The January-to-June total was also 17.7% higher than the corresponding period in 2019, before the Covid pandemic, indicating that the country's tourism recovery remains on track, according to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
The growth was driven by the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, stronger regional connectivity, domestic tourism initiative, major international events, and the promotion of a broader range of tourism products nationwide, The Star newspaper reported.
The growth was largely driven by strong demand from ASEAN markets, which accounted for 72.8% of total arrivals.
Singapore remained the biggest source market, with arrivals rising 4.4%, while visitor numbers from emerging markets surged, including Cambodia (52.3%), Laos (25.4%) and Myanmar (45.9%).
Tourists and Hindu devotees are seen on the 272 steps of Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple at Batu Caves, Malaysia, April 19, 2024. Photo by Reuters
