Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali, Director, Tourism Malaysia New Delhi Office stated, “Tourism Malaysia remains committed to attracting a growing number of Indian visitors, catering to their diverse preferences. The Indian market has been a significant source of visitors to Malaysia for over two decades. With the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign, we are focused on significantly increasing arrivals from the Indian market. With the visa-free initiative, improved connectivity, and a strong focus on sustainable tourism, we aim to welcome more Indian visitors and provide them with unforgettable experiences.” Tourism Malaysia intends to focus on niche products such as shopping, golfing, luxury tourism, soft tourism, theme parks and honeymoon packages to inspire the global campaign of Visit Malaysia 2026. Malaysia has witnessed an exceptional surge in Indian tourist arrivals, recording 1,133,331 Indian visitors between January and December 2024. This marks a 47 per cent increase compared to 2019 and a 71.7 per cent rise from 2023, highlighting the growing preference for Malaysia as a top destination among Indian travellers. India continues to be Malaysia’s second-largest inbound market after China for the medium-haul segment, and Tourism Malaysia remains committed to further strengthening this relationship. To further boost Indian arrivals, Malaysia has extended the 30-day visa-free entry for Indian nationals, making travel more convenient. This initiative has significantly shortened the travel decision-making period – from the previous 60-80 days to just two weeks – resulting in a rise in last-minute bookings.
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