KOTA KINABALU, 1 April 2025 – Tourism Malaysia extended a warm welcome to both domestic and international tourists with grand Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

Showcasing Malaysia’s rich traditions and harmonious multicultural society, Tourism Malaysia, alongside distinguished guests, presented festive goodies at the Arrival Hall. Guests were also invited to partake in the tradition of sharing Hari Raya Aidilfitri delicacies, reflecting Malaysia’s renowned hospitality and cultural heritage, which embody the essence of Malaysia Truly Asia.

The celebrations came alive with captivating cultural performances, including a special Aidilfitri-themed showcase. Adding to the festive spirit was the symbolic act of filling rice and boiling ketupat, a cherished tradition during Hari Raya.

Also in attendance were Mr. Khairul Amir Anuar, Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah; Haji Jefry Ramli, Senior Airport Manager of Kota Kinabalu International Airport; Mr. Bobby Alex @ William, Marketing Manager of Sabah Tourism Board; along with representatives from airlines and related agencies. Similar welcoming events were also held at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 & Terminal 2, Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, and Kuching International Airport in Sarawak.

Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate strong recovery and growth. In 2024, Malaysia logged 38 million visitor arrivals, a significant 31.1% increase compared to 29 million arrivals in 2023. This also surpassed the pre-pandemic record of 35 million arrivals in 2019 by 8.6%. The top visitor-generating markets were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and Chinese Taipei. The total visitor receipts reached RM106.78 billion in 2024, reflecting a substantial growth of 43.7% over 2023 and exceeding the 2019 level by 20%.

This momentum continued into January 2025, with a 54.4% surge in visitor arrivals, reaching 3.8 million compared to 2024 and a 24.4% increase compared to the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. Singapore remained the top source market, contributing 1.7 million arrivals, followed by China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei.

END

About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

For enquiries, please contact:

Khairul Amir Anuar
Deputy Director
Tourism Malaysia Sabah
khairulamir@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +6088-211732

Norshariza Mohd Saad
Deputy Director
Corporate Communications Division
norshariza@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8775