ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor is on track to welcome 12 million tourists this year with an estimated RM42.48bil in tourism receipts, backed by strong early momentum and an aggressive line-up of tourism programmes.
State unity, culture and heritage committee chairman K. Raven Kumar said the Visit Johor 2026 campaign will feature between 100 and 170 events throughout the year to draw visitors from around the world.
He said the target is built on a solid foundation which saw 10.63 million tourist arrivals last year, comprising 7.38 million domestic visitors and 3.25 million international tourists who stayed at least one night.
“For the first three months of 2026, Johor recorded more than 6.07 million visitors, compared with 5.96 million in the same period last year,” Raven Kumar said during the state assembly sitting yesterday.
He was responding to questions by Ng Yak Howe (PH-Bentayan), Hasrunizah Hassan (BN-Pulai Sebatang), Azizul Bachok (BN-Tiram) and Rashidah Ismail (BN-Pasir Raja).
Raven Kumar said the increase reflects a positive start to the campaign and indicates that promotional efforts and tourism programmes are gaining traction.
He added that Singapore remains Johor’s largest source market, followed by Indonesia, China and India, all of which recorded notable increases in visitor numbers during the January to March period.
Raven Kumar also said the campaign was officially rolled out through tourist programmes at major entry points by Tourism Johor in collaboration with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and Tourism Malaysia.
“At least 16 entry points across land, air and sea are responsible for creating a strong first impression for visitors entering the state,” he said.
Johor’s tourism sector also received a major boost after Tourism Johor was recognised by the Asia Record of having the highest number of international visitors entering via a land crossing between two sovereign nations.
“Last year, a total of 24.7 million international visitors were recorded, including 19.38 million from Singapore, reinforcing Johor’s position as a key tourism gateway to Malaysia and the region,” he added.
On product development, he highlighted the launch of Johor Zoo’s night zoo on March 27 this year, offering a unique after-dark wildlife experience, aimed at families and educational tourism.
He said the upcoming Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar and Muzium Tokoh Johor, scheduled to open next month, will further strengthen the state’s cultural and heritage tourism offerings.
“To improve connectivity, plans are underway to introduce a Johor Tourist Bus service linking key attractions in Johor Baru, making it easier for visitors to move between destinations.
“Existing attractions are also being upgraded, including Hutan Bandar MBJB, which now features a zipline and water park, as well as Taman Tasek Merdeka with enhanced recreational facilities.”
Raven Kumar added that the state is continually expanding its eco-tourism segment with sites such as Kampung Sungai Melayu, Taman Negara Tanjung Piai and Taman Negara Gunung Ledang, attracting nature lovers and adventure seekers.
“With strong statistics, strategic planning and continuous product development, Johor is well-positioned to achieve its target.”
