PETALING JAYA: Malaysia recorded 2,835,724 international visitor arrivals between March 1 and 26 this year, a 2.4% increase from 2,769,305 in the same period last year, underscoring the tourism sector's resilience despite evolving geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said Asean remained the largest contributor with 2,093,096 arrivals, a 0.6% year-on-year increase, while East Asia continued to register strong growth with 407,171 arrivals, up 12.8%, driven by a 22.7% rise in visitors from China.
ALSO READ: Malaysia to recalibrate tourism strategy, focus on Asian markets
South Asia recorded 123,270 arrivals, a marginal 0.4% decline compared with the same period last year.
In contrast, arrivals from the Middle East fell sharply by 40.3% to 4,398, reflecting the impact of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Central Asia recorded 6,569 arrivals, up 21% from March 2025, while Europe registered 124,824 arrivals (up 5.2%). Oceania saw 33,127 arrivals, an increase of 20.2%.
Africa posted 7,165 arrivals, a decline of 7.5%, while the Americas recorded about 36,099 arrivals, a slight drop of 0.4%.
“These figures demonstrate that while certain markets are affected, Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to be supported by strong growth across key regions, particularly within Asia and Asean,” Tiong said in a statement.
He added that Malaysia remained a safe, stable and welcoming destination, and that the ministry would continue to work closely with industry stakeholders to address operational challenges, including cost pressures linked to fuel and diesel.
Industry players are encouraged to provide detailed data and feedback, particularly comparisons of cost structures before and after the current situation, to support more effective policy responses.
Meanwhile, Tiong urged all parties to act responsibly and avoid spreading misinformation, rumours or unfounded narratives that could undermine public confidence.
“The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, remains fully committed to safeguarding national interests and ensuring economic stability.
“Malaysia must not allow speculation or politically driven narratives to disrupt economic confidence,” he said.
