KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 – Education is emerging as a powerful tourism multiplier for Malaysia, with rising Kazakh student enrolment driving repeat visits and positioning Kazakhstan as a long-term source market, said Malaysian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mohd Adli Abdullah.
Based on data from Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), he said the number of Kazakh students in Malaysia rose to 1,704 last year from 1,172 in 2024, marking an increase of about 45 per cent.
Of these, 777 are enrolled in branch campuses, 627 in private universities, 155 in language centres, 73 in colleges, 68 in public universities and four in skills centres.
He added that demand remains robust, with EMGS receiving more than 3,500 applications from Kazakh students in 2025, although only 1,704 were approved.
“The 45 per cent rise in Kazakh student enrolment last year is significant not only for Malaysia’s education sector, but also for tourism.
“Every student who comes to Malaysia helps deepen familiarity with the country, and that often leads to repeat visits by family members, friends and even future students. Over time, this builds lasting people-to-people ties that are far more durable than a one-off holiday,” he told Bernama.
Kazakh students are increasingly choosing Malaysia for its globally recognised education, affordable costs and English-medium instruction, supported by a safe, multicultural environment and strong connectivity.
“At the same time, exchange programmes, short courses and edutourism initiatives can encourage them to discover Malaysia’s destinations, culture and heritage while they are in Malaysia,” added Mohd Adli.
Beyond education-driven travel, the broader Central Asian market continues to show strong growth potential. In 2025, Malaysia recorded more than 85,000 arrivals from the region, up 13.4 per cent year-on-year, with Kazakhstan contributing over 43,000 visitors — more than half of the total.
Kazakhstan remains Malaysia’s key partner in Central Asia, accounting for 58.6 per cent of its total trade with the C5 countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — and contributing 37.4 per cent to Malaysia’s overall trade surplus in the region.
