SEPANG: Visitor arrivals to Malaysia have surged by more than 30% up to February this year compared with the same period previously, bolstering confidence that the country is on track to meet its Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) targets despite global uncertainties and the conflict in West Asia.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (Tourism) Chua Choon Hwa said the latest figures, driven in part by strong Chinese New Year traffic, showed that the recovery in the tourism sector was gaining solid momentum.
“Up to February, during the Chinese New Year period, we recorded high inbound arrivals, exceeding the previous percentage by at least 30%,” he told reporters after an Aidilfitri celebration at KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on Monday (March 23).
He said the data for March was still being compiled, and a more detailed projection of whether Malaysia is ahead of or behind its annual tourism targets would only be made once those numbers are available.
He said that while the conflict in West Asia and wider global uncertainty posed challenges, they also had the potential to redirect visitor flows in Malaysia’s favour.
“Global uncertainty is not only a challenge; it can also open up opportunities for Malaysia to attract tourists who may postpone long-haul trips to unstable or distant destinations,” he said.
Chua noted that travellers were increasingly inclined to choose nearer and more stable destinations, a trend that could benefit Malaysia’s efforts to achieve its VM2026 goals, especially from regional markets.
“Sometimes when faraway destinations are less stable, tourists start looking for closer options. This could be an opportunity for Malaysia if the strategies we implement are appropriate,” he said.
He said tourism strategies were being refined to take into account both demand trends and air connectivity, including measures to address transit disruptions.
One of the main issues under review, he said, was the impact of disruptions to flight transit routes in the Middle East, which previously served as a major corridor for long-haul travellers heading to Asia.
“Transit in the Middle East is currently somewhat disrupted, so we are looking at ways to overcome the situation, including using certain transit airports to avoid affected areas,” he said.
Chua said the government was exploring alternative transit hubs and, at the same time, strengthening its focus on Asian markets that are less affected by the conflict, to ensure that the flow of tourists to Malaysia remains steady.
At Monday’s event, arriving passengers at KLIA Terminal 1 were greeted with festive souvenirs and invited to sample traditional Aidilfitri delicacies, in a showcase of Malaysia’s cultural diversity and trademark “Malaysia Truly Asia” hospitality.
In conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, Tourism Malaysia on Monday welcomed both domestic and international visitors with vibrant Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations across nine airports nationwide.
The main celebration was held at KLIA Terminal 1, alongside simultaneous welcoming ceremonies at eight other airports across Selangor, Penang, Johor, Kedah, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak.
Also present were Tourism Malaysia director-general Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim and Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (Promotion II) Lee Thai Hung.
