PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA, 19 JANUARY 2026 – The Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) has announced the appointment of Encik Mohammad Faisal bin Abu Suaib Khan as its new Director General, effective 19 January 2026.
Mohammad Faisal brings more than 15 years of professional experience in corporate and digital communications, with a strong focus on tourism, event management, and destination-led initiatives.
His career includes involvement with Malaysian companies operating in tourism event management, as well as the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, providing him with deep insights into both domestic and international tourism ecosystems.
He offers a multidisciplinary leadership profile encompassing strategic direction, digital and social media strategy, public policy, and stakeholder engagement — capabilities that are increasingly critical in navigating a complex tourism landscape shaped by expanding traveller expectations, regulatory frameworks, and
cross-border collaboration.
With his extensive corporate and business background, Mohammad Faisal has been entrusted to lead ITC into its next phase of growth through transformational initiatives that tap into the expanding Muslim tourist market, projected to reach USD235 billion globally by 2030. His appointment reflects ITC’s strategic intent to further strengthen its global leadership in the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) ecosystem.
Commenting on his appointment, Mohammad Faisal said, “As we move into 2026, my focus is on positioning ITC as a key enabler in strengthening Malaysia’s role as a regional umrah hub, while expanding the global reach of the Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR) in key markets.”
“I look forward to engaging closely with tourism industry players and counterparts to build trust and deliver long-term value to the economy,” he added.
Mohammad Faisal has also demonstrated active engagement in regional and international discourse. In 2024, he attended The Dialogue on the International Image Innovation in Beijing, China, an international forum that convened global media and communication leaders. The dialogue brought together heads of publicity and media affairs from 25 countries, alongside participants from political, media, and academic sectors, to engage on the theme “China’s Path to Modernization: New Development and Global Opportunities.”
“I strongly believe in embracing cultural differences,” he said.
A product of the Chinese school system in Malaysia, Mohammad Faisal is fluent in Mandarin, an asset that has supported his professional engagements and relationship-building efforts in China.
Mohammad Faisal holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UniRazak), specialising in Leadership, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).
Outside of his professional responsibilities, he maintains an active lifestyle with interests in running and cycling, reflecting his emphasis on discipline, resilience, and balance.
ABOUT ITC
Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) is an entity under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia, tasked to develop the Islamic Tourism segment for Malaysia. It advocates for Muslim-friendly tourism (MFT) by offering research and market intelligence, training, industry development consultation, Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) services standards and recognition, and information exchange.
Malaysia was named the top country in the region in the MFTH sector by the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2022. The country also retained the top-ranked destination in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023, a position it has defended since the launch of the Index in 2015. In the same year, Malaysia was recognised as the Top Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year (OIC) and Top Muslim Women-Friendly Destination of the Year in Halal in Travel Awards 2023.
In addition, ITC was named the recipient of the Strategic Business Alliance Award at The BrandLaureate World Halal Best Brand E-Branding Awards 2021. It is a recognition of ITC’s efforts and endeavours in formulating new strategies to meet the new normal of the business environment to ensure business continuity and sustainability, notwithstanding its role to develop and grow the Islamic tourism segment in Malaysia.
These recognitions are an added motivation for ITC to continue to strengthen its efforts in being a prime mover and leading institution to ensure Malaysia is at the forefront of MFTH.
For further details, email comms@itc.gov.my or contact:
Anis Ramli, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 012 321 913
Nadhirah Aripin, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 019 356 053
Nurin Sufia, Corporate Communications Unit, ITC at 019 801 3400
Follow ITC on these social platforms:
Facebook: Islamic Tourism Centre
Twitter: @itc_my
Instagram: @itc_my
Youtube: Islamic Tourism Centre
