Malaysia welcomed 17.5 million international visitors between January and May 2026, a 3.4% increase from the same period last year, supported by strong demand from key regional markets despite geopolitical challenges.
Tourism Malaysia Director-General Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said the growth was driven by visitors from ASEAN, China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as emerging markets in Central Asia including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
“If there had not been a war in West Asia, we could actually have targeted stronger growth.
“However, this 3.4% increase shows that the country’s tourism industry remains resilient,” he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) between Tourism Malaysia and Tripadvisor on Wednesday.
The two-year collaboration, which runs until the end of 2027, will allow Tourism Malaysia to access Tripadvisor’s travel insights and performance data to strengthen data-driven tourism planning and marketing strategies ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
The partnership will also focus on joint branding campaigns, digital innovation and initiatives to improve the online presence of local tourism products and destinations for international travellers.
Mohd Amirul Rizal said Tourism Malaysia has shifted its marketing focus towards regional and high-potential markets including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, while continuing to work with airlines to establish new routes to Malaysia.
He added that domestic tourism offerings are also being refreshed by enhancing travel packages to attract more local travellers.
Malaysia also received three accolades in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards 2026, with Kuala Lumpur recognised among Asia’s best food destinations, the Petronas Twin Towers listed among the continent’s top attractions and Pantai Cenang in Langkawi named one of Asia’s best beaches.
