KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is targeting 120,000 Saudi tourist arrivals to boost retail, hospitality, and trade speed following the arrival of Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, Riyadh Air, on its inaugural South-East Asian route.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (tourism) Chua Choon Hwa said direct connectivity will accelerate post-pandemic recovery by targeting high-spending Saudi travellers.
“In 2019, Malaysia recorded approximately 125,000 tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia.
“Post-pandemic, arrivals dropped by nearly 50%, recovering to between 60,000 and 70,000 in 2024 and 2025,” Chua further noted.
He added that regional geopolitical tensions had impacted earlier numbers this year.
“With Riyadh Air’s direct flights, we expect a strong rebound as Saudi tourists represent a high-yield demographic that stays longer and spends significantly more.
“With direct connectivity already established, we will step up joint promotions,” he told StarBiz after the welcoming reception of Riyadh Air at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on July 31.
The carrier commenced its thrice-weekly nonstop service between the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and KLIA on July 30, marking its primary gateway into the Asean region.
Moreover, Tourism Malaysia data show that Saudi arrivals reached 121,444 in 2019, before rebounding by 23.7% year-on-year in 2024 to 68,382 visitors.
Outbound travel from Saudi Arabia has jumped 67% overall since 2019, catalysed by economic diversification under the kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiatives, expanded aviation capacity, and streamlined visa frameworks
Riyadh Air chief commercial officer Vincent Coste said strong point-to-point commercial demand across business, tourism, and religious travel underpins plans to scale operations rapidly.
“Malaysia is a major tourism destination for Saudis, while Saudi Arabia remains critical for Malaysians travelling for umrah, business, and leisure,” Coste said.
“Starting at three flights a week, our clear target is to transition to daily flights as demand builds.”
Riyadh Air becomes the ninth Middle Eastern airline to serve KLIA.
