Malaysia

The Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITM) in Johor will be held from 18-20 Jul, with over 60,000 visitors and 19 travel agent exhibitors, as well as Japan National Tourism Organization and Taiwan Tourism Administration. They aim to generate RM18 million in sales revenue

RapidKL deployed 300 Rapid On-Demand (ROD) vans to serve 101 zones in the Klang Valley and Penang area. This service offers first and last-mile connectivity for multiple drop-off points within the 5km vicinity of the major urban rail network. As of Jun 2025, the service has a daily ridership of 10,000 people, an increase from 354 passengers in May 2024. Prasarana Group CEO said ROD vans are suitable for narrow roads and will be a more cost-effective and flexible alternative for bus services

Based on Tourism Malaysia’s data, Jul and Aug are popular months for Chinese tourists. In 2024, 2.314 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia in Jul and 2.357 million visited in Aug. The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) President said this is due to summer school holidays in China and Malaysia tends to have a dry weather period during Jul-Aug. She added other peak seasons are Chinese New Year in Jan-Feb, Labour Day holiday from 1-3 May, and National Day Golden Week from 1-7 Oct. Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents President expects Sabah, Langkawi, and Penang will be popular tourist destinations over the summer

Tourism industry players, including hotels, are preparing to welcome Chinese tourists during the peak season, which is expected to be in Jul-Aug based on Tourism Malaysia’s data. The hotels are assigning more Mandarin-speaking staff to welcome guests and promoting packages for the Chinese market. The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) President said hotels are aware of the seasonal peaks of Chinese tourist arrivals and are prepared in advance. The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents President said Gen Z travellers prefer to travel in smaller groups of 2-6 people. Malaysian Tourist Guides Coun­cil President said small groups required personalised services and specific tailored tour programs

Johor Works EXCO said the Shuttle Tebrau service by KTMB will cease operations in 2027 after the opening of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System. The train has a capacity of carrying 8,635 passengers a day with 31 trips in both directions. RTS is scheduled to complete in Dec 2026 and will start operation in early 2027, with a 10,000 people per hour capacity

Malaysia launched a promotional tour in Jakarta to attract more Indonesian students to further their studies at higher learning institutions in Malaysia. The event was organised by Education Malaysia Indonesia (EMI) alongside the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, and the Malaysian Embassy. The Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia said there are 11,000 Indonesian students studying in Malaysia

Tourism Malaysia launched new campaign videos for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). The videos will showcase rainforests, vibrant cities, cultural choreography, and traditions. The video will be available in multiple languages such as English, Mandarin, and Arabic

The Prime Minister launched the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (PTKL2040) as part of a major overhaul in development planning. He called for more organised human-centric development. PTKL2040 will become the main guide for the physical development of Kuala Lumpur for the next 15 years

Paynet, together with Alipay+ and Weixin Pay, will offer promotions for Chinese tourists if they pay in Malaysia using DuitNow QR codes. Alipay+ enables 15 international payment apps in Malaysia

Tourism Malaysia Sabah and SabahTravel.com, an e-commerce platform, launched the “Explore Sabah” promotional campaign to position Sabah as a premier travel destination in Malaysia. This campaign will offer 400 curated travel experiences across Sabah, including island hopping and diving in Semporna, wildlife and river safaris in Kinabatangan, Mount Kinabalu expeditions, cultural village and heritage tours, and eco-retreats such as hilltop resorts and rainforest escapes. The campaign will run from Apr 2025 to Feb 2026, and will offer up to 30% discounts

The Chief Statistician said Malaysia recorded a 1.2% inflation rate in May 2025, the lowest in 51 months, and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded 134.4 vs 132.8 in May 2024. The restaurant and accommodation services recorded 3% in May vs 2.9% in Apr

Malaysia aims to become a regional film production hub. Malaysia has successfully attracted investments through the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), which creates jobs and upskills the local workforce. Under the FIMI, Sony Pictures and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will film a television series called “Lord of the Flies” in Langkawi, Kedah. The National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) CEO said the minimum quota for local crew involvement in foreign productions will increase from 30% to 40%. Since FIMI launched in 2013, a total of 128 productions, including 76 local and 52 international projects, have been approved with over RM419 million in rebates and direct investments of RM2.71 billion. FINAS will sign an MoU with Tourism Malaysia to increase the visibility of FIMI and to position film as a tourism promotion tool

Sabah Tourism and Environment Minister said the ministry, through the Sabah Wildlife Department, will provide assistance to support the upcoming wildlife documentary called “Agatis: A Borneo Story” focusing on endangered Bornean pygmy elephants

Agoda listed the top 5 Asian cities for one-night stays based on booking data from Jan-May 2025: Kuala Lumpur Seoul Taipei Manila Pattaya

Shangri-La Rasa Ria Kota Kinabalu’s Sales Manager said they are seeing an increase in incentives from China, Singapore, and Australia, driven by better air connectivity. The hotel became the first in Malaysia and the Shangri-La group to achieve Event Sustainability Management Systems certification. The CEO of Avasi Borneo Tours & Travel said they are seeing companies from West Malaysia and Singapore returning to Sabah for their meetings and incentive programs. She said instead of Kota Kinabalu, they are going to Kundasang, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, and Danum Valley. The Sales Manager of Perkasa Hotel Mt Kinabalu, located at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu said they are recording exclusive buyouts from corporate clients across Asia for seeking privacy and focused retreats

The Tourism Ministry will work with relevant agencies to combat the rise of online travel scams. The Deputy Tourism Minister said the ministry will work with the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to curb fake travel promotions. He added that educating the users is an important step in preventing people from falling victim

Kuching, Sarawak, hosted the Gawai Dayak 2025 Parade, gathering representatives from 11 main Dayak groups from Sarawak. One participant said people must know that “Sarawak has traditions and cultures that must be preserved”

Kuching, Sarawak, hosted the Gawai Dayak 2025 Parade, gathering representatives from 11 main Dayak groups from Sarawak. One participant said people must know that “Sarawak has traditions and cultures that must be preserved”

Penang Tourism EXCO said Penang will host the V-conference under QNET for the 30th consecutive year. This event is expected to bring 8,000 delegates from 21 countries

The Electric Train Service (ETS) connecting Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru is expected to be fully completed by August. The Deputy Director General (Promotion) of Tourism Malaysia said the ETS is expected to boost tourism in Johor Bahru. With the ETS, travellers can travel between both cities in 3 and a half hours. He added that cultural events will encourage visitors to stay overnight, thereby contributing to hotel occupancy rates. The ETS from Kuala Lumpur to Segamat since Mar has spillover benefits, especially during the durian season

Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan said bilateral trade between Malaysia and Uzbekistan will improve cooperation in fields such as halal certification, Islamic finance, tourism, and green technology. He added that there is a growing interest among Malaysians to visit Uzbekistan for spiritual reasons. He said Malaysians like to explore the Imam Al Bukhari Mausoleum, which is under renovation, and itis expected to become a favourite destination for Malaysians

Penang Tourism EXCO said Penang will host the V-conference under QNET for the 30th consecutive year. This event is expected to bring 8,000 delegates from 21 countries

Penang Tourist Guides Association Chairman said tourists must play their part to curb illegal tourism activities. He said unlicensed guides and tour operators are continuing to operate under the radar, evading enforcement. He added that tourists should properly check tour guides, operators, and packages before making bookings

The Tourism Ministry will increase its enforcement against illegal tourism businesses ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 in line with the Tourism Industry Act 1992 and the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999. The Penang court fined Renewage Group Sdn Bhd for operating without a valid tourism licence on 16 Jun. From 2024-2025, 5 travel agencies’ licences were revoked for breaking the regulations. The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents President said unlicensed operators pose a serious threat to the tourism industry and urged tourism stakeholders to work with licensed guides, travel agencies, and transport providers. He added that unauthorised individuals, including foreigners, are using social media to promote their businesses in places like Langkawi

The Johor Chief Minister said the state government is in discussions with Grab to update the Cross-Border Travel Agreement to streamline travel between Johor and Singapore. He added Johor will introduce an integrated physical and digital platform to showcase must-visit attractions in Johor

The Malaysia Domestic Tourism Survey by the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) shows that domestic tourism expenditure recorded RM106.7 billion, +25.6% YoY, in 2024 vs RM84.9 billion in 2023. The Chief Statistician said high spending by tourists and day-trippers recorded a +20.6% and +33.8%, respectively. They also reported: Malaysia recorded 260.1 million domestic visitors, +21.7% YoY in 2024 vs 213.7 million in 2023 School holidays and festive seasons contributed to higher movements and tourism-related spending 60.4% of the tourists stayed with their relatives or friends Land transportation accounted for 97.6%, while air travel only accounted for 2.1% 21.7% of the overnight tourists stayed in hotels, while homestays recorded 8.6% in 2024, an increase from 6.7% in 2023 Visiting relatives and friends was the primary purpose of domestic travel, contributing 34.6% of total trips in 2024, and shopping-related trips dropped to 27.6% in 2024 vs 32.6% in 2023 37.4% of total domestic tourism spending was for shopping, food and beverage at 16.2%, and vehicle fuel purchases at 12.7% The top destinations are Selangor with 34.5 million domestic visitors, Kuala Lumpur, 27 million, and Perak, 21.8 million

Sabah's Chief Minister said the tourism industry is an important pillar to Sabah’s economy by contributing to the state’s revenues and rural community development. In 2023, the tourism sector generated RM13.1 billion to the state’s economy, accounting for 15% of its GDP. In 2024, tourism revenue was recorded at RM7 million. There are various infrastructure improvements ongoing, such as Kota Kinabalu International Airport, road accessibility to rural areas, and an improved digital platform to boost visitor experiences. Sabah Tourism Minister said the ASEAN Travel Exchange (ATEX 2025) has given a golden opportunity for Sabah to gather tourism leaders from all 10 ASEAN countries, with 500 delegates. She added that this is the first time Kota Kinabalu has hosted leaders from ASEAN countries for a tourism-focused event

Domestic tourism expenditure in Q1 2025 reached RM29.4 billion, +22.1% YoY, backed by 69.7 million domestic visitors, +18.9% YoY and +4.2% QoQ

Communications Minister announced the evacuation process for Malaysians from Iran is underway and those involved are expected to leave Iran by 20 Jun

The Foreign Ministry advised all Malaysians to leave Iran following the conflict between Israel and Iran. The Ministry said all Malaysians registered with the embassy in Tehran are safe and the embassy will assist in facilitating their departure

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, located in Merdeka 118, is scheduled to open in Aug 2025. The hotel has 252 rooms and suites with 3 dining outlets on the 75th floor

The Inspector General of Police assured Kuala Lumpur is safe despite recent shooting incidents in Brickfields and Cheras. He said the incident involved targeted individuals and started due to conflicts from outside Kuala Lumpur

Sarawak Tourism Minister expects the Middle East conflict to make a minimal impact on Sarawak’s tourism since tourists to Sarawak are from Southeast Asia, China, and the Far East. The conflict might cause changes in travel plans of tourists from Europe and the Middle East

Sarawak Tourism Minister said the Borneo Cultures Museum welcomed 1.3 million visitors since its opening in 2022. In 2025, as of 16 Jun, the museum welcomed 117,095 visitors. The Petroleum Museum in Miri and the Islamic Heritage Museum have collectively recorded 79,575 visitors as of 16 Jun 2025

The Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia and the Tourism Minister of Cambodia met to discuss boosting tourism cooperation between both countries. Both exchanged views and ideas to promote 2-way tourism through new initiatives, including hosting exhibitions in both countries, diversification of tourism events during the Green Season in Cambodia, and the launch of new direct flights between Phnom Penh and Penang

Pahang's MATTA Chapter Chairman voiced concern over the Kuantan City Council’s decision to rename Cherating as Cerating. He added that industry players are worried this change will affect tourist arrivals since the name change could hinder online searches, as tourists, especially from China, are familiar with the Cherating name

The Tour Bus Operators Association of Peninsular Malaysia President stated that bus companies are ignoring past records when hiring drivers, following a serious shortage of bus and lorry drivers since the pandemic. He added that the majority of the workforce found other jobs after the restrictions on movement control were lifted. He urged the government to provide more training and incentives to encourage the young generation to join the industry. Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association President claimed the Transport Ministry’s 1,000 training slots for those in the lower-income group to obtain Class E and public service vehicle licences is not sufficient to meet the current demand

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) took part in the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) 2025 and its first trade event in Busan as part of the expansion to Northeast Asia markets. STB will take part in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai. Sarawak recorded 12,972 Korean tourist arrivals in 2024, +20% vs pre-pandemic levels. Sarawak’s delegation includes Innosar Holiday, Grand Margherita Hotel & Riverside Majestic Hotels, and the Sarawak Golf Tourism Association

Sabah Tourism Minister said the planned Martin and Osa Johnson Gallery near Agnes Keith House in Sandakan will attract more visitors. The gallery will offer a chance for the visitors to learn about the Jonsons’ contribution, including the 1920 silent film Jungle Adventure, which is considered the world’s first wildlife documentary. The Agnes Keith House, located near St Michael and All Angels’ Church, attracts 21,000 visitors annually

Sandakan will launch the first Historical Tree Trail in Malaysia on 28 Jun in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department. The 3km trail features 42 historically significant trees, each with a QR code to improve the experience for the visitors and promote eco-heritage tourism

Kuala Lumpur Police said they are ready for Visit Malaysia 2026 with an additional security boost. The Police Chief said sufficient officers will be stationed at major tourist spots such as Lake Garden and Bukit Bintang, besides setting up a tourist police unit. The police will increase patrols and will carry out surveillance using CCTV

Malaysia has warned its citizens to defer non-essential travel to Iran, Iraq and Jordan amidst tensions in the Middle East

The Transport Minister said the decision to allow the Tourism Ministry (MOTAC) to regulate tourist buses should be made by the Cabinet. He has no objection to the proposal, and MOTAC has submitted a Cabinet note on this

The Tourism Ministry (MOTAC) issued a notice to several businesses linked to the accident involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. MOTAC will work with the Police, the Land Public Transport Agency and the Road Transport Department to investigate the accident

Malaysia took the ‘Top Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year’ title in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025 by CrescentRating during the 4th Halal in Travel Awards. The event was held in Singapore, and the Deputy Prime Minister accepted the award. He credited the success to the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC)

The first ASEAN Travel Exchange (ATEX) 2025 will be held from 19-21 Jun at the Magellan Sutera Resort, Kota Kinabalu. The event is organised by the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA), and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) with the support of the Ministry of Tourism Sabah, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Convention Bureau, AirAsia Group, and Jetama Water. The event is expected to welcome 354 delegates, comprising 229 semi-hosted buyers and 125 sellers. Buyers from China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, South Korea, Iran, Myanmar, and Vietnam will attend the event

Department of Statistics Malaysia’s (DOSM) data shows Malaysia’s unemployment rate recorded 3% in Apr 2025 vs 3.1% in Mar 2025, the lowest in 10 years. The Chief Statistician stated that the number of unemployed people dropped to 525,900 people in Apr 2025, -0.7% MoM vs 529,600. The labour force increased to 17.34 million people, +0.2% MoM vs 17.31 million in Mar. Service sector such as wholesale and retail trade, accommodation, food and beverage services, transportation and storage activities are the key driver of employement growth

Analysis by Amadeus in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organisation of passenger traffic and capacity trends from Mar 2023 to Feb 2025 shows; 9.3% increase in air passenger volume and scheduled seats for the Asia Pacific region Macao, Indonesia, and Vietnam recorded 66% to 99% of search growth, among the fastest-growing outbound markets Demand for travel from China to APAC increased by 235% YoY From India to APAC recorded +13% in actual travel volume Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia recorded over 30% YoY growth in inbound travellers Cambodia and Indonesia are recording double-digit booking growth

The Housing and Local Government Minister, who is also the President of the United Nations (UN) Habitat General Assembly, said Malaysia has recorded a strong position in Southeast Asia for foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism. Malaysia ranked at 3rd in the most attractive destination for FDI globally in the 2025 Baseline Profitability Index (BPI)

Tourism Malaysia launched the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign during the Seoul International Travel Fair from 5-8 Jun

The Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman announced the Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) ferry terminal on Penang island will be upgraded with a seaview observatory deck, commercial spaces, and open car parks. He added that the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) can dock Oasis-class cruise ships, which can accommodate up to 12,000 passengers at a time. PPC will collaborate with Printhero to establish a ferry museum

The Submarine Museum in Klebang, Melaka, will display a MiG-29 fighter to attract visitors. The museum attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2024

George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) General Manager said 8 heritage buildings, which were restored using the federal government’s incentive grant, will open to the public during the George Town Heritage Celebration. The event will be held from 5-7 Jul and will feature 23 cultural workshops, 6 interactive performances, and a George Town Heritage 5km Walk

Penang Government officials, led by the Chief Minister, will visit Switzerland and Austria until 16 Jun to explore mountain tourism and sustainable transport systems. Doppelmayr and Hartasuma are hosting this visit. The Chief Minister said this marks an important step in the implementation of Penang’s sustainable mobility initiatives

The Transport Minister officiated CruiseWorld Malaysia 2025 and said he wants cruise tourism to benefit local communities through cultural tours, food, handicrafts, or heritage experiences. He added that each cruise arrival will contribute to tourism revenue and provide opportunities for cultural exchange. He said Penang can become a home port, and the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal has plans to expand to accommodate more than 2 large cruise ships. Penang welcomes 100-200 cruise ships annually. Strategic collaboration between airports and ports is important to allow tourists to fly to Penang and take on cruise

The Finance Ministry announced the sales tax will be revised, and the services tax expanded from 1 Jul. The ministry said a sales tax rate of 5%-10% will be imposed on non-essential and luxury goods such as king crab, salmon, imported fruits, racing bicycles, and antique artworks. The services tax will be expanded to property rentals or leasing, construction, financial services, private healthcare, education, and beauty services. The Finance Ministry said these steps will strengthen Malaysia’s fiscal position by increasing revenue and broadening the tax base to improve social safety net quality

The High Court dismissed the injunction application of Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd, the former operator of Kuala Lumpur Tower, against the new operator LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd

The Malaysia Tourism Agency Association (MATA) President said ensuring safety in transportation is a fundamental issue and should not be compromised following an accident involving a local university student, which claimed 15 lives. He called all tour bus operators to ensure the safety of every passenger at all times and must strictly comply with the standard operating procedures

Selangor Tourism EXCO said the previous ratio of international to domestic tourists to Selangor was 30:70, but the state managed to attract more international tourists in 2024. He said this during the Sekinchan Padi Field Festival 2025. The event is the first of its kind in Malaysia, and it attracted 13,000 visitors. He stated the lack of 4-star hotels at Sekinchan has become a hurdle to attract high-spending tourists