Tiong Malaysia On Track To Welcome 47mil Tourists For 2026

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Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said Malaysia recorded 24.5 million visitors between January and July this year, a 16.8 per cent increase compared with 21 million in the same period last year. — BERNAMAKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded 24.5 million visitors between January and July this year, a 16.8 per cent increase compared with 21 million in the same period last year.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said visitor spending had also surged by 174 per cent, reaching RM161.9 billion.
Citing the Tourism Satellite Account 2024 report, he said the tourism sector contributed 15.1 per cent, or RM291.9 billion, to the national gross domestic product – a 7.4 per cent increase from 2023, which saw a contribution of 14.9 per cent, or RM271.9 billion.
"Malaysia received 38 million foreign visitors in 2024, an increase of 31.1 per cent compared with the previous year.
"Visitor expenditure also rose by 43.7 per cent to RM106.8 billion," he said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
Tiong was responding to Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN–Alor Setar) regarding the country's tourism industry achievements and performance for 2024 and 2025, including international tourist arrival statistics, overall tourism sector revenue, as well as the success of major initiatives or programmes that have been implemented.
Tiong said the ministry would continue rolling out various measures to draw more tourists, encourage longer stays and boost spending, adding that these efforts had already yielded encouraging results.
He added that the government was also prioritising improved accessibility through increased flight frequencies, alongside tourism and cultural programmes, including business events.
"These efforts aim to achieve the target of 47 million foreign visitors and RM329 billion in tourism revenue for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign," Tiong said. - FMT

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