Malaysia targets more visitors from ME

Malaysia has recorded 10.07 million tourist arrivals since opening of international borders and RM28.2 billion (AED 23.5 billion) in tourist receipts in 2022. Tourism Malaysia continues its efforts to publicize comprehensive promotional activities to the Middle Eastern region to keep the momentum going up and increase the number of international visitors to 16.1 million this year.

Shehara Rizly

In 2023, Malaysia is targeting to welcome 16.1 million international tourist arrivals (including 300,000 tourists from the West Asia) and generate RM49.2 billion (AED 41.1 billion) in tourist receipts. In 2022, Malaysia recorded 88,534 tourist arrivals from the Middle East.

Hon. Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia, shared, “In line with the Visit Malaysia in 2025, Tourism Malaysia will strive to attract more tourists from the Middle East to Malaysia. We are confident that we will be able to achieve our target to put Malaysia as the top destination for Muslim travellers. This region is very important for Malaysia and this year alone we have been ramping up promotions and inshallah we are trying to get more visitors than the previous years. I’m sure that with all the promotions and the networking has been done we can get more visitors from this region.”

Khan added, “We can see the future of tourism growing and there are positive signs this year to attract more travellers from this region. Looking at the response from the private sector participation compared to last year, it has increased the number of participants at this year’s Arabian Travel Market. We have about 150 partners with us this year and the private sector is keen on attracting more visitors from this market. We are also speaking with some airlines partners from this region to increase flights so that there is connectivity, which will increase our potential visitors.”

Khan witnessed the signing of two Memorandum of Collaborations (MOC), one between Tourism Malaysia and SAUDIA Airlines, and another between Tourism Malaysia and Air Arabia. The MOCs will benefit the Malaysian economy and strengthen economic ties through the tourism industry between Malaysia and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

The four-day ATM event provided Malaysia an excellent platform to market and promote the latest attractions and destinations for shopping, family fun, eco-adventure, honeymoon, luxury holidays, as well as safe travel destination. ATM 2023 also marked the 29th anniversary of Malaysia’s participation in the prestigious event.

As in previous years, this annual event witnessed the participation of a strong Malaysian delegation from 76 organizations comprising hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism products owners, representatives from various state governments, including Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Penang Global Tourism, Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism Melaka, Tourism Pahang, and Tourism Johor.