Tourist arrivals to Malaysia surge to 6.7 million in Jan-Feb period

Visitors from Singapore, China, Indonesia drive 31.3 percent growth compared to same period last year 

SANDAKAN, Malaysia (MNTV) – The number of people touring Malaysia in the first two months of this year surged by 31.3 per cent to 6.7 million compared to the same period last year, Malay Mail reports. 

This also marked a 14.5 per cent increase from the pre-pandemic level in 2019, with Singapore accounting for the bulk of arrivals at 3.1 million, followed by China, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei, said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan in a statement.

“Last year, Malaysia recorded 38 million tourist arrivals, a significant 31.1 per cent increase compared to the 29 million recorded in 2023. It also surpassed the pre-pandemic record of 35 million arrivals in 2019 by 8.3 per cent. 

“The top tourist-generating markets were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan,” he said.

Khairul Firdaus said the total tourist receipts reached 106.78 billion Malaysian ringgit ($24.21 billion) last year, reflecting a substantial growth of 43.7 per cent in 2023 and exceeding the 2019 level by 20 per cent. 

Meanwhile, he said that Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with the Sandakan Tourism Association (STAN), has launched the latest brochure directory — “A Guide to Sandakan” in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

He said “A Guide to Sandakan” directory offers a wide range of attractions, offering an enticing blend of stunning natural landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, adventure activities, rich cultural experiences and local gastronomy.

“From cozying up with the orangutan in the wild to getting up close with Bornean Sun Bears, the mascot of VM2026, Sandakan offers a unique blend of wildlife encounters and adventure. Combined with local delicacies and fresh seafood, it is the ideal gateway to explore Sabah,” he added.