Malaysia

The Rural and Regional Development Ministry expects to see 100,000 visitors via its Desa Kirana scheme, which features 25 rural tourism destinations as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Desa Kirana will focus on 5 attractions: heritage and culture, natural attractions, local gastronomy, traditional products and authentic village experiences

The Government will offer a 50% discount on toll rates for private vehicles on 23 and 24 Dec, in conjunction with the Christmas celebrations. The government will bear an estimated RM20.65 million in compensation to highway concessionaires

Q3 2025 domestic tourism numbers was 72.6 million, +9.6% YoY, but -1.6% QoQ, and spend of RM29.8 billion, +16.7% YoY and +2.2% QoQ

The Malaysian Highway Agency forecasts up to 2.6 million vehicles per day over the peak year-end holiday, with traffic increasing from 19 Dec, particularly on routes to the East Coast, North and South

Ipsos’ Malaysia Cost of Living Monitor report shows the public’s concern over corruption, poverty, and unemployment has eased, and their optimism over household spending and future living standards has strengthened. 69% of Malaysians think the country is in the right direction. 73% of the respondents between the ages of 16-74 think the economic situation in Malaysia is good, vs 82% in Singapore. The top concerns are financial and political corruption (39%), poverty and social inequality (26%) and unemployment (25%). 39% of respondents think in 2026 their disposable income will increase, while 45% think their quality of living will improve

In Pahang, flood victims increased to 8,226 people from 2,653 families, and all victims are being housed at 69 evacuation centres. In Johor, victims increased to 347 people and in Terengganu, 913 people as of 18 Dec

The Labuan Vehicle and Passenger Ferry Terminal Jetty upgrades will be completed by Apr 2028. This jetty will provide a vital link between Labuan and Brunei. The Works Minister handed over the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) ceremony for the project, with a contract value of RM20.3 million to CitaGlobal Land Sdn Bhd

Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints at the Singapore-Malaysia land border will experience heavy traffic during the festive holidays, as authorities will intensify searches for smuggled e-vaporisers. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that from 21-27 Nov, more than 3.6 million travellers crossed both checkpoints, with over 550,000 travellers, the highest crossings recorded on 21 Nov

Domestic tourism from Q1-Q3 2025 saw 216 million visitors, +11.8% YoY and generated RM88.4 billion tourism spend, +13.7% YoY. The accommodation sub-sector grew by 14.3% YoY, with hotel occupancy at 68.8% for 5* hotels, 62.8% for 4* hotels and 69.9% for 3* hotels. Hotel occupancy in urban areas increased by 1.2pp to 64% YoY

The Member of Parliament for Miri, Sarawak, has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Tourism

PLUS Malaysia Bhd is expecting the traffic volume to reach up to 2.2 million per day during the year-end school holidays, Christmas, and the 2026 New Year celebrations

Consortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd (Ferry Line) Operations Manager said they sold over 74,000 ferry tickets from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis to Langkawi (36,000 tickets) and vice versa (38,000 tickets), ahead of school holidays from 19 Dec to 11 Jan. They will offer an additional 100 ferry trips throughout this period

The Home Ministry will install 40 additional National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) eGate units and 145 MyNIISe QR Code scanners at all border crossings to double the processing capacity at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) in Johor Baru and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in Iskan­dar Puteri. This will improve the capacity at both entry points and strengthen the digital immigration system to make travel faster

Sabah recorded a 4.2% growth in the tourism industry and generated RM13.7 billion in tourism expenditure in 2024, contributing 12% to Sabah’s economy. The Chief Statistician said that Sabah’s tourism sector was driven by retail trade activity, which recorded 3.2% growth, while accommodation and food and beverages recorded 3.5% growth. Travel agencies and other tourism-related services recorded a 5.9% growth in 2024. Overall, retail contributed 47.3% to Sabah’s tourism economy; accommodation and F&B contributed 29.7%; travel agencies and cultural, sports and recreational services contributed 13.5%; and passenger transport services and the retail sale of automotive fuel contributed 9.5%. Internal tourism consumption reached RM12.1 billion in 2024, +46.5% YoY and the inbound expenditure accounted for 51.1%, while domestic tourism expenditure dropped to 48.9% in 2024 vs 49.1% in 2023. International tourists accounted for 49.1% of total inbound tourism arrivals, followed by Peninsular Malaysia 40.6%, and Sarawak 10.3%. Top destinations for domestic tourists are Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Semporna, and Tawau. Tourism industry employed 387,600 employees in 2024, +6.9% YoY

Genting Malaysia’s plan to introduce charges for its private road, Jalan Genting Highlands, is expected to have a minimal impact on the visitor arrivals and the local property market. The authorities have clarified that the fee is not a toll but a charge to allow Genting to manage the rising maintenance costs of the road. Genting Highlands recorded 28.1 million visitors in 2024, +12.9% YoY

The Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association (MITTA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) are working together to stop illegal and unlicensed tourism operators. MITTA President said illegal travel businesses have increased after the pandemic

The President of Malaysia's Inbound Tourism Association said the stronger ringgit had limited impact on inbound arrivals, but she warned it could affect Malaysia’s position as a shopping destination. She called for more focused and targeted promotions for Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and India. She added that the promotions could involve vouchers, experiential campaigns, and mall-based incentives to get the visitors to spend more. The President of the Malaysian Tourism Federation stated that Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam have exchange advantages, and Malaysia must compete in experiences, including safety, diversity, food, eco-tourism, and family-friendly products. He said that hotels and airlines, which heavily rely on imported equipment and materials, can benefit from lower costs, while smaller operators and retailers might face pressure when tourists tighten their spending

The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) hosted BE @ Penang 2025 at Setia Spice Convention Centre on 11-12 Dec to share ideas about the next phase of business events

Johor Bahru is expecting more Singaporean shoppers in the last 2 weekends of 2025. The Chairman of Johor Bahru Small Businesses Association said they are yet to see an increase in visitors from Singapore, likely due to the rainy and gloomy weather

Trip.com’s Trip.Best data shows that domestic tourism in Malaysia recorded 28% YoY growth in 2025. The top destinations were Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Penang, Johor, and Sarawak. The top inbound markets were China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Online searches for “family activities” recorded a 35% YoY increase, while weekend hotel bookings using the “children’s activities” term increased by 28%. The average booking lead time in Southeast Asia is six days, compared with four days for Malaysians, seven days for Singaporeans, and six days for Thais. The biggest trend in Southeast Asia is experiential travel, with searches for “activities” increasing by 808% YoY, while searches for “cool escape attractions” increased by 1,942%

Seri Negara was reopened on 20 Dec to the public for the first time in 6 years, after a 10-month restoration work. Seri Negara now hosts galleries and restaurants

Sabah launched a new agrotourism brochure for 2026-2027 to promote rural tourism

Langkawi International Tourism Engagement (LITE) 2025 was held from 8-11 Dec at Parkroyal Langkawi Resort, gathering tourism leaders, airline partners, global buyers, and regional stakeholders. The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) organised the event, and delegates from Brunei, China, India, and Taiwan engaged with nearly 100 sellers representing 50 companies from Langkawi. The LITE program, since it was launched, has managed to connect over 140 buyers from 6 countries, which has helped to generate business deals worth RM4.17 million. 30 Indian buyers took part in the event, and IndiGo and Malaysia Airlines served as the official airline partners for LITE 2025

The Prime Minister asked all relevant agencies to speed up the development of the 3rd terminal of Port Klang on Pulau Carey. He also added that the development will safeguard the interests of the Orang Asli, residents, fishermen, and ecosystem sustainability

Visit Johor 2026 has been officially launched to attract 12 million visitors and generate RM42 billion in economic impact under the theme "Majestic Johor: The Jewel of the South". The launch event was held at Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru, and is expected to attract more than 400,000 visitors

Manoharan Periasamy has been appointed as Tourism Malaysia Chairman, effective 8 Dec. He previously served as Tourism Malaysia Director-General

The Transport Minister announced that the Electric Train Service (ETS) by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru will be increased to 4 daily trips from Jan 2026. Currently, the ETS service is being offered at 2 trips daily. The Government is expecting ETS will operate at optimal capacity by Feb or Mar 2026. Each train will have a capacity of 312 passengers

The Second Finance Minister expressed confidence that Malaysia will achieve the 4.8% growth target for 2025, backed by the resilience of economic activity and an increase in investors’ confidence. Malaysia recorded RM663.7 billion in investments from Jan 2024 to Sep 2025. The Government is also confident in achieving a 4.0%-4.5% of GDP forecast for 2026

YTL Hotels and Marriott International announced a partnership to convert Thistle Johor Bahru into JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru. The new 410-room hotel will open on 1 Dec 2026. YTL Hotels acquired Thistle Johor Bahru from GuocoLand Ltd for RM150 million on 1 Dec

Penang Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) expressed worry over the large number of hotels and fewer arrivals in 2026. They also stated that operators are facing a shortage of trained staff and are relying on foreigners. There are complaints about the inability of some foreign staff who can’t converse in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, or Arabic. MAH Penang hopes Tenaga Nasional Berhad will offer reasonable commercial tariffs for the hotels, and the tourism authorities will promote Penang by using the tax collected from the hotel guests. Penang has around 22,500 registered rooms as of mid-2025, but Penang MAH’s data shows 17,000 rooms in May 2025. An estimated 13 new hotels were set to open between 2023-2025, adding 2,300 rooms, with more hotels planned. In 2024, 8.2 million guests stayed in Penang accommodations

The Tourism Ministry allocated RM10.44 million to Negeri Sembilan from Jan-Oct 2025 to implement various tourism programs in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Negeri Sembilan Year 2026. Negeri Sembilan Tourism EXCO said the allocation is the highest compared to other states

The Melaka Government will request the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to degazette Pulau Besar as a marine park to expand permitted fishing areas in Melaka. Pulau Besar was gazetted as a marine park and designated as a no-fishing zone since 1994. This decision follows, Melaka Government’s decision to gazette Pulau Undan, Pulau Dodol, and Pulau Nangka as the Melaka Marine Park in 2023

Malaysian Tourist Guides Council (MTGC) President is expecting the upcoming Electric Train service (ETS) between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur to boost tourism, especially in smaller towns. He added that ETS services in other locations are recording an 85% occupancy rate, with about 15% of passengers visiting smaller districts and towns. KTMB will offer 5,000 promo codes for its ETS services to JB Sentral from KL Sentral, with a 30% discount for tickets, from 12 Dec to 11 Jan

Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim has been appointed the new Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, effective from 8 Dec

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) will introduce its Vignette Collection brand in Malaysia with the signing of Mangala Estate Kuantan, Pahang. The hotel will be rebranded as Mangala Estate Kuantan, Vignette Collection by IHG in 2027 after the refurbishment work

The Tourism Ministry revoked its support letter and blacklisted Srikandi Wawasan Enterprise for the company’s breach of the conditions of the Temasya Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Asia Tenggara program. The investigation found the organisers changed the original purpose of the program, from a cultural performance to a tourism visit, without notifying the ministry. The organisers also failed to provide accommodation, transport, meals, and an itinerary to the participants, leaving 61 Malaysian school students stranded for 3 hours at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on 24 Oct. The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta had to intervene to offer assistance

The Health Ministry is targeting RM3 billion in revenue from the medical tourism sector for 2025, with the arrival of 2.5 million health tourists. In 2024, Malaysia welcomed 1.6 million health tourists, generating RM2.72 billion in revenue. Ahead of the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the ministry is expecting to improve service capacity and attract more international patients

Occupancy in Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah, and several Kuah hotels in Langkawi reached 90% ahead of school holidays and Christmas celebrations for the first time in 2025. This share increase might be due to severe flooding in Hat Yai, Thailand, making people choose Langkawi as an alternative holiday destination. Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) Deputy CEO is targeting 400,000 tourist arrivals in Dec 2025. From Jan-Nov, Langkawi welcomed 2.75 million tourists, with events like the Langkawi International Half Marathon 2025 bringing over 20,000 participants and family members

Design Hotels has expanded its Asia-Pacific footprint with 14 new signings across six countries in 2025, including in Thailand (Public House in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit), Malaysia (ELSE in Kuala Lumpur), and Indonesia (Magia de Uma in Bali)

Melaka welcomed 6 luxury cruise ships from Nov 2024 to Oct 2025. The Tourism Promotion Division of Melaka’s record shows a total of 249,829 tourists were on board the 6 cruise ships; however, only 143,218 tourists landed at the immigration complex. Melaka Tourism EXCO said the progress of development work for the Cruise Terminal on Pulau Melaka is at 5%

Perak Government is looking to attract more medical tourists from Singapore, taking advantage of Batik Air’s Singapore-Ipoh flight. Perak Tourism EXCO said that the state has an increasing number of private hospitals offering affordable care

Semporna, Sabah, recorded a large number of Chinese tourists, accounting for 46% of total arrivals from Jan-Sep 2025. However, local business operators’ income has been affected due to Chinese businesses operating in Semporna using licence rentals. They also called for tighter regulations against illegal activities such as border crossings and unlicensed operations

HSBC Global Research expects Malaysia’s tourist arrivals (including excursionists) to exceed 40 million in 2025, more than its 31.4 million tourist target. Malaysia recorded 28 million tourist targets as of Aug 2025, +15% YoY, and tourism receipts exceeded 5% of GDP recorded in 2024. Chinese arrivals recorded +20% vs pre-pandemic levels in 2024, and accounted for 13% of the tourism portfolio and contributed 20% to tourism receipts. HSBC stated “durian tours” made a strong appeal among Chinese visitors. Malaysia is on track to host 450 concerts in 2025, injecting RM1.7 billion into the economy

Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh said Malaysia is aiming to attract 300,000 Bangladeshi tourists in 2026. He urged Bangladeshi tourists to apply for an e-Visa directly through the official website to avoid discrepancies. He earlier launched the Malaysia Tourism Fair and the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign at the InterContinental Dhaka

Sabah Tourism Minister said tourism jetties in Kota Kinabalu need maintenance to ensure the comfort and safety of tourists who visit the state. He said immediate actions are needed for safety issues involving jetties

The Road Transport Department launched operations against 16 commercial vehicles in Cameron Highlands, including school buses, for transporting foreign tourists illegally. However, local businesses questioned the action since the vehicles have been offering this service for years. The tourism operators defended the use of 4WDs, citing challenging mountain terrain

Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are becoming popular in Malaysia, as families are looking for cheaper and adventurous holidays. The Malaysian government will develop more RV parks and streamline regulations to support the industry. Mordor Intelligence, a market research firm, found these trends are reflected across the Asia Pacific, where middle-class people in China, Australia, and Japan are fuelling demand for road trips and camping holidays. An RV rental business operator recorded a 200% increase in demand ahead of the school holidays from 20 Dec to 11 Jan. He added that a six-berth motorhome will cost around RM500 per day, which is equal to less than RM80 per person. The Malaysian Campervan and Motorhome Association is recording a 20%-30% increase in membership between 2023 and 2024. In early 2025, two pilot RV parks opened at Pantai Hiburan in Pahang and Pantai Bagan Lalang in Selangor, and more are planned to open in Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu

Malaysia expects 1.5 million Indian visitors in 2025, and has received 1.3 million as of Oct 2025. Next year, it targets 2.5 million visitors from India

Penang Tourism EXCO is expecting the state will attract Indonesian, Singaporean, and domestic tourists who usually prefer Hat Yai, Thailand, in Dec, due to the flooding in Hat Yai. Hat Yai has around 16,000 hotel rooms, and it welcomes around 20,000 visitors from Malaysia and other countries during an average weekend. He added hotel bookings in Penang reached 40%-50%, but occupancy is expected to increase by 5% to 10% every week. Penang has several events in the coming week, including the Penang Bridge International Marathon on 14 Dec and the Penang Chingay Parade on 20 Dec. Hotel Neo+ Penang Operations Director expects tourists will visit Penang as an alternative to Hat Yai, adding they expect to record a 20% increase in bookings. General Manager of Flamingo Hotel by the Beach said Chinese visitors often travel with their expanded family members, looking to explore international schools and enjoy local cuisine

Cross-border taxis between Singapore and Malaysia will be expanded, increasing the quota to 500 on each side, up from 200. It will initially be expanded by 100 taxis per country, with priority given to larger and premium vehicles. The taxis will also be allowed to drop passengers off anywhere in the other country, but pick ups will remain limited to designated points. The Ministries noted that they will increase the number of pick up points for e-hailing app bookings, and said that they will work together for a common regulatory regime. They have also pledged to improve the bus services between the two countries, with a “wider range of services”

Kuching, Sarawak hosted the first Borneo International Textile Festival (BITF) 2025 on 7 Dec, with Tengku Ampuan of Pahang delivering a royal keynote address. The Borneo Cultures Museum will host a traditional textile exhibition until 3 Mar 2025

Tourism Malaysia has appointed VFS Global as its Marketing Representative agency in Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. In 2023, Malaysia welcomed 175,196 tourists from West Asia, and in 2024, the arrival increased by 20.8% to 211,701

Singapore and Malaysia agreed to improve collaboration and will hold talks on longstanding issues, such as water, airspace, and maritime boundaries. Both countries signed an additional deal on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. Malaysia and Singapore will also work together on healthcare

The new Tourism Minister of Sabah, Datuk Jafry Ariffin and Assistant Minister, Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal, pledged to work together for the development of tourism-related sectors in Sabah. They both discussed on 3 key pillars of Sabah’s tourism image, which are diversification of tourism products, data-driven marketing strategies and environmental conservation. They both agreed to streamline policies through a special task force, with a focus on improving infrastructure, improving workforce training, and intensifying digital promotional efforts

Sunway Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Saxon Renewables to launch a voluntary guest carbon offset program for its properties in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This initiative will allow guests to offer an optional contribution when booking online or at check-in, to support certified carbon projects supplied by Saxon Renewables. This is part of Sunway’s effort to address the carbon footprint, in addition to its existing measures such as energy-efficiency systems, LED lighting, motion-sensor controls, smart Building Energy Management Systems, water conservation, and waste reduction measures

Malaysia Embassy in Paris, France, organised the “Citrawarna Malaysia: A Symphony of Cultures” night as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign launch. Over 260 guests, including French tourism players, cultural organisations, local media, diplomatic corps, and French citizens, took part in the event. Malaysia Airlines sponsored the event

The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Marriott International Malaysia signed an MoU to boost MICE, under MyCEB’s “BE Malaysia Go Global: Unlocking New Markets” theme. MyCEB is focusing on expanding Malaysia’s international visibility and attracting high-value business events

Agoda 2026 Travel Outlook Report shows 40% of Malaysians are using AI to plan their trips, the highest among India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. 3,353 respondents took part in the survey. The survey shows: 59% of Malaysians are planning to use AI for their next trip 36% expressed trust in using AI, while 12% are still uneasy about relying on AI tools 34% respondents intend to use AI for destination recommendations, 33% for suggestions on activities and attractions, and 29% for restaurant choices There is a 17% YoY increase in interest in domestic exploration, and 47% Malaysians plan to focus more on domestic travels in 2026 Malaysians spend 4-7 days on their trips 59% of those surveyed prefer to spend the holidays with their family, and 28% with their spouse or partner 64% plan to spend $50 USD or less per night on accommodation The travel motivations for Malaysians are relaxation, culinary experiences, and shopping

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is concerned with increasing cases involving foreign tour vehicles which exploit regulatory gaps in Malaysia. MATTA said they found that Singapore tour buses with permits from Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) are operating beyond allowed routes, and selling tickets online for express services. The MATTA President said Thai tourist vans are also conducting unlicensed tourism activities, such as picking up and dropping off local passengers and tourists without Malaysian tourist guides. MATTA also called on the government to restore authority over tour vehicle regulations to the Tourism Ministry

Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum will open in Sarawak in Q1 2026. Sarawak is also redeveloping the Kuching South City Council swimming pool into a water park and UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Centre, with plans to have it completed in Q2 2026. The Sarawak Tourism Minister said other tourism projects and infrastructure projects will be prioritised under the 13th Malaysia Plan. The projects are the Sarawak Craft Centre and Darul Hana Malay Heritage Museum, the Sarawak Art Gallery, and the Bau Gold Mine Museum and Park. Sarawak will rejuvenate the Kuching Waterfront and mangrove tourism in Sadong Jaya. and will upgrade the Miri Petroleum Museum. Sarawak recorded 4.01 million visitors from Jan-Oct 2025, +0.7% YoY, including 1.77 million domestic visitors. Sarawak recorded RM10.22 billion in tourism receipts from Jan-Oct 2025. The top countries were: Brunei, 1.3 million visitors Indonesia, 580,000 China, 58,822 Singapore, 52,406 The Philippines, 39,284

The Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA), Sabah, will be featured as a case study in the ASEAN Handbook on Regenerative Tourism. SKG Green CEO said that SPnCA has become a prime example of restoration, research, and community-inclusive tourism, showing how palm oil and environmental protection can coexist

The Malaysian Transport Minister said Singapore tour buses cannot operate as express services in Malaysia by selling tickets for scheduled routes. Despite Singapore’s request to allow express buses from the country in exchange for Malaysian buses operating in Singapore, Malaysia will not allow it because Singapore does not have a legal category for express buses, recognising only tour and scheduled buses

Perak Tourism EXCO said the state has implemented 34 tourism infrastructure development projects as part of early preparations for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. The Perak government has also allocated RM18.67 million in funds to implement tourism and cultural development programs and projects. The projects are: RM2 million for 16 initiatives to develop tourism facilities in line with the Age-Friendly City concept RM1 million for 7 projects to upgrade tourism icons at strategic locations statewide RM1 million for 11 rural infrastructure development projects in key tourist hotspots Perak also approved RM2.6 million for infrastructure projects under the Perak Budget 2026. The funds will be allocated for: RM1 million for rural infrastructure development in tourism areas RM1 million for upgrading tourism icons and maintaining tourist sites RM500,000 for improving signage and wayfinding infrastructure RM100,000 for organising the 2026 Panjut Festival He also expressed appreciation to the federal government for approving RM13.5 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan for 2026 for upgrading tourism facilities in Teluk Dalam, Pulau Pangkor (RM10 million) and for the development of ecotourism facilities and infrastructure in Lata Puteh (RM3.5 million). Perak aims to attract 10.5 million domestic and 1.1 million international tourists

Tourism Boat operators in Perak reported that floods in the state have disrupted their sector. River Cruise Teluk Intan owner reported a 90% drop in revenue due to a temporary suspension of his water-based tours for safety. He added they only had 50 tourists, a drop from the usual 200 tourists a week. Facilities such as the ticket counter were damaged by a fallen tree, and boat equipment was damaged due to debris carried by the river current

MV Piano Land became the first Chinese cruise ship to homeport in Malaysia with its first sailing on 29 Nov. The cruise ship with a capacity of 1,760 passengers received a welcome reception by local leaders at Port Klang Cruise Terminal

15 Malaysian tow trucks are permitted to enter Thailand to help bring back more than 200 Malaysian vehicles stuck in southern Thailand since the flooding. Only around 45 vehicles can be recovered per day

Legoland Malaysia Resort is preparing to welcome a surge in tourist arrivals ahead of Visit Malaysia and Visit Johor 2026 by strengthening its operational capacity and facility upgrades. Malaysia targets 47 million international visitors (including excursionists) while Johor has set a target of 12 million domestic and international visitors in 2026

Floods and landslides across three countries in Southeast Asia due to a rare tropical storm in the Malacca Strait have caused over 600 fatalities, including 435 dead in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand, and 3 in Malaysia. Over 4 million people have been affected, including nearly 3 million in Southern Thailand and 1.1 million in Western Indonesia

6,222 Malaysians have been evacuated from southern Thailand after the flooding there

A landslide in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, cut off access to the Puncak Arabella Apartment, affecting nearly 700 residents. A rescue team was deployed at the scene to conduct safety assessments and initial response measures

Sarawak State Deputy Transport Minister said the first interim feasibility report of the Trans-Borneo Railway Project was presented on 30 Oct. He added the project, led by the Federal Transport Ministry, explored the possibility of integrating the railway with the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), to improve accessibility within Greater Kuching and Kota Sentosa. KUTS has a plan to extend to the 12th Mile Kuching-Serian Road under the Red Line, with additional expansions in future phases. The KUTS project involves 3 Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) lines in the first phase, running from Kuching Sentral to Pending for 12.3km. Feeder bus services will also be introduced under the first phase

Tropical Storm Senyar is expected to affect Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor in the early hours of 28 Nov morning

Perak will begin to take strict actions with fines up to RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years against unlicensed hotel operations from Jan 2026. Perak Local Government EXCO said the registration regularisation process under the Perak Hotel Enactment for hotels ended on 30 Jun

Hungry Hub, an online restaurant and hotel reservation platform based in Thailand, is looking to expand into the Malaysian market by the end of 2025 and will launch demand-based “Dynamic Pricing”, its new feature to help restaurants sustainably boost long-term revenue. It already has 50 restaurant partners in Malaysia

China Trading Desk found that 30% of the 1.44 million trips to Japan from China for the end of Dec have been cancelled following an advisory from the Chinese government. According to the CEO of China Trading Desk, Japan is set to lose $500 million USD in spending, and the figure could even increase to $1.2 billion USD, based on the data that Chinese tourists spend over $900 million USD a month from UnionPay and other financial service companies. Singapore and South Korea recorded a 15% YoY increase in new bookings, while Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam recorded an 11% YoY increase

Aeroline, a coach operator, will resume its bus operations between Singapore and Malaysia from 28 Nov. The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) issued a ban until 5 Dec for dropping passengers at unregulated spots

The Foreign Ministry announced that fewer than 1,000 Malaysians are stranded in Hat Yai, while over 700 Malaysians were successfully evacuated from Hat Yai to Bukit Kayu Hitam on 26 Nov. The Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok and the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla coordinated rescue operations, which managed to evacuate 517 Malaysians from 22 hotels and homestays. The operations were carried out with the support of the Royal Thai Army, Pasukan Bomba Sukarelawan (PBS), United Sikhs, and several volunteer groups, which mobilised 18 bus trips from Hat Yai to Bukit Kayu Hitam

MetMalaysia Director-General announced that Tropical Storm Senyar will cross Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Pahang in the next 24 hours, and rainfall between 200mm and 300mm is expected during this period. The rain will ease by 30 Nov, as the storm moves to the South China Sea. He added that this is the first time MetMalaysia has observed such a storm forming in the Straits of Malacca. Winds of up to 50km/h are expected from 27 Nov for 24 hours

Perak Tourism EXCO said they are increasing efforts to attract elderly tourists from countries experiencing winter to Perak. He added that many elderly travellers are looking to visit warmer countries to escape colder weather. Perak’s tourism products have been upgraded to provide elderly-friendly facilities under the Age-Friendly City program. The Perak Government has allocated RM2 million for 16 Age-Friendly City projects in Kellie’s Castle in Kinta, Laman Budaya in Kuala Kangsar, Zoo Taiping & Night Safari in Larut, Matang and Selama, and Taman Tasik Temoh in Batang Padang

Tourism Malaysia is increasing efforts to make Sarawak a primary destination for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) through the new Sarawak Delta Geopark Tourism Packages Volume 2. Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director-General said this reflects their commitment to promote meaningful and sustainable tourism experience ahead of VM2026. 13 travel agencies have created 42 new itineraries, including guided trails on rock formations and fossil sites, firefly-rich mangrove areas, and village visits highlighting Malay, Bidayuh and Chinese cultures

TransNusa will launch a direct flight between Jakarta and Penang from 1 Dec, with weekly 3 flights

The Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) have jointly organised a “Muslim Friendly Voyage of Discovery” fam trip for European representatives to capture the European Muslim travel market. The fam trip was held from 21-27 Nov, with 10 representatives from Bosnia, France, Spain, Turkiye, and the UK, covering Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor. Europe is home to a 46 million Muslim population, and in 2023, it recorded 979 billion euros in tourism expenditure. Europe accounts for 53% of global tourism spending and has a strong outbound travel momentum. Tourism Selangor, Majlis Perbandaran Seremban, Tourism Melaka, and Tourism Johor hosted networking sessions for the delegates

The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) launched Penang Inspiring Meetings x Visit Malaysia 2026 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) on 24 Nov to position Penang as a premier destination for MICE. PCEB said it will support new sectors and high-impact business events which align with sustainable and inclusive growth. As part of Corporate Social Responsibility, PCEB will highlight the turtle conservation efforts at the Penang Turtle Sanctuary in Pantai Kerachut

The Marriott Bonvoy has included citizenM Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang in its portfolio. Marriott International acquired citizenM in early 2025. The hotel has 210 smart rooms

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a danger-level rain warning for parts of Terengganu (Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, and Kuala Terengganu) until 28 Nov. MetMalaysia also issued an alert-level continuous rain warning to Perlis, Perak (Hulu Perak), Kedah (Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Sik, and Baling), and Pahang (Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Jerantut, and Kuantan). Similar weather condition is expected from 28-29 Nov, in Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and parts of Kedah and Johor

The Tourism Minister warned travel agents in Sabah against leasing their licences to foreigners. He stressed that the ministry will take strict action against those who are doing it. He added that safety issues must be treated seriously. He added that once the new Sabah government is formed, the ministry will discuss with the new administration matters like activities involving jetties, the increase in tourism activities at the district level, the opening of government land for tourism use, and infrastructure development. He said the issues with the slow Tourism Licensing and Enforcement System (TOURLIST) will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting. He took part in a dialogue session with Sabah’s tourism industry players and state agencies earlier, and 150 representatives took part in the event. The Minister said the upskilling is important to equip the guides with adequate knowledge to help tourists learn the history of the destination

Activities such as swimming, fishing, and picnicking have been banned at Teluk Batik, Perak, following severe erosion in the past 3 days. A survey by Bernama news found 200 metres of coastline have been eroded, causing damage to coconut and ketapang trees. Teluk Batik Management and Tourism Unit supervisor at the Manjung Municipal Council (MPM) said the high tides and continuous rain from 23-24 Nov were the reason for the erosion

Malaysia recorded 37.5 million visitors from Jan-Sep 2025 (including excursionists), +13.5% YoY. Malaysia has set a target for 47 million visitors and RM329 billion in tourism receipts for VMY2026