SELANGOR is focusing its tourism promotions on East Asian markets and domestic travel, following a double-digit decline in tourists from Middle Eastern countries.
State local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said tourist arrivals from the Middle East have shown a downward trend in the past two years.
"Selangor was frequently visited and served as a top choice for travellers from the region.
"However, due to the ongoing conflict there, these numbers are expected to decrease further," he said during the state assembly sitting in Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor, Shah Alam, on Friday (April 24).
Dr Quah Perng Fei (PH-Bandar Baru Klang) had asked about the impact of the Middle East conflict on Selangor's tourism industry.
According to statistics, tourist arrivals from Kuwait dropped significantly by 60.6% last year, falling from 16,001 in 2024 to 6,297.
Tourists from Saudi Arabia, who accounted for the highest arrivals to Selangor in 2024 at 90,474, dropped 54.3% to 41,321 arrivals last year.
Other countries in that region, such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran also recorded at least a 14% drop in tourist arrivals.
"However, Tourism Selangor views this as a strategic opportunity to attract more international tourists from elsewhere to choose Malaysia – and Selangor specifically – as their preferred holiday destination.
"We will focus on China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South-East Asian countries.
"The agency also encourages Malaysians to travel domestically as it offers lower travel costs and less transit time," Ng added.
