SANDAKAN, April 13 — Tourist arrivals to Malaysia in the first two months of this year surged by 31.3 per cent to 6.7 million compared with the same period last year, said Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
He said this marked a 14.5 per cent increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with Singapore accounting for the bulk of arrivals at 3.1 million, followed by China, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei.
“Last year, Malaysia recorded 38 million tourist arrivals, a significant 31.1 per cent increase from the 29 million recorded in 2023. It also surpassed the pre-pandemic record of 35 million arrivals in 2019 by 8.3 per cent.
”The top tourist-generating markets were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan,” he said in a statement today.
Khairul Firdaus, who is also Batu Sapi MP, said total tourist receipts reached RM106.78 billion last year, reflecting a substantial growth of 43.7 per cent in 2023 and exceeding the 2019 level by 20 per cent.
Meanwhile, he said Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with the Sandakan Tourism Association, has launched the latest brochure directory A Guide to Sandakan as part of its vigorous efforts in promoting interstate travel to Sabah and in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
He said A Guide to Sandakan offers a wide range of attractions, offering an enticing blend of stunning natural landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, adventure activities, rich cultural experiences and local gastronomy.
The directory is a promotional tool aimed at encouraging domestic and international visitors to plan their holidays or weekend getaways to Sandakan. It is available at the airport and distributed through travel agencies to ensure easy accessibility to tourists.
“From cosying up with the orangutan in the wild to getting up close with Bornean Sun Bears, the mascot of VM2026, Sandakan offers a unique blend of wildlife encounters and adventure. Combined with local delicacies and fresh seafood, it is the ideal gateway to explore Sabah,” he added.
— Bernama
