Malaysia visitor numbers rise as the country builds connections
About 38 million people visited Malaysia in 2024 — way more than the pre-pandemic record of 35 million in 2019 and up from 29 million in 2023.
And last year's visitors spent $38 billion — 20 per cent more than in 2019.
In January and February 2025, the momentum was maintained, with visitor arrivals surging by more than 31 per cent to 6.7 million, compared with the same period in 2024.
Most visitors come from Singapore, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei, in that order.
Tourism Malaysia now seems most focused on the Middle East to draw even more visitors.
This month, May 2025, it has been on a sales mission to Saudi Arabia, based in the two key cities of Jeddah and Riyadh.
In April, it took culinary and cultural heritage to the Middle East through its Food and Cultural Promotion, showcasing in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. That was held in conjunction with the launch of the Malaysia Culture Week in the Middle East.
And, in the same month, it took part in the Arabian Travel Market Dubai 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
In April, Tourism Malaysia also launched its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign in Istanbul, Turkey.
Tourism Malaysia (or Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board) is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, and tuned in to the national government's policies.
Interestingly, Saudi-Turkish relations have shifted from years of estrangement to first a careful and now more enthusiastic re-engagement.
In May, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan held an online meeting with leaders of Saudi Arabia and with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and President Ahmed Al-Sharaa of the Syrian Arab Republic and US President Donald Trump.
The landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, adventure activities and cultural experiences and food in and around the Malaysian city of Sandakan are explained in a new brochure, which can be seen as an online flip book.
A Guide To Sandakan has been produced by Malaysia Tourism in collaboration with Sandakan Tourism Association.
It is part of part of a campaign to promote travel to Sandakan, on the north-east coast of the island of Borneo.
In launching the guide, YB Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture, said: 'From cosying up with the orangutan in the wild, to coming up close with the Bornean sun bears, the mascot of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. With the blend of wildlife and adventure, unique local eats and fresh seafood, Sandakan is the ideal getaway to explore the state of Sabah.'
Not that we suggest cosying up with an orangutan.
The 20-page booklet is at
brochures.sabahtourism.com/books/tycb/#p=1
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
Jimmy Choo hails Kuala Lumpur as a shopping destination
Jimmy Choo thinks Kuala Lumpur is a great shopping destination. The 76-year-old designer was born in Penang in Malaysia, and he thinks his country's capital is a must-visit destination for shoppers, observing that the city has changed a lot in recent decades. He told the BBC: "Many years ago, when I came to Kuala Lumpur for the first time, it wasn't as modern. "It has changed a lot. There are now lots of high-rise apartments and hotels and it's a lot more multicultural." Jimmy currently splits his time between London and Kuala Lumpur. And he's suggested that the Malaysian capital is the perfect destination for people seeking high-end bargains. He explained: "A lot of people come here to shop because we have a lot of designer shops and the prices are not too high. "Whether you want to buy shoes, bags, accessories – you can get them all in KL." Jimmy noted that Malaysian designers often study overseas before returning home. He said: "Malaysia has a lot of local designers who have been very well trained overseas. "They go to study fashion in places like the UK or Australia, then when they've finished their studies, they often come back to their own country to promote their designs." Jimmy is a particularly big fan of Lord's Tailor, the clothing store founded in 1974 by designer Robert Loh. Jimmy - who has been a customer at the store since the 90s - shared: "It was recently the 50th anniversary of the designer Robert, who learned tailoring and design in London. "Whenever I travel to different parts of the world, they will design all my outfits – daywear and evening wear." Jimmy observed that the store provides an excellent service at a fraction of the typical London price. He said: "They have their own factory, and all the staff have been very well trained. "If you go on a Monday for the measurements, they will have everything ready by Wednesday or Thursday to bring home."
Herald Sun
7 days ago
- Herald Sun
Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat in hajj apex
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Muslim pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat on Thursday during the high point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi officials called on participants to refrain from being outside during the hottest hours of the day. Thousands of pilgrims began to gather before dawn around the hill and the surrounding plain where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his last sermon. While some arrived early to take advantage of the relatively cool morning, carrying colourful umbrellas, many pilgrims will remain for hours of prayers and Koran recitals until the evening in the most arduous portion of the hajj. After sunset they will head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and the sprawling tent city of Mina, where they will gather pebbles so they can perform the symbolic "stoning of the devil". "This is something that I used to see every year on the TV screen during hajj and I always thought: 'I wish I could be here'," said 33-year-old Ali from Pakistan, one of 1.5 million pilgrims who had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. "I've been trying to get here... for the past 3 years," he added as he gazed at the mount. "I feel very blessed." Hundreds of pilgrims dressed in white dotted the mount itself, with many more at its foot praying or taking pictures. Earlier this week, Saudi authorities called on pilgrims to stay inside their tents between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday, when the desert sun is at its harshest. Fans spraying mist and providing cool air were dispersed at the foot of the mount. Temperatures this year have already exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, bringing together devotees from around the globe, kicked off earlier this week Officials have beefed up heat mitigation efforts aiming to avoid a repeat of last year's hajj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8C. "I came here early to (avoid) the sun and later I will pray inside my tent," said 54-year-old Adel Ismail, from Syria. To make this year's pilgrimage safer, authorities have expanded infrastructure, deployed thousands of extra personnel and relied on an arsenal of high-tech tools to help better manage crowds. Authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, the hajj minister has told AFP. Through tears of joy, Iman Abdel Khaleq said she had wanted to perform the hajj for 10 years and was overwhelmed with emotion as she arrived at Arafat. "It's a big dream for me that I had almost given hope up of realising," the woman in her fifties told AFP from the foot of the mount. Authorities said a majority of the deaths in 2024 were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to amenities like air-conditioned tents and buses. This year, they have also cracked down on unregistered pilgrims looking to sneak into Mecca, relying on frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by a lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the hajj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Saudi Arabia earns billions of dollars a year from the hajj, and the lesser pilgrimage known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year. bur-ds-aya/dhw Originally published as Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat in hajj apex
The Advertiser
04-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Captain turns down Saudi riches to stay with Man Utd
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has turned down a proposed move to Saudi club Al Hilal because he wants "to play at the highest possible level". Fernandes confirmed on Tuesday he had received an "exciting offer" from the Riyadh-based club to switch after what was a disappointing season for United. "They waited for me to think about my future, because I said only if Manchester thought it was the time to move on that I'd be willing to do so," Fernandes said through an interpreter. "I talked to the gaffer, Ruben Amorim, and at the time he asked me not to go. I then talked to Man United. They said they didn't want to sell me. If I wanted to go, I could, but they didn't need the money, they didn't need to sell me." Media reports suggested Al Hilal was prepared to pay 100 million pounds ($A209 million) to take the 30-year-old Fernandes from United, while offering him a wage of 700,000 pounds ($A1.46 million) a week to play for the Saudi Pro League team, which will compete in the Club World Cup this month in the United States. "It was a very exciting offer," Fernandes said. "The president of Al Hilal, he was very nice to me. He talked to my manager, but then I talked to my wife and as a family we wanted to see what I wanted to do. She asked me, what do you want to do with your future?" Fernandes last year signed a contract extension to stay at Old Trafford until June 2027. This season did not go as planned as the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing 15th in the Premier League. United also endured the heartbreak of losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. "We had goals and we didn't meet them," said Fernandes, a key figure for United since his arrival in January 2020. He said it would have been easy for the family to make the move to Riyadh, and for him to adjust to the team with Portugal teammates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo already playing for Al Hilal. "I'm used to them, but I want to play at the highest possible level," Fernandes said. "I want play for major competitions. I know I still can, and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most." Fernandes was speaking as a Portugal player before the team's Nations League semi-final against Germany on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) in Munich. The winner of that game will face either France or Spain in Sunday's final. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has turned down a proposed move to Saudi club Al Hilal because he wants "to play at the highest possible level". Fernandes confirmed on Tuesday he had received an "exciting offer" from the Riyadh-based club to switch after what was a disappointing season for United. "They waited for me to think about my future, because I said only if Manchester thought it was the time to move on that I'd be willing to do so," Fernandes said through an interpreter. "I talked to the gaffer, Ruben Amorim, and at the time he asked me not to go. I then talked to Man United. They said they didn't want to sell me. If I wanted to go, I could, but they didn't need the money, they didn't need to sell me." Media reports suggested Al Hilal was prepared to pay 100 million pounds ($A209 million) to take the 30-year-old Fernandes from United, while offering him a wage of 700,000 pounds ($A1.46 million) a week to play for the Saudi Pro League team, which will compete in the Club World Cup this month in the United States. "It was a very exciting offer," Fernandes said. "The president of Al Hilal, he was very nice to me. He talked to my manager, but then I talked to my wife and as a family we wanted to see what I wanted to do. She asked me, what do you want to do with your future?" Fernandes last year signed a contract extension to stay at Old Trafford until June 2027. This season did not go as planned as the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing 15th in the Premier League. United also endured the heartbreak of losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. "We had goals and we didn't meet them," said Fernandes, a key figure for United since his arrival in January 2020. He said it would have been easy for the family to make the move to Riyadh, and for him to adjust to the team with Portugal teammates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo already playing for Al Hilal. "I'm used to them, but I want to play at the highest possible level," Fernandes said. "I want play for major competitions. I know I still can, and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most." Fernandes was speaking as a Portugal player before the team's Nations League semi-final against Germany on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) in Munich. The winner of that game will face either France or Spain in Sunday's final. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has turned down a proposed move to Saudi club Al Hilal because he wants "to play at the highest possible level". Fernandes confirmed on Tuesday he had received an "exciting offer" from the Riyadh-based club to switch after what was a disappointing season for United. "They waited for me to think about my future, because I said only if Manchester thought it was the time to move on that I'd be willing to do so," Fernandes said through an interpreter. "I talked to the gaffer, Ruben Amorim, and at the time he asked me not to go. I then talked to Man United. They said they didn't want to sell me. If I wanted to go, I could, but they didn't need the money, they didn't need to sell me." Media reports suggested Al Hilal was prepared to pay 100 million pounds ($A209 million) to take the 30-year-old Fernandes from United, while offering him a wage of 700,000 pounds ($A1.46 million) a week to play for the Saudi Pro League team, which will compete in the Club World Cup this month in the United States. "It was a very exciting offer," Fernandes said. "The president of Al Hilal, he was very nice to me. He talked to my manager, but then I talked to my wife and as a family we wanted to see what I wanted to do. She asked me, what do you want to do with your future?" Fernandes last year signed a contract extension to stay at Old Trafford until June 2027. This season did not go as planned as the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing 15th in the Premier League. United also endured the heartbreak of losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. "We had goals and we didn't meet them," said Fernandes, a key figure for United since his arrival in January 2020. He said it would have been easy for the family to make the move to Riyadh, and for him to adjust to the team with Portugal teammates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo already playing for Al Hilal. "I'm used to them, but I want to play at the highest possible level," Fernandes said. "I want play for major competitions. I know I still can, and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most." Fernandes was speaking as a Portugal player before the team's Nations League semi-final against Germany on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) in Munich. The winner of that game will face either France or Spain in Sunday's final.
