Page last updated: 30 May 2024
Malaysia, a Southeast Asian nation, offers a captivating blend of lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and bustling cities, enriched by a diverse cultural heritage and renowned for its hospitality.
How many people visit Malaysia each year?
Around 25 to 27 million international visitors travel to Malaysia each year.1
- In 2024, 25.02 million international visitors arrived in Malaysia, marking a 24.23% increase from the 20.14 million visitors in 2023. While the 2024 figure shows significant recovery, it remains below the peaks of 26.1 million visitors in 2019.
- In 2019, Malaysia welcomed 26.1 million international visitors. 2014 observed the highest recorded visitors in history amounting to 27.4 million visits.
- When the pandemic started in 2020, this number dropped by 84% to 4.3 million.
- By 2021, Malaysia experienced a further 96% decline in international tourism with an estimated 130,000 visitors.
- Inbound tourism rose to 10.07 million visitors in 2022 and continued to recover in 2023 with 20.14 million visitors.
How many people visited Malaysia in 2025?
January to March 2025, Malaysia welcomed a total of 6.36 million international visitors.
Monthly Visitors to Malaysia 2025
| Month | Visitors |
| January | 2.46 M |
| February | 1.85 M |
| March | 2.05 M |
Note: This is just preliminary data from Malaysia Tourism and is subject to change for future updates.
How many people visited Malaysia in 2024?
- Malaysia welcomed a total of 285.12 million visitors, with 25.02 million being international tourists and 260.10 million domestic travellers. This represented a 7.51% increase from the peak pre-pandemic year of 2019.
How much do tourists spend in Malaysia every year?
International tourists spent over RM 106.8 billion during trips to Malaysia in 2024.
- Inbound tourist expenditure in Malaysia generated RM 86.1 billion in 2019.
- This number decreased to RM 12.7 billion in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions and fewer international visitors. This further dropped by 98% in 2021 to RM 240 million.
- In 2022, international tourism receipts increased, amounting to RM 28.2 billion and recovered with RM 71.3 billion in 2023, 17% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic).
How much does it cost to visit Malaysia?
- The average tourist spending amounted to RM 3,540.32 per trip in 2024.
- In 2022 and 2023, the average spending per capita amounted to RM 2,802.9 and RM 3,300.4 respectively.
Which country visits Malaysia the most?
The leading source of foreign tourists to Malaysia is Singapore, closely followed by Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brunei.
- In 2024, Singapore was the top source of international visitors to Malaysia, accounting for 9.1 million visits.
- Indonesia also contributed significantly, with 3.7 million tourists.
- China accounted for 3.3 million international visits.
How long do visitors stay in Malaysia?
- In 2024, tourists generally spent 4.5 nights exploring Malaysia’s popular cities and attractions.
- In 2023 and 2022, the average nightly stay was 2.45 and 2.5 nights, respectively.2
Economic Impact – Malaysia Tourism Statistics
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) highlighted the importance of the travel tourism industry, showcasing new highs in GDP contribution, sector employment, and visitor spending.3
- In 2023, Malaysia’s travel and tourism sector experienced a substantial rebound, growing by 97.8% to MYR 157 billion. This represented 8.6% of the nation’s total economic output.
- Despite the strong recovery, the sector’s economic contribution was still 19.8% below the levels seen in 2019.
- The sector also boosted employment, with nearly 2.3 million jobs, reflecting a 10.8% year-on-year increase and matching the employment levels of 2019.
What are the peak months to visit Malaysia?
Based on Malaysia’s tourism statistics, the peak tourist months in 2024, determined by international visitor arrivals, are December, August, June, July, and October.
- December recorded the highest number of international arrivals at 2.54 million, attributed to year-end holidays and Christmas celebrations, drawing visitors for festive activities and shopping events.
- August welcomed 2.39 million tourists, driven by the vibrant Merdeka (Independence Day) celebrations featuring patriotic parades and cultural showcases.
- June saw 2.32 million visitors, likely due to school holidays and summer travel from key international markets.
- July followed closely with 2.26 million tourists, attracted by mid-year vacations and a range of local festivals and events.
- October brought in 2.23 million visitors, making it another key travel period likely influenced by favorable weather and the lead-up to year-end festivities.
When is the best time to visit Malaysia
The best time to visit Malaysia is December to February for favorable west coast weather and festive celebrations, and March to September for east coast island travel. These periods align with cultural events and seasonal breaks, which drive the highest tourist activity.
- December to February offers ideal conditions in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Penang, coinciding with major holidays and vibrant cultural festivals.
- March to September is best for island destinations like Redang, Perhentian, and Tioman before the monsoon season begins.
How popular is Malaysia as a tourist destination?
- Malaysia has recently been recognised as the “Most Loved Country in Asia”, overtaking well-known tourist destinations such as Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.
- In 2023, Malaysia ranked 3rd as the “Most Visited Country in Asia.”
Malaysia Travel Statistics – International & Domestic Tourism
2024 was Malaysia’s recovery year with its tourism recovery trend of both domestic (260.10 million) and international tourists (25.02 million).
- Pre-Pandemic Period (2018-2019): Malaysia experienced steady growth in both international and domestic visitors, peaking in 2019 with 265.2 million visitors.
- Pandemic Impact (2020-2021): The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, causing a 48% drop in visitor numbers in both segments.
- Despite the pandemic, domestic tourism showed more resilience compared to international tourism, reflecting reliance on local travel during global disruptions.
What are the main reasons people visit Malaysia?
Visitors came to Malaysia primarily for Holiday (91.3%), drawn by Malaysia’s diverse retail options and attractive deals.
- Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) made up a significant portion of visitors (6.5%).
- Education (1.3%) and Business (0.9%) also were reasons tourists visited Malaysia.
Which cities are the most visited in Malaysia?
The below were the most popular cities that attracted millions of visitors in 2021.
- Johor attracted 1.8 million visitors due to its proximity to Singapore and attractions like Legoland Malaysia, Johor Bahru City, and its beautiful islands.
- Perak had 1.4 million visitors, drawn by its historical sites, natural caves, and the famous Lost World of Tambun theme park.
- Pahang welcomed 1.3 million visitors in 2021. Tourists travelled to Pahang for its lush highlands, such as Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands, known for cool weather and scenic views.
- Negeri Sembilan, famous for its cultural heritage, serene beaches, and the royal town of Seri Menanti, had 1.2 million visitors.
- Selangor, home to the bustling city of Petaling Jaya, Sunway Lagoon theme park, and numerous shopping and entertainment centres received 1.2 million visitors.
Asia Travel Statistics Resources
- China Statistics
- Dubai Statistics
- Hong Kong Statistics
- India Statistics
- Indonesia Statistics (incl. Bali)
- Israel Statistics
- Japan Statistics (incl. Hokkaido, Okinawa, Osaka, Tokyo)
- Saudi Arabia Statistics
- Singapore Statistics
- South Korea Statistics
- Sri Lanka Statistics
- Thailand Statistics (incl. Bangkok)
- Turkey Statistics
