The Agriculture Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government conducted a six-day agricultural tourism promotion campaign in Malaysia from 23 to 28 June, aiming to strengthen Kaohsiung’s presence in the Southeast Asian tourism market and showcase its rural tourism offerings.

The delegation hosted the “Kaohsiung Agricultural Tourism Promotion Event” in Kuala Lumpur and engaged with key stakeholders across the tourism, aviation, and hospitality sectors. These engagements highlighted Kaohsiung’s rural tourism strengths, which integrate ecology, culture, food experiences, and agricultural education, alongside the city’s progress in sixth-sector industrialization. The initiative successfully generated strong interest among Malaysian tourism industry players and media representatives.

The Agriculture Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government conducted a six-day agricultural tourism promotion

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Malaysia has been identified as a key Southeast Asian tourism market, with growing emphasis on rural tourism, food and agricultural education, and sustainable travel development. These priorities closely align with Kaohsiung’s vision for experiential rural tourism and leisure agriculture. During the visit, the delegation held meetings with major organizations including the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA), and AirAsia, as well as local tourism operators to explore future collaboration opportunities in rural tourism product development and immersive travel experiences.

The promotion campaign centered on “Kaohsiung Agricultural Tourism,” positioning it as an alternative to conventional sightseeing by emphasizing immersive experiences that combine natural ecology, local culture, and agricultural heritage. Featured destinations included the sustainable fisheries experience at Xingang Community in Yongan, banana circular economy initiatives at Qishan Sugar Refinery Community, Indigenous cultural experiences at Sunlight Xiaolin Community in Shanlin, and native mountain tea production in Xinfa Community, Liugui.

Visitors were also introduced to hands-on rural tourism activities such as fruit picking, farm-to-table dining, food and agricultural education programs, and DIY workshops. These experiences showcased the diversity of Kaohsiung’s rural tourism offerings while deepening appreciation of local agricultural lifestyles and community-based culture.

In addition to experiential tourism, the campaign highlighted premium Kaohsiung agricultural products that attracted strong interest. Featured items included native mountain tea from Xinfa Community in Liugui, Banana Lemon Drip Bag Coffee, Banana Oolong Tea, Jin Qishan ESG Sustainable Gift Boxes, Jiankang Pineapple Cakes from Yuanfu Community in Qishan, as well as Passion Fruit Cheese Pineapple Cakes and Native Black Tea Kumquat Financiers made from locally sourced ingredients. These products reflect the success of Kaohsiung’s rural revitalization and sixth-sector agricultural development initiatives.

The Agriculture Bureau emphasized that Kaohsiung has been actively advancing agricultural transformation by integrating production, processing, and service sectors. Through agricultural branding, value-added product innovation, and rural tourism integration, the city has developed a sustainable agricultural model that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility. Products such as Liugui native mountain tea, Qishan banana upcycling goods, and community-developed specialties illustrate Kaohsiung’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.

A spokesperson from the Kaohsiung City Government Agriculture Bureau stated that Kaohsiung’s diverse agricultural landscape—including tropical fruit production, mountain tea industries, rural tourism, and food education—offers strong international potential. Malaysia is a key partner under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and an important market for agri-tourism expansion.

Through this promotional initiative, Kaohsiung aims to deepen industry collaboration, expand tourism opportunities, and attract more international visitors to its rural regions. Travelers are encouraged to experience Kaohsiung’s unique blend of agricultural culture, mountain landscapes, and coastal scenery, creating new synergies between agriculture and tourism development.

Press release also published on VRITIMES.

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