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
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