Arrivals hit over 20 million in first half of year
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia recorded 21.12 million international visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, with the numbers showing an improvement due to stronger promotions.
This was 2.5% higher than the 20.60 million arrivals over the same period last year.
The January-to-June figure was also 17.7% higher than the pre-Covid-19 pandemic level in 2019, showing that the country’s tourism recovery remains on track, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said.
The growth was supported by the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, improved regional connectivity, Cuti-Cuti Malaysia push, international events and a wider range of tourism products being promoted nationwide.
The positive growth was primarily driven by the continued strength of the Asean market, which contributed 72.8% of total arrivals, led by sustained growth from Singapore (+4.4%), as well as strong increases from emerging markets such as Cambodia (+52.3%), Laos (+25.4%), and Myanmar (+45.9%).
East Asia recorded a 12.7% recovery, while Central Asia grew 23.3%, Oceania 7.4% and the Americas 4.9%.
Traditional markets such as Singapore, Indonesia and China remained among the largest contributors, with China continuing to benefit from visa liberalisation measures and sustained promotional efforts.
To keep the momentum going in the second half of the year, Tourism Malaysia has lined up a series of major events and flagship campaigns under the VM2026 Calendar of Events.
Key highlights include the Malaysia Year-End Sale and the Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival, with both expected to attract domestic and international visitors while showcasing Malaysia’s cultural diversity, performing arts, traditional crafts, and local lifestyle.
The calendar also features arts and cultural showcases such as The Grand Reawakening Legacy Evolution, Revolution Istana Budaya and the Asean Contemporary Art Exhibition, Masterpiece aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s appeal as a regional arts and culture destination.
Sports and lifestyle events are also being used as part of the broader tourism strategy, with Malaysia set to host the 2026 China GT Championship season finale at the Sepang International Circuit from Nov 6 to Nov 8.
The event will serve as Round 5 and the final showdown of the five-event calendar, and is expected to support Malaysia’s positioning as a motorsports, lifestyle and experiential tourism hub.
The ministry said such events were important not only in drawing visitors, but also in creating spillover benefits for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, retailers and local businesses.
It added that the combination of stronger arrivals, a broader event calendar and continued promotion would help Malaysia remain competitive as VM2026 moves into its second half.
