Tourism

Malaysia’s tourism recovery is still moving forward, but the latest arrivals data shows that the path is no longer perfectly smooth. Tourism Malaysia recorded 2.6 million tourist arrivals in May 2026, representing a 3.3% year-on-year decline from the same month in 2025. For the first five months of the year, arrivals reached 10.6 million, still up 1.1% year-on-year. That mixed picture...

Malaysia’s domestic tourism sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s local economy. According to the latest Domestic Tourism Survey Malaysia 2025 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, domestic visitor expenditure rose 13.6% year-on-year to RM121.3 billion, compared with RM106.7 billion in 2024. Visitor numbers also increased, reaching 290.1 million in 2025 from 260.1...

Malaysia has retained its position as the world’s leading Muslim-friendly travel destination, taking the top Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destination award in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026. The country received a score of 83, four points higher than in the previous edition, and has now held the leading position for 11 consecutive years. The recognition is significant because Malaysia is...

rivals and RM329 billion in tourism receipts under Visit Malaysia 2026, supported by more than RM700 million in government funding for tourism promotion, events, infrastructure and related activities. Extending the campaign across two calendar years does not automatically mean the targets will be achieved. It does, however, give airlines, hotels, tour operators, state tourism bodies and private businesses...

Rain Rave Kuala Lumpur reflects a more energetic city mood Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026 gave Kuala Lumpur a lively start to May, combining music, water, cultural performances and food under the wider Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Held over three days and linked with the Labour Day period, the festival drew large crowds from the Klang Valley, other Malaysian states and even neighbouring countries....

Malaysia’s domestic travel market is showing renewed strength, and the implications extend well beyond tourism. New data from Agoda reveals that all top five domestic destinations recorded positive year-on-year growth in accommodation searches for December travel, signalling a clear shift toward local getaways. For property investors and urban stakeholders, this trend reinforces the resilience of...

Malaysia is taking a decisive step toward becoming a digitally enabled, investor-friendly nation with the rollout of MyDigital ID as the single sign-on platform for immigration services. Beginning January 15, 2026, Malaysians using the MyNIISe mobile application for border clearance will be required to log in via MyDigital ID, marking a significant shift in how cross-border travel and government services...

Malaysians are increasingly choosing to travel closer to home for year-end holidays, and Kuala Lumpur is emerging as the clear beneficiary of this shift. New insights from Agoda reveal a strong rise in domestic travel interest, with the capital city recording the highest growth in accommodation searches among local destinations for December travel. While international travel remains attractive, the...

Johor has officially set the tone for a high-impact tourism year by launching Visit Johor Year 2026 with welcoming events held simultaneously across air, land and sea entry points. The coordinated rollout sends a clear signal that the state is not only prepared for increased visitor numbers, but is also positioning tourism as a key economic driver with implications that extend beyond hospitality into...

As the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign gathers momentum, Kuala Lumpur has emerged not just as the administrative capital, but as the symbolic heart of the nation’s tourism narrative. The official launch of the “I LITE U” initiative in Bukit Bintang marked more than the start of a lighting programme. It set the tone for a year that places unity, diversity and urban confidence at the forefront of...