KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 – Tourist arrivals in Malaysia are expected to soar to 27 million this year, representing a 35 per cent increase from last year, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 26.1 million in 2019, said Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (Kenanga IB).
The research house said the growth will be driven by higher demand for both business and leisure air travel, consistent with Tourism Malaysia’s target of 27.3 million this year.
A significant contributing factor is the influx of Chinese tourists, traditionally constituting approximately 12 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in Malaysia.
Additionally, the growth will also be driven by the implementation of the 30-day visa-free arrangement for Chinese and Indian visitors to Malaysia, which commenced in December 2023.
China has also reciprocated by granting inbound visitors from Malaysia 15 visa-free days for travels between Dec 1, 2023, and Nov 30, 2024, the investment bank said in its research note today.
