Malaysia Eyes 47m Tourists in 2026, 3 Lakh from Bangladesh

Malaysia Eyes 47m Tourists in 2026, 3 Lakh from Bangladesh

Malaysia has set an ambitious target of welcoming 47 million international visitors in 2026 under its flagship Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, with three lakh travellers expected from Bangladesh.

The announcement came from Malaysian Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan while inaugurating the three-day Global Travel Meet 2025 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The event has brought together 600 international buyers and 400 Malaysian sellers, including hoteliers, travel agents, airlines and tourism operators.

“Global Travel Meet 2025 is more than just an event; it is a platform where ideas are transformed into action. It serves as a catalyst for renewed energy and momentum towards achieving our VM2026 goals,” said Khairul Firdaus.

The programme features business-to-business sessions, high-level networking, strategic business matching and familiarisation trips designed to highlight Malaysia’s cultural heritage, eco-tourism, culinary experiences and adventure attractions.

Backed by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Batik Air and key industry associations, the initiative aims to strengthen the country’s position as a leading global travel destination.

Tourism in Malaysia has rebounded strongly after the pandemic. In 2024, the country recorded 38 million international arrivals — a 31.1 percent rise from the previous year and 8.3 percent higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels. From January to July 2025 alone, arrivals hit 24.5 million, up 16.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tourism Malaysia expressed confidence that the momentum, combined with strategic partnerships and promotional campaigns, will ensure the ambitious 2026 target is met.