Malaysia Eyes Attracting 35.6m Tourists by 2026

TEHRAN (Iran News) On the sidelines of a conference on getting familiar with tourist attractions of Malaysia which was held at Espinas Hotel of Tehran, Malaysian Ambassador H.E. Khairi Omar, Director of Tourism Malaysia Middle East Ms. Rosnah Mustafa, Chairman of Tehran Travel Agencies Association Mr. Amir Pouyan Rafiei Shad and Sales Manager of Air Arabia in Tehran Mr. Ashkan Shahsevari answered the questions of reporters in a press conference.

Elaborating the development opportunities in the tourism market between Malaysia and Iran, Ambassador of Malaysia H.E Khairi Omar said: The development opportunities in the tourism market between Malaysia and Iran can be based on diverse aspects such as culture, history, nature, and various recreational activities. For instance, Malaysia, with its beautiful natural landscapes, historical attractions, and diverse culture, has always been appealing to Iranian tourists. On the other hand, Iran, with its ancient history, unique architecture, and rich cultural treasures, not only attracts Malaysian tourists but also captivates enthusiasts from other nations interested in traveling to Iran.”

He then touched upon modern attractions in Malaysia, like the iconic Petronas Towers and the second biggest tower in the world Merdeka 118, along with its beautiful islands such as Langkawi and Penang, and the diverse culture of its friendly people, and said that they can offer enjoyable experiences for Iranian tourists. He reiterated according to statistics, in 2022, 7,500 Iranians visited various destinations in Malaysia, increasing to 19,908 in 2023, marking a growth of approximately 163%.

He noted that it’s important to consider that Malaysian culture is an interesting blend of ethnic minorities and diverse cultures. Islam, as the majority religion, significantly influences their culture, with religious customs, arts, and architecture shaped by Islamic traditions, adding that cultural diversity has transformed Malaysia into a multicultural society, symbolizing balance and harmony among its minorities.

When he was asked what plans he foresees for the development of travel markets between the two countries, the ambassador highlighted some points like joint advertising to effectively introduce tourist attractions and travel services, fostering an increase in the number of tourists and cultural exchange; scientific and specialized exchanges for enhancing collaboration in developing tourism infrastructure, hotels, and related services; holding cultural events for attracting tourists and strengthen cultural ties; launching group familiarization. The ambassador reiterated these actions can strengthen the tourism markets of both countries, facilitating positive exchanges between the people and tourism industries of Iran and Malaysia.

On measures for deepening tourism relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur, he said: Expanding flights between major cities and tourist destinations in Malaysia can be a suitable option, adding currently, regional airlines provide easy access for Iranian tourists to various cities in Malaysia and vice versa and Travel service offices can facilitate travel with attractive tour packages.

Then Director of Tourism Malaysia Middle East Ms. Mustafa elaborated strategies of her country for boosting tourism in Malaysia.

She said Malaysian tourism consistently focuses on specific tourism sectors, such as business events, ecological tourism, capacity-based tourism, medical and health tourism, educational tourism, and experiential travel, to attract more tourists, adding that culture, cuisine, arts, and Malaysian heritage will also be utilized to enhance tourism experiences.

Ms. Mustafa added in 2024, Malaysia aims to attract 27.3 million tourists and generate revenue exceeding 102.7 billion Ringgit, noting that the strategic plan includes targeting 35.6 million foreign tourists in 2026.

She reiterated the Malaysian government aims to transform the country into a top ecotourism destination, aligning with its commitment to achieving the 2030 agenda as part of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). This commitment involves promoting sustainability of natural resources to stimulate new economic growth through ecological tourism and job creation.

The strategic tourism and marketing plan for Malaysia for the period 2022-2026 focuses on promoting domestic tourism and recovering international tourism by strengthening digital tools, innovation, health, and safety, she added.

Among the tourism development strategies, “Smart Tourism” holds a special place, she said, adding that advances in digital technology have had a significant impact on how people travel, influencing changes in the operations of tourism-related businesses.

According to a study, “Smart Tourism” has the potential to increase Malaysia’s tourism revenue from the current $25 billion to over $110 billion by 2030 and the ultimate goal of Smart Tourism is to improve resource management efficiency, enhance tourist experiences, maximize competitiveness, and promote sustainability through innovation and technological methods, she stated.

On development of tourism between Iran and Malaysia, she said encouraging collaboration between private sectors and creating incentives in both countries through organizing specialized events and even joint investments can be a crucial factor in developing the travel market between Iran and Malaysia. Other factors that can be beneficial for the development of travel between the two countries include:

She then pointed to direct flight routes as one of the main solutions for boosting cooperation in tourism between Iran and Malaysia.

Explaining the possibilities and new investments in Malaysia’s tourism industry, recreation, and related sustainable tourism topics, she said President of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance, has shown special attention to infrastructure and the growth of the domestic tourism sector in the 2024 budget and this budget can support the goal of attracting 26.1 million foreign tourists and reaching an income of 97.6 billion Malaysian Ringgit (20.7 billion US dollars).

Then chairman of Tehran Tourism Association Mr. Rafiei Shad announced readiness of the biggest tourism association of the country for developing tourism cooperation between Iran and Malaysia and noted that lack of direct flight is a major hurdle in way of boosting cooperation for exchange of tourists and reiterated that Malaysia should also work to encourage Malaysian tourists to visit Iran.

Later Sales Manager of Air Arabia in Tehran elaborated policies of the airline for reinforcing tourism between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur and reiterated the airline with young and high quality fleet and services is ready to offer services to Iranian tourists who want to visit Malaysia, reiterating that Iranians can go to Malaysia from four Iranian cities via Sharjah, the UAE.