KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the Lunar New Year approaches, digital travel platform Agoda reveals that Kuala Lumpur is the seventh most sought-after destination for international visitors celebrating the festive season in Asia, as well as the top-searched domestic destination. Agoda further reports that, based on accommodation searches, Bangkok, Thailand is the most popular destination among Malaysians spending the Lunar New Year holiday abroad.

Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Penang have emerged as the top inbound destinations for travelers to Malaysia. This trend highlights a growing interest in Malaysia’s vibrant cultural heritage and urban experiences. Kuala Lumpur, with its iconic skyline and diverse culinary scene, offers a blend of modernity and tradition. Johor Bahru attracts visitors with its cultural landmarks, while Penang is celebrated for its historic architecture and renowned street food. These preferences indicate that travelers are seeking destinations that offer a mix of cultural exploration and urban adventure.

Kuala Lumpur also leads as the top domestic destination for Malaysian travelers, followed by Penang and Malacca. Malacca, with its historical sites and colonial charm, draws those eager to delve into Malaysia’s past. These preferences indicate a trend towards appreciating local culture and history while enjoying diverse experiences.

Meanwhile, Bangkok ranks as the top outbound destination for Malaysian travelers, followed by Hat Yai and Tokyo. This preference underscores a desire for cultural exploration and diverse experiences. Bangkok’s rich street life and cultural sites offer a dynamic urban adventure. Hat Yai, known for its bustling markets and local cuisine, provides a more laid-back yet culturally immersive experience. Tokyo, with its blend of tradition and cutting-edge technology, appeals to those seeking both cultural depth and modern excitement. These choices reflect interest among travelers to explore destinations that offer a rich tapestry of cultural and urban experiences.

The upcoming Year of the Horse symbolizes energy and adventure, inspiring travelers to explore vibrant destinations. The Lunar New Year marking new beginnings and Spring’s arrival, is a prime time for reuniting with loved ones and embracing renewal. It’s an opportunity for self-discovery, whether rediscovering familiar places or venturing abroad. 

Fabian Teja, Country Director Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda shared, “The Year of the Horse brings a vibrant energy to travel, and it’s exciting to see Kuala Lumpur shine as a top destination. Cities like Johor Bahru, Penang and Malacca have so much to offer to travelers that will surely make the journey truly special for them. Whether they are staying in Malaysia or venturing abroad, Agoda has amazing deals on flights, stays, and activities to ensure their New Year celebration is unforgettable.”

Looking at the combined preferences of Asian travelers, Japanese cities emerged as favorites for the Lunar New Year holiday, with Tokyo leading, followed by Bangkok (Thailand), Taipei (Taiwan), Osaka (Japan) and Seoul (South Korea) in the top five. Fukuoka (Japan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Sapporo (Japan), Singapore and Hong Kong round out the top 10.

Embracing the adventurous spirit, travelers planning their Lunar New Year getaways can explore Agoda’s extensive offerings, including over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities. Running from 14 to 28 February, Agoda’s Mega Sale will offer up to 60% off on hotel bookings, with special flash sales of up to 70% on 17 February and exclusive deals on flights and activities. Agoda VIP members will receive early access to deals from 10 to 13 February. The latest deals are available on the Agoda app or at agoda.com/deals. 

TOKYO, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wakamoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Arata Igarashi), a company dedicated to supporting healthy and active lifestyles, will launch a nationwide campaign in which customers who purchase “Strong Wakamoto” will receive an original hand towel.

The campaign will be held at drugstores and other retail outlets across Japan, welcoming visitors from the Taiwan region who celebrate the Lunar New Year in Japan.

Campaign Background

In 2024, Wakamoto celebrated its 95th anniversary. To express its appreciation to customers who have long supported its products, the company has implemented a variety of advertising initiatives and promotional campaigns, all of which have been well received.

Meanwhile, Strong Wakamoto has been sold in Taiwan for approximately 40 years and has gained widespread popularity as one of Taiwan’s leading gastrointestinal medicines, with an average annual shipment volume of approximately 650,000 bottles over the past five years.

With the desire to convey its gratitude not only to Japanese users but also to loyal Taiwanese customers who regularly use Strong Wakamoto, Wakamoto has decided to launch this campaign.

Campaign Details

A special set consisting of two bottles of Strong Wakamoto (1,000 tablets each) bundled with an original hand towel will be offered for a limited time at participating drugstores in Tokyo.

Campaign period:

Sales will begin sequentially from January 26, 2026.
Available while supplies last.

Participating retailers:

Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Don Quijote, Sundrug, Takeya, Universal Drug, Bic Camera, Daikoku Drug, Tomod’s, Sapporo Drug Store, Welcia Pharmacy, Tsuruha Drug, Sugi Drug, Amano Drug

Limited-Edition Hand Towel Featuring Traditional Japanese Designs

As a limited-time and limited-quantity gift, customers will receive an original hand towel featuring Strong Wakamoto blended into traditional Japanese designs.

The hand towels come with four randomly selected designs: geisha, ukiyo-e, traditional Japanese patterns, and sumo wrestlers.

The classic Wakamoto bottle shape is gently worked into the design, creating a look that is unique and easy to recognize. Made from soft microfiber material, the hand towel is suitable for everyday use and also works well as a decorative item. It is a perfect choice for both personal use and as a souvenir.

Campaign Featured on YouTube

Details of the campaign are also introduced on YouTube by popular travel YouTuber Alan, who shares information about traveling in Japan.

The campaign appears in his video “How to Navigate Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station Maze! A Fun and Delicious Day in Alan’s Journey.“

Video URL:
https://youtu.be/azZpRI75QkI

Alan (Alan Channel / 阿倫頻道) is a Taiwan region-born YouTuber based in Japan. Known for his friendly personality and humorous style, he has gained a large following both in Japan and overseas. His videos introducing Japanese travel destinations, food, and Made-in-Japan products are especially popular among Taiwanese viewers interested in Japan, earning him recognition as a trusted source of Japan-related information.

Alan Channel / 阿倫頻道:
https://www.youtube.com/@AlanChannelJP

Comment from the Company

Takuma Kato, Wakamoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

“To enjoy everyday life and to fully enjoy a trip to Japan, maintaining good digestive health is very important. Japan offers many delicious foods such as sushi, tempura, ramen, udon, and yakiniku. However, overeating or sudden changes in diet during travel can sometimes cause discomfort and affect your condition.

Strong Wakamoto can be a reliable partner for your journey, helping support your digestive health while traveling. Just as a mobile battery keeps your smartphone fully charged, Strong Wakamoto helps maintain the ‘stamina’ of your stomach and intestines.

We hope you will continue to enjoy Strong Wakamoto and take this opportunity to bring home a special gift as a memorable reminder of your time in Japan, along with our sincere gratitude.”

About Wakamoto Pharmaceutical

Founded in 1929 with the launch of its first product, Wakamoto, Wakamoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. began as one of Japan’s pioneering companies in the field of self-medication. Since then, the company has continued to develop its business across three core pillars: pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and global operations.

Drawing on nearly a century of experience and expertise, Wakamoto Pharmaceutical remains committed to contributing to the creation and advancement of a healthy and prosperous society.

Company Profile

Head Office: 2-2-2 Nihonbashi-Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
President & CEO: Arata Igarashi
Established: April 1929
Industry: Manufacturing
Website: https://www.wakamoto-pharm.co.jp/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/avan_wkmt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakamoto_gwt/

About Strong Wakamoto

Strong Wakamoto is a flagship long-selling product of Wakamoto Pharmaceutical and has been trusted by generations of customers since its launch in 1929. As a reliable partner in daily health support, it has long been used to help people maintain their physical condition and enjoy a more comfortable everyday life.

Key Features

Supports digestive health

Strong Wakamoto helps support intestinal function and promote digestion, contributing to a well-balanced digestive environment. It is commonly used to help manage everyday digestive discomfort, supporting a more comfortable daily life.

Supports daily nutrition

Containing a rich blend of gentle, body-friendly ingredients such as yeast and lactic acid bacteria, Strong Wakamoto is suitable for daily nutritional support, especially for people with unbalanced diets.

The company is acknowledged for enabling digital transformation, performance-driven smart manufacturing, and scalable manufacturing software innovation across European factories and globally.

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Accevo has received the 2025 European Enabling Technology Leadership Recognition for its outstanding achievements in technology innovation, execution excellence, and customer impact for manufacturing software for the smart factories industry. This recognition highlights Accevo’s consistent leadership in enabling measurable operational improvements, accelerating digital transformation, and delivering performance-focused solutions in an increasingly complex manufacturing environment.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Accevo demonstrated excellence across both dimensions by aligning its modular smart factory strategy with evolving market requirements and executing it with speed, flexibility, and scale. According to Sankara Narayanan, Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan, Accevo distinguishes itself by delivering a comprehensive manufacturing software platform that enhances operational efficiency, enables seamless and plant-wide data visibility, and supports manufacturers in fully leveraging smart manufacturing technologies to drive productivity and performance.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy centered on modular expansion, rapid deployment, and deep manufacturing domain expertise, Accevo continues to adapt and lead in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape. Headquartered in Poland, the company offers a unified Smart Factory platform that integrates manufacturing execution systems, manufacturing operations management, OEE monitoring, advanced planning and scheduling, computerized maintenance management, quality management, energy management, and paperless manufacturing. This single-platform approach allows manufacturers to start with targeted use cases and scale rapidly as operational needs evolve.

Innovation remains central to Accevo’s approach. Designed with performance as its core focus, the Accevo Smart Factory platform accelerates production, reduces downtime and waste, optimizes energy consumption, and supports paperless operations. The software integrates with any enterprise resource planning system and connects seamlessly with both modern and legacy machines through advanced IIoT connectivity. “Manufacturers need solutions that deliver speed, flexibility, and ROI. Accevo’s Smart Factory platform helps companies start small, scale fast, and achieve excellence. With a cloud-based system built on modern microservices architecture, we provide one comprehensive platform for all factory needs. We’re proud Frost & Sullivan recognizes our vision.” said Szymon Piróg, Chief Executive Officer at Accevo.

Accevo’s commitment to customer experience reinforces its leadership position. Its out-of-the-box, cloud-native solution, supported by on-premises deployment capabilities where required, enables fast implementation using the company’s proven 3-3-3 methodology. Industry-specific suites for FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and other process industries address critical requirements related to efficiency, traceability, compliance, and uptime. Backed by a global support organization and a large in-house team of automation and machine connectivity experts, Accevo delivers reliable, flexible, and partnership-driven implementations across regions.

Frost & Sullivan commends Accevo for setting a high benchmark in enabling technology leadership in the manufacturing software market. The company’s comprehensive platform, execution capability, and deep industry understanding position it as a trusted partner for manufacturers advancing toward smart factories and data-driven operations.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Enabling Technology Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in operational performance, customer value, and competitive positioning.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact: contact@accevo.com

Tarini Singh
E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com 

About Accevo
Accevo delivers IT solutions for manufacturing, building a Smart Factory ecosystem that connects shop-floor automation with business systems. We focus on simple daily use and measurable improvements in OEE, quality, and decision speed. As part of the Dürr Group, we combine access to global engineering expertise with an agile, fast-deployment approach. Our MES-class systems cover OEE, traceability, paperless processes, planning, quality, and energy, delivered end-to-end and integrated with machines and ERP to provide a single, real-time view of production.

The Dürr Group is one of the world’s leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with particular expertise in the technology fields of automation, digitalization, and energy efficiency. Its products, systems, and services enable highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes – mainly in the automotive industry, for producers of furniture and timber houses, as well as in the assembly of medical and electrical products and in battery production. The Dürr Group generated sales of €4.7 billion in 2024 and currently has around 18,000 employees and 130 business locations in 32 countries. Since the sale of its environmental technology division at the end of October 2025, the business has been consolidated into three divisions:

• Automotive: painting technology, final assembly, testing and filling technology
• Industrial Automation: assembly and test systems for automotive components, medical devices, and consumer goods as well as balancing technology solutions and coating systems for battery electrodes
• Woodworking: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry

Dr. Lu to lead and expand the Institute’s engagement efforts in Asia

LOS ANGELES and SINGAPORE, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global think tank the Milken Institute today announced the appointment of Dr. Kevin Lu as Chair of Asia. Dr. Lu brings decades of experience in the investment and public policy world, including his current role as Partner, Chairman of Asia, and member of the Global Executive Board at Partners Group, as well as his past role in leading the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency as Director and Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Lu also serves as a Lecturer of Management at Yale School of Management and an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Columbia Business School, teaching graduate courses on private equity and society.

Robin Hu will be become Chairman Emeritus after serving his two-year tenure as Chair of Asia. Hu will continue as a member of the Board of Directors at the Milken Institute Asia Center and will serve in a senior advisory capacity.

Dr. Lu has been involved with Milken Institute’s Asia headquarters since its inception, supporting the Institute’s programmatic efforts in Asia and around the world. Now taking over as Chair of Asia, Dr. Lu will continue to provide strategic counsel to the Institute’s leadership and collaborate with its Asia headquarters to drive the next era of impact, growth and expansion in the region.

“Over the years, the Milken Institute has benefited tremendously from Kevin’s expertise and guidance in his capacity as Senior Fellow, and we are lucky to have him as our Chair of Asia. I’m extremely grateful to Robin for his two-year service and leadership as Chairman, which have been so valuable to the Institute and to me as the Executive Vice President of International,” said Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President of International at the Milken Institute. “I am excited to continue our partnership with Kevin in his new capacity. With his unparalleled depth and diversity of experience, as well as his extensive connections, I am confident that he will lead our Asia practice to new heights as we continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Partners Group has been a long-time collaborator of the Milken Institute. In 2021, the two organizations jointly launched a high-impact and immersive internship program that offers wide exposure and hands-on experience in finance and investment management to undergraduate and graduate students in Singapore. The internship program is slated to welcome its sixth cohort of interns in the summer of 2026.

“In the past decades that I have been with the Milken Institute, it has undertaken substantial growth, bringing its flagship convenings to key markets around the world, from Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong (SAR), to London, Abu Dhabi, Mexico, Sao Paolo, and more,” said Dr. Kevin Lu, Asia Chair, Milken Institute. “I am honored and humbled to be appointed as the Milken Institute’s Chair of Asia, and I look forward to working with the Milken Institute leadership team in the United States and Asia team in Singapore to forge a path of success in the new global landscape.”

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next. For more information, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.