Malaysia has set an ambitious target to welcome 47 million international visitors in 2026, with plans to attract 300,000 tourists from Bangladesh as part of its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The move aims to bolster regional tourism and enhance global connectivity.
Malaysian Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan made the announcement at the Global Travel Meet 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, reads a press release.
The three-day event, held at the World Trade Centre, brings together 600 international buyers and 400 Malaysian sellers, including representatives from hotels, travel agencies, airlines, and various tourism operators.
Khairul Firdaus highlighted the importance of the event, stating, “The Global Travel Meet 2025 is not just an event. It is a platform where ideas become action.
“This gathering plays a key role in driving Malaysia’s ambitious targets for 2026, through the collective effort of the government and industry stakeholders.”
The event includes business-to-business meetings, networking opportunities, strategic business matching, and familiarization trips to showcase Malaysia’s offerings in cultural tourism, eco-tourism, culinary experiences, and adventure activities.
The initiative is backed by major airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Batik Air, alongside tourism organizations like the Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) and the Malaysian Indian Tour & Travel Association (MITTA).
These collaborations aim to solidify Malaysia’s standing as a premier travel destination.
Following the pandemic, Malaysia’s tourism sector has shown remarkable growth. In 2024, the country recorded 38 million international visitors, marking a 31.1% increase compared to 2023, and surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 8.3%. From January to July 2025, international arrivals reached 24.5 million, a 16.8% increase year-on-year.
Tourism Malaysia remains confident that this strong growth, combined with strategic partnerships and promotional efforts, will enable the country to meet its target of 47 million visitors in 2026.
