Malaysia

Senior political advisor to the PM has noted that the impact of fuel prices will start to be felt on food and daily goods within 1-2 months. The first sectors to be impacted are logistics, followed by agriculture and those that use raw materials such as plastic. However, he noted that the situation was still under control in Malaysia thanks to its fuel subsidies

The Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur saw over 7,000 attendees on day 1, with the momentum expected throughout the weekend

The Tourism Minister has noted that tourist arrivals continue to be strong into Malaysia. Although there has been a decline from the Middle East, he reported that there was an increase from Asia and Europe. He also defended the Rain Rave Water Music Festival, saying that it provided “vital business opportunities" for the community, and that these kind of programmes support tourist arrivals

The Tourism Ministry has confirmed that it will comply with the Treasury’s directive to reduce spend, but will keep its key initiatives, like the Visit Malaysia 2026. The Ministry noted that it would be more targeted in spending, optimising its existing resources

Cross border taxi services between Malaysia and Singapore will be expanded from 4 May, allowing licensed taxis to drop passengers anywhere in Singapore, Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai and Senai. The quota for cross-border taxis will be increased by 100 to 300 per country, and eventually, further expanded to 500

Travellers to Malaysia at the land border from Singapore are experiencing waits of at least 2 hours, with very heavy traffic

The Assistant Tourism Minister of Sabah said 47 investigation papers were opened in 2025 against illegal tourism operators, with compounds reaching RM290,000. As of 17 Apr, an additional 24 investigation papers have been opened, involving compounds worth RM86,000. He did not specify the number of arrests made. Sabah arrested 80 people aged from 17 to 46 for their involvement in an online scam syndicate while pretending to be tourists at a resort on 7 Apr. 78 of those arrested were from China, and the remaining were from Myanmar and Laos

Malaysia will cut the budget for all federal ministries, departments, and agencies following the impact of the Middle East conflict. The Treasury Secretary-General stated that the public subsidy cost is expected to reach RM58.4 billion in 2026, exceeding the initial approved budget of RM15 billion. The Finance Ministry said it costs the government RM7 billion monthly to subsidise fuel and other aid measures, 10X its previous spending

NQ Cultural Commercial, in collaboration with business partners from Malaysia and China, launched a Digital Cultural Card through the China Internet Information Centre’s ‘China Art Cloud’ platform. This will allow Chinese tourists to experience Malaysia virtually. The card will offer destination highlights, cultural heritage, food, shopping ideas, and travel tips. The interactions will become a gamified digital journey, allowing them to earn points to redeem at participating merchants such as hotels, museums, and tourism partners across Malaysia

According to Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), there are 1,704 Kazakh students studying in Malaysia in 2025, +45% YoY increase vs 1,172 students in 2024. EMGS received 3,500 applications from Kazakh students in 2025, and only 1,704 were approved

The Wealth Report by Knight Frank shows the ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) population in Malaysia will grow to 1,881 in 2031, +20.1% vs the 2026 figure of 1,566

Malaysia took part in the Kazakhstan International Tourism and Travel Fair (KITF) 2026 in Almaty from 22-24 Apr. A delegation from Malaysia consisted of nine companies, such as airlines, tour operators, hospitality providers, and higher education institutions. Malaysia is being promoted as a regional hub for “edutourism” and is looking to attract 500,000 international students by 2035. In 2025, Malaysia welcomed 85,000 tourists from Central Asia, +13.4% YoY, including 43,000 visitors from Kazakhstan, accounting for over 50% of Central Asian visitors

Member of Parliament for Lenggong stated that Lenggong has become a UNESCO Global Geopark in addition to its 2012 World Heritage Site status. Lenggong has become the only site in Peninsular Malaysia to receive the dual status. He added that the Tourism Ministry will assist to develop tourism infrastructure in Lenggong

Forest Department Sarawak announced that the Sarawak Delta Geopark was officially endorsed as a UNESCO Global Geopark on 27 Apr

Tourism Malaysia and Watson have partnered to launch a health and beauty retail hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. The KLIA T2 outlet will be a one-stop retail destination for international travellers offering curated products, including local brands. Watsons Malaysia will leverage its over 170 million members to promote Malaysia and will introduce the Watsons One Pass program to allow its international members to earn reward points

Tropicana Corp Bhd acquired 15 parcels of land, about 24.15 acres in Langkawi, Kedah, for RM195.88 million. The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) identified the site as an important agro-tourism and commercial zone

Malaysia is among the top countries in artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, supported by strong adoption rates, public trust, and continued investment in the digital economy, according to Juwai IQI Holdings's CEO. He pointed out that the data was revealed in Stanford University’s ‘AI Index 2026 Annual Report’. 80% of Malaysians state AI will significantly change their lives, 76% expressed excitement about its potential, and 70% said products and services using AI have more benefits than drawbacks, compared to only 59% of people globally. 9 out of 10 Malaysians are using AI for work, compared to 43% of Chinese and 46% of Americans. 90% of Malaysian university students use AI, an increase from less than 50% in 2023

Sabah Tourism Minister stated that Sabah Tourism Board (STB) will increase efforts in North Asia and Southeast Asia, with a focus on China, South Korea, Japan, and regional markets which are less affected by global airspace disruptions. He added that Sabah will be promoted as a premium destination to attract high-spending visitors who are less affected by the increase in cost. He said global conflicts and an increase in airfares are affecting the tourism sector in Sabah, which relies on international arrivals and air connectivity

Malaysia is looking to improve its educational tourism segment and MICE sector as part of an effort to attract more high-value visitors from Indonesia. The Tourism Minister added that the Indonesian market has growth potential and will play an important role in the success of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. He said beyond Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, other states such as Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, and Sarawak are being promoted as well. He held a meeting with Travel4All, a travel platform which operates the “Mampir Malaysia” online portal

Fort Cornwallis and the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve were recognised under the ASEAN Tourism Records and ASIA Tourism Records at the 9th ASEAN Records Gather of Achievers and the 3rd ASIA Records Gather of Achievers. Fort Cornwallis has been recognised as the oldest intact star bastion built by the British East India Company on the Malay Peninsula

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority is expecting heavy traffic at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the Labour Day long weekend. Travellers are advised to plan ahead and consider travelling during non-peak hours. During the Good Friday long weekend from 3-5 Apr, over 1.4 million travellers crossed both checkpoints, with the peak travel of over 498,000 travellers on 4 Apr

The Sabah Government allocated RM174.45 million to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) and its departments and agencies to improve the tourism industry and preserve cultural heritage in the state. RM38.70 million has been allocated to upgrade existing facilities and infrastructure, such as Petagas War Memorial Park, construct the Ranau Ethnic Museum, enhance the Penampang Cultural Centre, and improve the Murut Cultural Centre in Tenom. Sabah will carry out its Ethnic Cultural Mapping 2026–2030 to document ethnic diversity in the state. The Sabah Ethnic Day Celebration and the 75th Official Birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah were held at the Sabah International Convention Centre on 25 Apr

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) held an engagement session with tourism stakeholders in Sabah to discuss operational challenges due to fuel supply constraints and subsidy access affecting the tourism industry. STB has established a Crisis Response Unit to facilitate dialogues with tourism industry stakeholders. The STB Chairman chaired the first meeting, and they are expected to meet the federal Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living and the Sabah Tourism Ministry to present the findings from the engagement session. Tourism operators, especially those operating island resorts, boat transfer services, and inland eco-tourism operations, are the most affected by the fuel supply issue

Rumah Lat Gallery, housing cartoonist Datuk Lat’s works, has been awarded the Malaysian Tourism Quality Assurance (MyTQA) recognition. The gallery in Batuk Pahat, Perak, is one of the five tourism products in the state to hold the recognition. In 2025, nearly 100,000 visitors were recorded at the gallery

The Malaysian Immigration system crashed, affecting the majority of the 114 checkpoints due to a major glitch, causing thousands of people to be stuck in long queues at all entry points for 2 hours on 22 Apr. Malaysia has 56 entry points via sea, 30 via land, and 28 airports. Sarawak has the most checkpoints with 34, followed by Johor (16) and Sabah (14). The disruption also involved MyBorderPass and National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), impacting both foreigners and locals

Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) is aiming for 80,000 visitors from Singapore and 100,000 from Johor for 2026, vs 60,000 and 70,000 visitors respectively in 2025. LADA Tourism Division Manager announced the target during a B2B session with Singapore and Johor tour operators in Johor Bahru, and 17 tourism players from Langkawi. He added that direct flights from Langkawi and Dubai were cancelled due to the Middle East conflict

Sabah is targeting 4 million tourists in 2026, and is planning to host Visit Sabah Year 2027

Pahang Tourism EXCO stated that over 36,000 registered accommodation rooms in the state recorded 76.3% of occupancy rate in 2025 based on Tourism Malaysia’s Strategic Planning Division data. Pahang welcomed 15.28 million domestic and international visitors in 2025, and set a target for 15.5 million in 2026. Popular destinations in Pahang are Genting Highlands, Pulau Tioman, Cameron Highlands, Taman Negara, and Kuantan

Genting Bhd secured $1.25 billion USD with the issuance of perpetual guaranteed notes through the funding vehicle company known as GOHL Capital Holdings Ltd on 22 Apr, as part of a refinancing effort

Malaysia recorded 450 events in 2025, generating RM1.72 billion in revenue, according to the Communications Minister. He added that the cultural and creative industry contributed around 6.8% (RM130 billion) to GDP. He added the ministry will propose to the Cabinet to offer additional support for event organisers

Malaysia-based MICE company, Aavii Worldwide, has established an alliance of 9 MICE companies from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. The alliance known as the “Ministry of MICE” will offer streamlined event planning access to its partners, making the turnaround process quicker and reducing complexity. The companies part of the alliance are Aavii Worldwide, CPH Travel Agencies, Indochina Heritage Travel Services, MICE Maestro, MICE Magnet Asia, Myanmar Voyages International Tourism, Bayu Buana Travel Services, Tay Travel Service, and Terraverde Travel Services. Collectively, the companies reported sales value of $300 million USD in 2025. The founder is looking to bring partners from the Philippines and Timor Leste

The Foreign Affairs Minister said there will be no unilateral decision on the Strait of Malacca, adding ASEAN will maintain a consensus-based approach for maritime security. He noted that Malaysia will continue to empower the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and prioritise ASEAN centrality in navigation

The Tourism Ministry condemned defamatory posts regarding the Rain Rave Water Music Festival, scheduled from 30 Apr to 2 May in Bukit Bintang as part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The event will be organised under strict monitoring on a medium scale

Airbnb data revealed that Indian travellers are increasingly choosing Asian destinations this summer, with Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok seeing over 50% and 35% increase in demand, respectively

Terengganu Government will hire a new operator for a government-owned hotel on Pulau Poh, after the previous operator withdrew, causing a postponement to the start of operations. Terengganu Tourism EXCO added that Terengganu Incorporated Sdn Bhd has merged with the management of Hotel Paya Bunga and Hotel Primula, and is expected to operate the hotel soon. The hotel on Pulau Poh is part of the Tasik Kenyir Duty‑Free Zone development plan, and there are other facilities such as a cargo jetty and a bridge. The state government will organise the Kenyir Geopark Festival 2026, from 27-30 Aug

Fuel prices from 23-29 Apr will drop, as the global price has dropped. The new fuel prices will be: RON97, RM4.85 per litre (down 25 sen) RON95: RM3.87 per litre (down 15 sen) Diesel (peninsular Malaysia) will be RM5.12 per litre (down 85 sen)

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will reduce the security deposit for concerts, stage and cultural performances from 1 May to support the extension of Visit Malaysia 2026 to 2027. Performances for local artists will be reduced from RM10,000 to RM4,000, while the rate for concerts will be set at RM10,000. For foreign artists, the stage and cultural performances deposit will be reduced from RM30,000 to RM8,000, and for concerts it will be reduced from RM30,000 to RM15,000

Ascott signed 7,300 units across Southeast Asia in 2025, +55% YoY. Ascott operates over 200 properties in the region, with another 150 properties in the planning and 25 new properties slated to open in the next 12 months. Ascott will expand into 20 new cities, including Phu Quoc and Nha Trang in Vietnam, Phuket and Hat Yai in Thailand, Labuan Bajo and Medan in Indonesia, Davao and Binan in the Philippines, and Johor Bahru and Langkawi in Malaysia. 30% of the project will be delivered through conversions. The key projects which will be rebranded are Bayview properties in Penang and Langkawi, to Ascott Batu Feringghi Penang, Oakwood Georgetown Penang and FOX Hotel Langkawi by 2028. The conversion also will involve Citadines Mitra Bandung, Oakwood Pandanaran Semarang, and Fox Hotel Nagoya Batam, which will be opening in one year

Geologists from the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry will be sent to Cameron Highlands to study the cause of the recent flash floods. The Ministry will also work with the Public Works Department (JKR), the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) and local councils to investigate this

According to the Economy Minister, the National Economic Action Council agreed to focus on ASEAN, Australia, India and East Asia (China, Japan and South Korea) to sustain visitor arrivals. He added that within a month of the Middle East crisis, 288 flights between the Middle East and Malaysia were cancelled, involving 88,438 seats, and visitors from the Middle East account for less than 1% to Malaysia. There were about 871 weekly flights across 30 cities in China, with a capacity of 170,862 seats, as of Feb 2026. In 2025, Malaysia welcomed 4.7 million Chinese tourists, +25.1% YoY

Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) CEO said due to the Middle East conflict, conferences scheduled in the region are being relocated across Asia Pacific and Europe. PCEB is targeting 26 international conferences to be held in Penang in the next two years, but calls the events “low-hanging fruit” since the events were already planned and seeking new venues

Penang Chief Minister launched the BE Associate Program to train college students for work in the business events industry. He added that in 2025, 3,391 business events generated RM1.91 million in economic impact

During the Perak State Assembly session, the Tourism EXCO said the state recorded a large number of day-trip visitors, especially those who travel between north and south, to eat and visit places like Teluk Intan, Manjung, Perak Tengah, and Taiping. He added that due to this, Perak struggles to attract major international hotel brands. He added that the Perak government is working with local councils and tourism agencies to improve the situation and boost visitors. The government will expand quality accommodation, especially boutique hotels. He stated that AC Hotel by Marriott Ipoh has started its operations, Wyndham Hotel Ipoh is being built, and M Hill is expected to open in the future

Malaysia took part in the 2026 Xi’an Silk Road International Tourism Expo, from 17-19 Apr at the Xi’an International Convention Centre

Genting Malaysia signed an MoU with AGIBOT Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co Ltd to develop artificial intelligence (AI) robotics solutions in theme parks, hospitality, and leisure. The signing was held during the AGIBOT Partners Conference (APC2026) in Shanghai, China, on 17 Apr. AGIBOT will develop humanoid robots for guest interaction, concierge, and service functions. AGIBOT will host the first Robotics Gala Performance in Malaysia at Resorts World Genting, in early 2027

NGOs from Langkawi held a gathering at the Kuah Passenger Jetty Terminal to urge the government to resolve the issue of reduced ferry trips to Langkawi. They said that due to the reduced trips, tourism and the daily lives of residents have been affected. Langkawi Tourism Association Chairman stated that about 70% of tourists rely on ferries to reach Langkawi, and due to a slowdown, many travel agent counters are now closed

The Prime Minister held an engagement session with MSMEs and offered a guaranteed allocation of RM5 billion under the Business Financing Guarantee Corporation (SJPP). This will be offered to tourism, construction, agriculture, agri-food, logistics and transport sectors. Financing coverage will be offered up to 80% (compared to 70% normally), and a guarantee period of up to 10 years (normally 7 years)

Malaysia welcomed 1.84 million international medical tourists, generating RM3.34 billion in revenue in 2025. The President of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) stated that about 80% of 212 private hospitals are offering tailored services to international medical tourists. The average expenditure for a healthcare traveller was around RM1,800 in 2025. A deeper structure shows inpatient care averages RM12,321, daycare services are around RM3,475, and outpatient visits cost RM1,381

The Royal Malaysian Navy Open Day welcomed over 5,000 visitors from Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. The event was held in Labuan for the first time

The first group of 284 Malaysian Haj pilgrims departed Kuala Lumpur on 18 Apr

The MATTA Fair Sabah welcomed over 5,000 visitors and made sales of around RM200,000 on the first day alone. The event featured 167 booths from 52 companies nationwide

The Prime Minister stated that Petronas will negotiate with Russia for oil supply as a proactive measure, to ensure domestic oil supply is sufficient for public consumption. He added the government’s diplomatic efforts paid off when they managed to negotiate with Iran to allow oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Malaysia’s inflation increased to 1.7% in Mar 2026, with the consumer price index increasing to 136.4 from 134.1 in Mar 2025. The increase was largely due to an increase in transport to 1.6%. It noted that 62.5% of items saw price increases, but 97% of these increases were 10% or less

Malaysia’s Q1 2026 economy grew 5.3%, down from Q4 2025’s 6.3%, which had been its fastest growth in 3 years. The growth in Q1 was due to manufacturing, services and construction sectors, although the statistics department noted that momentum had slowed. It called Malaysia’s economy "fundamentally resilient”

The Prime Minister asked the Second Finance Minister to study how to regenerate Langkawi, as costs are quite high and the island “cannot attract tourists”, including domestic tourists. He also noted that the government respects the Sultan of Kedah’s call to restore duty-free status for Langkawi Island and will study it

The Transport Ministry announced that they will introduce a targeted bunker fuel surcharge on passenger and roll-on roll-off ferry services from 20 Apr to reduce the operators’ burden from the increase in diesel costs. This is being implemented on a “limited pass-through cost basis”, in which a part of the cost is passed to the users. This surcharge will only apply to general passengers and tourists, but daily commuters and residents are exempted

The Terengganu Government ordered the Department of Environment (DOE) to take action against the ship responsible for the oil spill at Pantai Teluk Kalong. Terengganu Environment and Climate Change EXCO said the authorities will impose a fine if the ship is found responsible for the pollution, and they will seize the ship if needed. The cleaning work is being carried out periodically

The Australian Prime Minister is on a working visit to Malaysia and will meet with PETRONAS, the national petroleum company, to advance cooperation on energy. The Malaysian Prime Minister stated that PETRONAS will prioritise the supply of excess diesel to Australia, and Australia assured that they will give priority to Malaysia for liquefied natural gas (LPG)

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is working on the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Action Plan 2026-2030 plan draft as a continuation of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025. DBKL Executive Director stated this plan will be developed in collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure it will offer a significant economic impact to Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur welcomed 23 million visitors in 2025, including 13.4 million international and 10.3 million domestic visitors

The Finance Ministry announced retail prices for diesel for 16-22 Apr will drop by 75 sen to RM5.97, following a drop in global market prices and in line with the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM). For petrol, both RON95 and RON97 will drop by 25 sen to RM4.02 and RM5.10 per litre

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased its projection for Malaysia’s GDP growth to 4.7% for 2026 in its April 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO), +0.4 percentage points from the previous outlook. IMF projects Malaysia’s real GDP growth for 2027 at 4.3%

The Langkawi Tourism Industry Players Association has expressed their support for Kedah Sultan’s call to restore Langkawi’s full duty-free status to boost tourism. The association called duty-free status a “key catalyst” for Langkawi’s economic growth

Tourism Economics, a travel industry consulting firm, released its first “Economic Impact Assessment of Cruise Tourism for Southeast Asia” report, commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Cruise Lines International Association. The report found that Southeast Asia cruise passengers generated 2.4X economic value as the global average in 2024, and Singapore alone captured 48% of the 3.9 million passengers who visited Southeast Asia. The economic impact per passenger visit was $2,564 USD ($3,260 SGD), yielding $10 billion USD ($12.7 billion SGD) to Southeast Asia’s cruise industry. The region accounts for 5% of the global cruise industry’s economic output in 2024, even though it only received 2% of the 186 million cruise passengers globally. Singapore accounts for $3.6 billion USD in economic output, the top in the region, followed by the Philippines with $3.2 billion USD, and Indonesia with $1.5 billion USD. Singapore also received half of the total cruise passengers to Southeast Asia, and 500,000 Singaporeans went on cruises in 2024, 2X vs 2016. The report also stated that 8 in 10 Southeast Asian cruise travellers in 2024 were Singaporeans. Malaysia and Singapore together account for 70% of the 3.9 million cruise passengers

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said Malaysia has entered a high-risk weather phase, with an extended dry spell with temperatures up to 37.5 deg C. He added a dry spell could extend until Jun, beyond Apr and May

Pahang is targeting 15 million visitors during the Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The state welcomed 14.2 million visitors in 2025 and 13.7 million in 2024. Pahang State Exco for Tourism is expecting the campaign to generate RM13.4 billion in tourism revenue

Legoland Malaysia has reintroduced its Sea Life Underwater Dining Experience for couples and small groups, twice monthly on Saturdays

Kuala Lumpur will host the World Labour Day Celebration and Rain Rave Water Music Festival from 30 Apr to 2 May in Bukit Bintang. Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Melaka, Kedah, Labuan, Pahang, and Terengganu, will host events aligned with local cultural themes

The Home Minister has advised people not to panic, and to prepare for more difficult conditions, following supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict, which has affected the economy. He added that the government will be transparent in their communication on supply pressures and price risks. The government’s spending on subsidies has increased from RM700 million a month to RM6 billion

Shanghai Fair Healthcare Malaysia will be held at MITEC Kuala Lumpur from 22-23 May. The Shanghai Fair Committee and Shanghai Sail International Convention & Exhibition will organise the event, bringing together about 80 healthcare enterprises representing 160 exhibitors from China and Malaysia. During the event, the Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Medical Device Industry Development Promotion Association and Malaysia Medical Device Association (MMDA) will sign an MoU to strengthen industry cooperation

The Economy Minister warned that Jun and Jul will be a “very critical period” to ensure sufficient fuel supplies are available, and it will be “equally important” to industries which rely on raw materials derived from oil and gas

Miri City Council’s Tourism Development Committee Chairman urged the federal government to upgrade infrastructures at Mulu National Park and Niah National Park to unlock their full potential as tourism attractions

Tourism Malaysia took part in the Dhaka Travel Mart 2026, which was held from 9 to 11 Apr in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Malaysia welcomed 3.4 million Singaporeans visitors (including excursionists) from Jan to Feb 2026, accounting for nearly half of total international arrivals. The Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore stated the country remains the top source of visitors to Malaysia, and Malaysia is taking steps to encourage Singaporean excursionists to stay overnight and longer in Malaysia. He earlier officiated the 38th Travel Malaysia Fair 2026, which was held from 10-12 Apr in Singapore Expo

The Sarawak Tourism Minister is calling on Malaysia to conduct continuous tourism promotions instead of hosting a one-off “Visit Malaysia Year”. He also welcomed the federal government’s decision to extend the Visit Malaysia Year, and asked to adopt a long-term, consistent branding strategy instead. He cited neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, which have moved away from yearly tourism campaigns

Langkawi Ferry Line Ventures announced a RM10 increase in fare for non-Malaysian passengers from 15 Apr, following an increase in cost. The new fares for non-Malaysians will be RM45 for adults and RM35 for children for the Kuala Perlis to Langkawi route, and RM55 for adults and RM42 for children for the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi route. For domestic passengers, the cost will be RM21 for adults and RM16 for children from Kuala Perlis, and RM26.50 (adults) and RM20.50 (children) from Kuala Kedah

Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) hosted a B2B session in Grand Paragon Hotel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for hosted buyers from southern Malaysia and Singapore. Langkawi welcomed 52,867 visitors from Johor and 48,119 from Singapore from Q1-Q3 2025. The program focused on MICE, premium family travel, and special-interest tourism

The Prime Minister said that Malaysia has sufficient fuel stocks to meet domestic demand through Apr and May. He also asked for cooperation from the public to reduce excessive consumption

Hotels and homestay operators in Kelantan are shifting to solar energy as part of long-term cost-saving measures, as the prolonged hot spell is increasing their operating costs. She added room bookings dropped slightly after the festive season, attributing it to the extreme heat. The operators are also adopting green technology to combat weather challenges. Citra Kadok Hotel & Banquet Hall Managing Director stated they are planning to replace existing lighting with solar-powered alternatives in stages, will implement self-check-in systems, and restructure staff schedules to allow them to work from home

The World Bank Group has increased Malaysia’s economic growth forecast for 2026 from 4.1% to 4.4%, backed by strong domestic demand. The group’s lead economist for Malaysia said the growth will be driven by private consumption, supported by favourable labour market conditions, wage gains and government income support measures

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) signed an MoU with MyTravelKaki platform’s developer, PMJ AI Sdn Bhd, during the MATTA Fair, as part of efforts to advance digitalisation in the tourism industry, such as improving how travel products are marketed and distributed, while improving accessibility for consumers through integrated digital platforms

Malaysia Airlines and Visa Malaysia signed a 3-year partnership to improve customer experiences and stimulate travel demand in the airline’s global network. The partnership will focus on a joint marketing initiative, including co-branded offers for Visa cardholders, such as an additional 5% discount on Malaysia Airlines and Firefly bookings from 2-13 Apr

Malaysian associations have criticised a Singaporean drama, Highway To Somewhere, for its portrayal of Malaysia as a country host to scam syndicates. The 20-episode Chinese language series finished airing on 7 Apr

Penang has launched a new tourism product called Forest Island, a man-made attraction located on an aquaculture farm near Pulau Jerejak. Forest Island has been recognised by ASIA Records for hosting the world’s first permanent open-sea pickleball court. The visitors can enjoy greenery, fish feeding at the aquaculture farm, take part in water sports activities, and play pickleball on the sea

Semporna tourism industry players complained that the marine pollution has become worse, causing harm to the marine ecosystem. They blame the undocumented and stateless Bajau Laut community living off Semporna waters for the pollution. Local NGOs are carrying out regular clean-ups. Meanwhile, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said they received reports of 81 accommodation premises in Semporna, which were operated by foreign companies, while others were collaborating with the locals. The Malaysia Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) expressed their frustration with the increase in illegal and unregistered foreign scuba instructors in Sabah

Tour bus industry groups such as the Pertubuhan Pengusaha Bas Bumiputra Malaysia (PPBBM) and Pertubuhan Gemilang Agensi Pelancongan dan Pengusaha Bas Persiaran Malaysia (GAPP) stated that business viability has been severely disrupted due to an increase in fuel costs, and the industry could face a potential collapse within the next two months. Bookings for tour buses have dropped by 70% to 80%, driven by cancellations from both foreign and domestic tourists. The PPBBM Chairman warned this could have a spillover effect on other industries such as hotels, restaurants, and SMEs and called once again for targeted fuel subsidies

The Plantation and Commodities Minister said they are planning to expand their palm-based B20 biodiesel program in Malaysia in phases. Malaysia currently imposes a 10% biodiesel or B10 mandate for the transportation sector, and 20% biodiesel mandate has been implemented in Labuan, Langkawi, and Sarawak (except Bintulu). The Plantation and Commodities Ministry has approved allocation to the biodiesel blending depot facilities to B20/B30 in Sandakan, Tawau, Sepanggar, and Bintulu to support low-carbon alternative fuel usage, under a 5-year program

Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association President asked the government to explore alternative transit routes to Langkawi, and increase promotional efforts. Due to disruption across major global travel hubs following the Middle East conflict, international arrivals to Langkawi have been affected. She called on Malaysia to work with China and India to develop alternative transit points to improve accessibility to Langkawi. The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) President said international tourists account for the majority of arrivals to Langkawi, and most of them arrive via air. He added that “the impact on the ferry arrivals remains uncertain” and the increase in diesel costs could cause a ripple effect across the tourism ecosystem

AirAsia X will delay its Kuala Lumpur - Denpasar route from 14 Apr to 28 Jun, with 4 flights per week

The Group CEO of IHH Healthcare is confident that Malaysia will remain attractive to medical tourists despite the Middle East conflict and currency swings. The group operates 89 hospitals and more than 140 healthcare facilities in 11 markets. He believes that Singapore remains the top destination for medical tourists from Southeast Asia, with Indonesia being the largest source market. Indonesian Rupiah has dropped by 6% against the Singapore Dollar, 11.5% against the Ringgit, and 1.6% against the US Dollar as of 2 Apr. Penang and Johor emerging as key medical tourism hubs with growing capacity

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) signed an MoU with BASE Malaysia during the MATTA Fair in Apr 2026. Under the MoU, both of them will work together to promote tourism and adventure events for Aug and Sep 2026, including the World Base Cup 2026 at Menara 118, and the Bazaar MATTA at Stadium Merdeka. MATTA President stated that this shows MATTA’s commitment to diversifying Malaysia’s tourism offerings and venturing into the growing global interest in adventure tourism

Iran has allowed the first Malaysian ship to pass the Strait of Hormuz, following the discussion between the Malaysian Prime Minister and the Iranian President

The Minister in charge of the Federal Territories Department has ruled out issuing permits for photo touts operating at tourist hotspots, citing safety concerns. The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has installed additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at tourism spots to monitor illegal photographers. The DBKL will also make a public announcement to inform tourists not to use the photo touts’ service

The Deputy Prime Minister announced the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign will likely be extended to 2027, taking the conflict in the Middle East into consideration, which is expected to affect the tourism sector. They will seek the Cabinet’s endorsement for this. Projections show that tourist arrivals from West Asia could drop by 11% to 27%

All marine-based activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, and island tours in the waters off Mersing, Johor, resumed from 4 Apr according to the Mersing District Council, after the end of the Northeast Monsoon season. However, only approved islands can be visited by tourists. Tourists were advised to engage with licensed operators, wear the mandatory Mersing Tourism Operating System (MeTOS) bracelet, and maintain the cleanliness of the marine ecosystem. The authorities will ensure a “carrying capacity” for sustainable tourism, and limit of 50 boats per day on weekdays and 70 boats during peak periods

AirAsia has reduced its domestic scheduled flights by 17% for the period from 1 May to 30 Jun. AirAsia operated 20,946 flights with 3,813,864 seats as of 22 Mar, and this will drop to 17,348 flights with 3,158,928 seats from 5 Apr Johor Bahru - Ipoh Reduce from 122 to 61 flights Johor Bahru - Kota Kinabalu 244 to 183 Johor Bahru - Kuching 305 to 181 Kuala Lumpur - Johor Bahru 540 to 479 Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu 915 to 671 Kuala Lumpur - Kuching 854 to 671 Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi 715 to 610

AirAsia X has appointed Tan Sri Jamaludin as an Independent Non-Executive Chairman. He said “We are optimising our network, reallocating capacity to stronger-performing routes and leveraging our Fly-Thru connectivity via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to capture demand efficiently”

AirAsia X will increase its fares by up to 40%, impose a 20% fuel surcharge, and cut flights to stay competitive following the conflict in the Middle East. AirAsia X Chief Commercial Officer said, “Being the airline with the largest capacity within the ASEAN market, especially domestically, we are able to spread this very carefully across routes that we think can actually recover the current high fuel surcharge”. They will reduce the airline’s pre-booked baggage fees as measures to reduce the impact of the higher base fare. She stated the demand for both domestic and international travel is still strong. AirAsia X CEO said they have cut flights by 10% involving non-profitable exploratory routes. The airline will send its aircraft for maintenance checks after they cut capacity, which was initially scheduled for Sep

AirAsia X Group CEO is confident that they can continue to operate flights beyond Jun 2026 despite concerns over an increase in costs and the availability of jet fuel. Petronas has informed AirAsia X that the fuel supply is secured until Jun and they are procuring additional fuel in the following months. He added that they can manage any restrictions on the amount of jet fuel they can uplift at foreign airports. He said that Vietnam has informed them about the possible restrictions on jet fuel uplift

AirAsia X Group CEO has assured they will not implement job cuts or voluntary unpaid leave to manage the increase in cost following the conflict in the Middle East

Penang Chief Minister announced the Penang Hill cable car project is now 28% complete. The cable car system will feature 50 eight-seat gondolas, with a capacity of moving up to 1,400 passengers per hour. He added that tourist spending in Penang has increased from RM2,792 on average in 2022 to RM3,443 in 2025

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister said they will not compromise Mount Kinabalu’s status as a World Heritage Site for a proposed cable car project. The project is still under feasibility and potential impact studies. He added that the UNESCO site is “not affected by any new development around the mountain”

Malaysian High Commissioner to India said Malaysia is expecting 2.1 million Indian visitors in 2026, vs 1.56 million in 2025 and 1.36 million in 2024. Malaysian High Commission to India hosted the Visit Malaysia Carnival 2026 in New Delhi on 4 Apr, and about 2,000 people attended the event