Malaysia sees 20% rise in international tourist arrivals from January to May

MALAYSIA welcomed 16.9 million international tourist arrivals between January and May 2025, marking a 20 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture said in a written reply to Parliament on Monday.

Neighbouring Singapore accounted for nearly half of the total with 8.34 million arrivals, followed by Indonesia (1.82 million), China (1.81 million), and Thailand (1.06 million), according to the ministry.

Arrivals from long-haul markets also grew significantly. “Australia and the United Kingdom recorded increases of 16.6 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2024,” the ministry noted.

“This increase in foreign visitor numbers clearly reflects the effectiveness of various initiatives implemented by the government through strategic approaches, progressive policies such as the visa liberalisation plan, and support and incentives given to industry players,” it added.

Malaysia recorded just over 25 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, falling short of its 27.3 million target.

Looking ahead, the government is aiming for 47 million international arrivals in 2026, with targeted efforts focused on Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania. - July 22, 2025