Malaysia’s international arrivals rise 3.4pc to 17.5 million despite global challenges, says Tourism Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA, July 8 — Malaysia recorded 17.5 million international visitor arrivals between January and May this year, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared with the same period last year, driven by strong demand from key source markets despite global geopolitical challenges.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said the growth was supported by visitors from Asean, China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as several Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

“If not for the conflict in the Middle East, we could have targeted even stronger growth.

“Nevertheless, the 3.4 per cent increase shows that Malaysia’s tourism industry remains resilient,” he told reporters after the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) between Tourism Malaysia and Tripadvisor here today.

The MoC was signed by Mohd Amirul Rizal and Tripadvisor’s Asia Pacific (APAC) Enterprise sales director Scott Wegener to strengthen strategic cooperation between the two parties in promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourist destination for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).

Under the two-year collaboration, which runs until the end of 2027, Tourism Malaysia will gain access to Tripadvisor’s performance data and travel insights to strengthen its data-driven tourism planning and marketing strategies, while also exploring co-branding campaigns, digital innovation and programmes recognising excellence in Malaysia’s tourism industry.

The partnership will also focus on strengthening the digital presence of local tourism industry players by enhancing destination content and tourism product listings to improve their visibility among international travellers.

Mohd Amirul Rizal also said that Tourism Malaysia has shifted its marketing strategy to focus on regional markets and high-potential source markets such as China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, while continuing to work with airlines to open new routes to Malaysia.

“At the domestic level, we are also intensifying efforts to enhance tourism products by refreshing our travel package offerings to ensure they remain attractive and encourage more people to travel within the country,” he said.

At the event, Malaysia also received three accolades in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards 2026, with Kuala Lumpur named among Asia’s best food destinations, the Petronas Twin Towers recognised as one of the region’s top tourist attractions, and Pantai Cenang in Langkawi Island listed among Asia’s best beaches.

Mohd Amirul Rizal said the recognition reflects the competitiveness of Malaysia’s tourism offerings and further strengthens the country’s position as a preferred destination for international travellers for the ongoing VM2026 campaign. — Bernama