By Chua Chee Hwai
SHAH ALAM, Aug 8 — Chinese tourists continue to dominate Selangor’s international tourism market, with 95,762 arrivals recorded in the first quarter of 2025 — a 16.1 per cent increase from last year — and educational tourism ranking among their top package choices.
The state tourism promotion agency said the sharp increase in tourists from China is projected to help Selangor achieve its target of eight million arrivals this year, in conjunction with the Visit Selangor Year (VSY) 2025.
Other than China, the four main contributors of international tourists to Selangor were Singapore (60,110 arrivals), Indonesia (30,172), Japan (25,333), and India (22,300), collectively accounting for nearly 45 per cent of total international visitors and cementing Selangor’s position as a top travel destination for Asian tourists.
Overall, 496,119 international tourists were recorded in Selangor from January to March, representing 28 per cent of the state’s total visitors.
Although this marks a slight 1.3 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2024, Tourism Selangor said overall performance remains stable.
Its chief executive officer, Chua Yee Ling, said visa-free policy for Chinese tourists has contributed to the rise in visitors from the country.
She said Tourism Selangor’s strategy for promoting international tourism centres on three key approaches: targeting countries with direct flights to Malaysia, capitalising on visa-free policies, and strengthening collaboration between the government and industry to create attractive, well-targeted tourism products.
“Based on our promotional mission to China, educational tourism packages have now become a major trend among travellers from that country,” she told Media Selangor.
Tourism Selangor is also collaborating with various educational institutions and travel agencies, tapping into agro-tourism resources such as the Dragon Fruit Ecological Park in Sepang through themed packages like “agricultural learning and DIY activities”, which combine educational elements with environmental, social, and governance sustainability principles.
Key educational tourism sites identified in Selangor include the Gombak–Hulu Langat National Geopark, Forest School, Gamuda Cove Wetlands Park, Mah Meri Cultural Village in Carey Island, and the Selangor Forest Park under the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), which was recently recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
“Selangor also boasts a wide range of educational institutions that allow packages to be tailored to specific target groups, whether primary school students, university students, academic researchers, or professionals in fields such as digital technology and semiconductors," Chua said.
Educational tourism is a form of tourism that combines research-based learning with travel experiences, featuring themed tours, explorations, and interactive activities designed with specific objectives, making travel not just enjoyable, but also a valuable learning opportunity.
Chua said educational tourism often involves stays of two weeks or longer, which contribute to the growth of related industries like accommodation, food and beverage, transport, and retail.
However, she said developing Malaysia’s tourism industry requires a nationwide effort, as the country faces strong competition from regional destinations like Singapore and Thailand, where tourism contributes significantly to their gross domestic product.
"We (Selangor) plan to collaborate with Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Pahang to develop integrated inter-state tourism packages, and subsequently elevate Malaysia as a leading tourism destination in Asia."
