract a significant influx of overseas visitors, reinforcing Malaysia’s ambitions under the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026) campaign.
“While the exact number will depend on factors such as global marketing, ticket sales, airline connectivity and travel packages, we believe the event has the potential to bring tens of thousands of additional international visitors to Malaysia,” Wong told Bernama.
With Formula One boasting a global fanbase of more than 800 million, Wong said the event presents a unique opportunity to showcase Malaysia to a worldwide audience while generating strong tourism spending.
High-Value Tourism Opportunity
Unlike conventional leisure travellers, motorsport fans are typically higher-spending visitors, investing in premium accommodation, hospitality experiences, dining, merchandise and exclusive event packages.
Wong noted that many F1 fans also choose to extend their trips beyond race weekend, creating opportunities to promote destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Sabah and Sarawak through pre- and post-race travel packages.
Beyond race spectators, the arrival of Formula One teams, sponsors, international media, corporate guests and technical personnel is expected to generate business across multiple industries, including hotels, airlines, travel agencies, restaurants, transportation services and tourist attractions.
Supporting Visit Malaysia Year 2026
The Bahrain GP is expected to complement the government’s Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, which aims to attract 47 million international tourist arrivals and generate RM329 billion in tourism receipts, supported by more than RM700 million allocated for tourism promotion, infrastructure and marketing initiatives.
According to Wong, hosting Formula One once again strengthens Malaysia’s reputation as a destination capable of staging world-class international events.
Malaysia previously hosted the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix for nearly two decades before the event ended after the 2017 season, earning widespread recognition as one of the sport’s favourite venues.
He believes a successful Bahrain GP will enhance Malaysia’s global visibility while boosting confidence among international event organisers, investors and businesses.
Beyond Motorsport
Wong added that Malaysia should leverage the Formula One weekend beyond tourism by promoting corporate travel, incentive programmes, business networking opportunities and investment engagements linked to the event.
“As Malaysia moves beyond Visit Malaysia Year 2026, we need to continue positioning the country not only as a holiday destination, but also as a hub for international sports, entertainment, exhibitions and business events,” he said.
With its established tourism infrastructure, extensive air connectivity and diverse attractions, Wong believes Malaysia is well-positioned to maximise the economic impact of Formula One through close collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula One Group officially confirmed last week that Malaysia will host the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026, marking Formula One’s long-awaited return to Sepang after a nine-year absence.
