Malaysia welcomed 28.8 million international visitors between January and August 2026, according to Tourism Malaysia. With the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign now extended to the end of 2027, the numbers point to a tourism sector that is holding steady and finding new markets, which is good news for the hotels, hawkers and small businesses that depend on it.
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Visit Malaysia 2026 by the Numbers
The latest figure was shared by Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (promotion) Mohd Akbal Setia at the opening of INTACT 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 2 October, as reported by Bernama. The 28.8 million Visit Malaysia 2026 arrivals were 1.8% higher than the same period in 2025.
Speaking on behalf of Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, he said tourism contributes more than 15% of Malaysia’s GDP, with the benefits reaching hotels, e-hailing drivers, artisans and family-run restaurants.
5 Bright Signs for Malaysian Tourism
1. A Record-Breaking Start to the Year
The first quarter of 2026 brought 10,647,200 international visitors, up 5.4% year on year and above the previous first-quarter record set in 2025. February alone recorded 3,472,557 arrivals, the first month ever above three million, based on figures shared by Tiong.
2. Well Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
First-half arrivals reached 21.12 million, up 2.5% from 20.60 million a year earlier. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said that figure was 17.7% above the 2019 level, before Covid-19, The Star reported.
3. Neighbours Keep Coming, and New Markets Are Growing
ASEAN visitors made up 72.8% of first-half arrivals, with Singapore, Indonesia and China remaining the traditional top contributors. Growth also came from further afield: arrivals from East Asia rose 12.7%, Central Asia 23.3%, Oceania 7.4% and the Americas 4.9%. In the first quarter, European arrivals passed 500,000 for the first time, with 15 of 16 monitored European markets growing.
4. More Flights Into Malaysia
Connectivity is improving. In the first quarter, 20 new international routes were launched and 12 airlines added 95 weekly international flights, making it easier for visitors from new markets to reach Malaysia directly.
5. More Time to Visit
In April, the government extended the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign to the end of 2027, giving the industry more time to recover from disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Economy Minister Akmal Nasir said the focus would shift to more resilient markets, including Southeast Asia, East Asia, Australia and India, TTG Asia reported.
What It Means for Malaysians
For Malaysians, a busier tourism calendar means more events close to home and more business for local operators. The ministry has credited the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, better regional connectivity, the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia domestic travel promotion and international events for this year’s growth.
There is still plenty on the Visit Malaysia 2026 calendar for the rest of the year. Events highlighted by the ministry include the Malaysia Year-End Sale, the Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival and the 2026 China GT Championship season finale at Sepang International Circuit from 6 to 8 November.
If you are planning a holiday at home this year-end, it is a good time to rediscover your own state, support a family-run restaurant or join a local festival. Every ringgit spent close to home helps keep the momentum going. If you are flying out instead, see our guide to making your ringgit go further at KLIA.
The Road to 2027
With more than 28 million visitors by August and the campaign running for another year, Visit Malaysia 2026 has room to build on a record start. The next milestones to watch are the full-year 2026 arrivals figure and how new routes from East Asia, Australia, India and Europe perform in 2027.
For the latest events and travel ideas, visit the Tourism Malaysia official website.
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