Malaysia

Tourism Malaysia Director-General said that over 70% of tour operators are prepared to welcome ASEAN tourists, and that the phrase “Malaysia Truly Asia” still remains relevant

The Malaysian Hotels Association Penang said that since Penang had implemented a “local government fee” (LGF) for tourists staying in a hotel, the LGF was directed to the state, whilst hotels were just LGF collection agents. They urged the state government to be transparent over how the fees are used, stating that they “must only be used for tourism and nothing else”. The state tourism committee confirmed that in Sep 2023, the Hotel fee trust account was closed, with a balance of RM9.69 million directed into the state government’s consolidated funds

The HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards (HGTA) 2025 edition will be held in Sep with an expansion to Johor Bahru. Crescentrating and HalalTrip CEO said 150 restaurants in Singapore and 200 in Johor will join the evaluation

Express bus operators said the sales of express bus tickets in Malaysia have dropped even though Chinese New Year is just in 2 weeks. Another operator said he normally receives bookings from universities to send students to their home towns after the tickets for the regular express buses at the terminals sold out. Batik Air CEO said the tickets for all flights are still available and seats to Kota Kinabalu and Tawau are half-sold. He said Malaysians are showing a trend to travel overseas for the festive season, especially to Southeast Asia destinations. He said flights to Danang and Hanoi in Vietnam have surpassed their expected load factor capacities

Sabah Tourism Minister highlighted concerns from hotel operators regarding the hotel licence fee under the Hotel & Lodging Houses By-Laws 1966. The fee took effect on 1 Jan 2025 based on occupancy and hotel classification categories. Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) said the licence fees are calculated based on RM4.65 per room per day for Class 1 hotels, RM2.65 for Class 2, and RM1.30 for Class 3, while no charges for unoccupied rooms. As of 15 Jan, over 50% of hotel operators or 99 establishments have settled their hotel and lodging house licence fees for Jan 2025. The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sabah/Labuan Chapter said previously the operators paid RM10 per room annually and now pay monthly based on occupancy and hotel classification. Its chairman said these increased costs might lead to service reductions, staff layoffs, or even closures. DBKK implemented specific guidelines to regulate Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) activities under the same laws as hotel licensing from 2 Jan

Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister said a qualified company will be appointed to manage the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) following conservationists voicing concerns over the animal shelter’s condition. The Minister said she will visit the sanctuary with a team in two days

Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) launched its 8th roadshow to India until 20 Jan 2025. It will visit Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, with each event seeing around 200 buyers and 30 media

The Langkawi Business Association has said that Langkawi is at about 70% recovery, and that the ASEAN meetings held on the island are critical to help boost recovery

Terengganu Infrastructure, Utilities, and Rural Development EXCO said the state needs over RM2.4 billion to build breakwaters to protect the 244km coast from erosion. He said the Terengganu government requested additional funding of RM600,000 through the Public Works Department under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) to address the worsening coastal erosion, particularly in Kuala Nerus

The Tourism Minister said collaboration among ASEAN countries is needed to boost the tourism sector in the region. He said the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 (ATF) serves as a platform to improve understanding and cooperation between ASEAN countries. He said this during the launching of the ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) held in conjunction with ATF 2025 at Persada International Convention Centre. TRAVEX received 221 sellers from ASEAN countries, 323 buyers from 42 countries, and 100 media from 35 countries

Kota Kinabalu will host the first ASEAN Travel Exchange (ATE) 2025 as part of an initiative by the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA), Malaysia Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), and AirAsia Group. ATE 2025 will be held from 19-21 Jun and will include conference and travel exchange components and will be supported by the Tourism Ministry of Sabah. FATA President said ATE 2025 has strategic importance and aligns with the ASEAN governments’ plan to implement ASEAN Protocol 5 on Own Stopover Rights. ATE 2025 will target 230 hosted buyers from Southeast Asia, China, and India. 100 sellers from ASEAN member nations from ASEAN countries, hotels, tour operators, product owners, and travel technology providers will participate at ATE 2025

Federal Territories Minister said Labuan will launch its Tourism Blueprint 2025-2030 to improve its tourism sector in the next 5 years. The Minister said the blueprint will serve as a strategic guide outlining strategies to boost Labuan’s tourism sector

YTL Group is confident about Malaysia’s tourism and hotel management outlook in 2025 supported by initiatives under the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. YTL Hotels Executive Director said Malaysia has emerged as a preferred holiday destination for Chinese tourists due to a cultural connection and sense of familiarity when visiting the country

CGSI Research said the visitor arrivals from China to Resorts World Genting (RWG) were almost to pre-pandemic levels in Q4 2024 which is expected to support its earning growth. CGSI said RWG reopened its casino floor and it is timely to cater for the increasing gaming volume and visitors. From Jan-Sep 2024, RWG recorded 21 million visitors, 71% of whom are day trippers. Singapore visitors reached 910,000 visitors to pre-pandemic levels, +15% YoY. Chinese visitors reached 114,000 in Q3 2024 compared to Q2 2024 with 97,000 and Q2 2023 with 44,000. CGSI Research said Genting Malaysia will capitalise on the visa exemption for Chinese tourists until 2026

Negeri Sembilan Tourism EXCO said they are preparing to promote Negeri Sembilan as a preferred tourism destination for Visit Negeri Sembilan Year 2026 (TMNS2026). She said they estimate 22 million tourist arrivals. They are planning to host more events in the coming months to make TMNS2026 a success. This is being held after 25 years. She said they have already started to promote this at sales and exhibitions such as the MATTA Fair, NS Travel Fair @ NS Fest, World Travel Market in London, the China Sales Mission in Shenyang, Changchun, Jilin and Harbin, ASEAN Festival, Thailand, and ITB China in Shanghai. She said the government has set the tourism segment to 60% beach tourism, 30% eco-tourism, and 10% tourism based on culture. She said the state has planned to build new products such as a floating mosque in Port Dickson, the Silara Hutan Sky Walk in the Pasir Panjang Forest Eco Park, Port Dickson, a tapir sanctuary in Kenaboi Jelebu, and the Miniature Culture Village in Seremban from 2025. She said there were plans for cruise ships to dock in the Port Dickson passenger jetty but it was postponed due to insufficient sea depth levels, larger vessels find it difficult to berth at the port. In 2023, Negeri Sembilan welcomed 15 million tourists

Ipsos published a “Global Predictions for 2025” report and found that 68% of Malaysians are expecting a new pandemic in 2025. The global average dropped to 47% while Indonesia 65% and Thailand 61%. Singapore recorded a drop to 49% from the 55% it previously recorded

Sibuan Island will re-open to the public on 14 Jan after the authorities cleared remnants of a World War 2 bomb from the area. The Navy destroyed the bomb without any damage to the property or the marine environment

The Johor Health and Environmental EXCO said several parties expressed interest in developing health facilities such as hospitals and pharmacies in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). He said he visited China, South Korea, Japan, the UAE, and Qatar together with the State Investment EXCO to promote investment and the investors are confident and keen to invest in JS-SEZ. He said two hospitals, Hospital Pasir Gudang and Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2 will be built in the future. He said foreign investors’ involvement in the medical industry will position JS-SEZ as a focus point and hub for medical tourism

Tourism Selangor CEO asked local communities, especially new villages, to beautify their villages to attract visitors during Visit Selangor Year (VSY) 2025. She said the communities can contact Tourism Selangor for more information. She said the Kampung Baru Jenjarom committee’s effort to draw a mural at the old Fo Gung Shan Dong Zen temple can attract more tourists

The Home Ministry announced that ASEAN travellers would be able to use the Immigration QR code clearance system for departure from Kuala Lumpur International Airport from 2026 ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. They are waiting for the system to stabilise first, and will also roll it out to airports such as Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Langkawi

The Tourism Minister condemned those who stir racial and religious issues on social media following a video montage of the Visit Malaysia (VM2026) video allegedly excluding mosques. He said all Malaysians should focus on harmony and unity to instil confidence in tourists in Malaysia as a preferred destination

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia (CILTM) Sabah Chairman called on all stakeholders to find a solution to issues surrounding Labuan-Kota Kinabalu ferry service. The service that was slated to start operations in mid-Dec 2024 was suspended. Some allegedly blamed this suspension on inadequate facilities at Jesselton Ferry Terminal and criticised Sabah authorities for their lack of preparedness

The Prime Minister said Penang’s unique cultural identity will be protected despite the development projects such as the LRT and Penang International Airport expansion project. He said the issue of the proposed LRT depot at the Pesta Site in Sungai Nibong will be addressed by the relevant parties to save the whole or part of the site. The 29.5km LRT will be built with 21 stations including 1 at Penang South Reclamation Island A (PSR-A). The first contract signing will be held on 12 Jan. The project is expected to start its operation in Dec 2031

The Prime Minister said the Federal Government assured Penang that the Penang International Airport (PIA) and the Juru-Sungai Dua elevated highway project will be expedited

The Home Minister said the Immigration QR code clearance system was implemented following complaints from Malaysians after travellers from 63 other countries were allowed to use autogates. He said 400,000 users have downloaded the MyBorderPass app with 10,000 users daily. He said the government spent RM19.2 million to install 20 QR code lanes at both terminals in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He said 30 million visitors entered Malaysia in 2024 and the Malaysian Aviation Commission requires 85% of waiting for visitors to be processed within 20 minutes

Immigration Director-General said the claims that Chinese visitors are not required to go through immigration checks are not true. He said Chinese tourists recorded +140% YoY in 2024 with 3.9 million visitors

The Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai said travellers from India to Malaysia recorded a 71.7% YoY increase in 2024. He said that extending the 30-day visa exemption for Indian tourists until Dec 2026 will be a significant milestone in improving the connectivity between both countries. Malaysia welcomed 1,009,114 Indian visitors from Jan-Nov 2024

The Tourism Minister said a permanent licence for tourism operators with a fixed fee for renewal will be introduced for the operator’s convenience. He said the applications can be made online and more details will be revealed after the Chinese New Year celebrations. He said applications for tourist bus operator licences will be managed by the ministry but the road tax and maintenance of vehicle safety will be under the Transport Ministry. The Minister said Visit Malaysia Year 2026 roadmap is built on 3 strategies such as creating demand, increasing traffic, and prioritising target markets. Other initiatives are branding and marketing blitz, partnership for joint promotions with campaigns, and market segementation

Malaysia will focus on attracting young Chinese tourists in 2025. Malaysia welcomed 4 million Chinese tourists as of Oct 2024 YTD, +160% YoY. Industry experts asked tourism players to embrace digitalisation and introduce unique products to attract young travellers

Port Dickson has been selected as one of the ASEAN Summit meeting locations. Port Dickson Municipal Council (MPPD) President said the council is fully committed to ensuring a smooth preparation for a successful event. The meeting is scheduled to take place on 3 Oct

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said the number of unemployed people in Nov 2024 dropped to 546,700 with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, -0.9% MoM. The Chief Statistician said the labour force in Nov 2024 strengthened to 17.29 million people, +0.1% MoM. The labour force participation is at 70.5%

Malaysia ranked in 12th place in the list of powerful passports, offering visa-free travel to 183 out of 227 countries in a report published by CNN Travel from Henley Passport

Malaysia will exceed 5% growth in 2025, driven by foreign investments and government initiatives. Second Finance Minister said the government plans to narrow the GDP gap to 3.8% in 2025

Tourism Malaysia launched the Borneo Green Bike Tour as part of an eco-friendly initiative

Penang Global Tourism (PGT) is actively promoting Penang through the ‘Not the Penang You Know’ campaign. The campaign aims to highlight lesser-known destinations in Penang and promote niche markets such as medical, educational, wedding, and cruise tourism. Penang Tourism EXCO said there are 15 new hotels, including luxury and eco-friendly categories, that will open by 2026

The Tourism Minister said mosque architecture will be included in a more comprehensive Visit Malaysia Year 2026 promotional video. He said the recent 41-second tourism promotional montage sparked controversy for not including mosque elements. He said the video was short and aimed to showcase Malaysia’s uniqueness inclusively

Malaysia will offer a 5% tax rate for companies investing in high-value activities in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Eligible knowledge workers in JS-SEZ will be offered a 15% income tax rate for 10 years. The Johor government reduced the entertainment levy by 1%. This change came into effect from 1 Jan

The Johor government announced a strategic collaboration with Qatar to boost the tourism sector. Johor Mentri Besar met with Qatar Tourism Chairman and Visit Qatar Board Chairman to discuss this

The Tourism Ministry (MOTAC) revoked the Layang-Layang Island Resort Sdn Bhd license from 6 Jan after the Sabah resort failed to return deposits to more than 100 individuals including foreign tourists since 2020

Event organisers criticised the Selangor government’s proposal for urine screening for concert-goers to prevent drug use at shows as unrealistic. Shiraz Project's Executive Producer said the government should address the main issues such as how drugs got into the country

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister said based on a government analysis, more than 30% of jobs in Malaysia will be affected by artificial intelligence (AI) in the next 10 years affecting manufacturing, services, and information technology sectors. He said more than 600,000 workers must attend reskilling training within 3-5 years to remain relevant. He said Malaysia is projected to require an additional 500,000 skilled workers to meet demand in the technology and technical sector. The ministry has been tasked to develop initiatives for skills development through the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) Professional Development Certification

Malaysian Prime Minister said the government can revive the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project with the support of the private sector and minimal government involvement. He said Malaysia is focusing on poverty issues, flood mitigation, basic infrastructure, education, and public health first. He said the government is waiting for promising proposals from the private sector

Malaysia and Singapore will collaborate for a Special Economic Zone in Johor to create 20,000 skilled jobs in the first 5 years and gain global investments. The SEZ targets 50 projects in the first 5 years and 100 projects in the first 10 years. Prime Ministers of both countries witnessed the exchange of an agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) during the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Putrajaya. Malaysia’s Economic Minister said Malaysia will fund infrastructure and Singapore will fund to facilitate investments

Langkawi will host the ASEAN Summit 2025 in Jan, attracting 1,000 delegates to 3 conferences. The ASEAN Summit agenda starts with the ASEAN+3 Meeting (Financial Track) will be held from 14-15 Jan - ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat from 18-19 Jan - Special Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Energy from 21-23 Jan The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) CEO launched Visit Kedah Year 2025 with 132 calendar events in 2025, including the 21st Langkawi International Regatta from 13-16 Feb at Royal Langkawi Yacht Club and the 17th Lima (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) from 20-24 May

The Prime Minister launched the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign with a focus on sustainable tourism. He said Malaysia must find a balance between development and nature. He said Visit Malaysia 2026 will extend beyond tourism benefiting hospitality, transport, retail, and food industries. The Prime Minister’s said government’s target of 35.6 million visitors and generating RM147.1 billion in revenue in 2026 is realistic and pragmatic. The Tourism Minister said the campaign will start with the Malaysia Sarong Music Run 2025 on 8 Feb. The event is expected to welcome 20,000 participants

Tourism Malaysia supported by PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn. Berhad and Think City will launch the MOVE8 Walk-A-Hunt @ Merdeka 118 Precinct on 18 Jan. Participants can enjoy physical exploration with a VR film which will be released in late 2025

The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) released a limited-edition Chinese New Year ang pao featuring the Bornean Palm Pit Viper, an endemic species to Borneo. Chinese New Year Travel is expected to peak from 28 Jan-4 Feb

Kota Melaka MP said the Church of St Francis Xavier located in Melaka is in need of assistance from the state government to restore its ageing structure. He said the estimated cost of the restoration is RM6 million. The MP earlier presented RM247,744 from the Ministry of Local Government and RM50,000 from his parliamentary allocation

Tourism Malaysia announced the endangered Malayan Sun Bear will be the campaign mascot for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026

The Selangor government recommended urine screening as part of an SOP in an effort to prevent any involvement at concerts. On 3 Jan, Selangor police announced a suspension of concert permits until investigations into the dead of 4 individuals after attending PinkFish Concert in Bandar Sunway

The Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) welcomed the Norwegian Sky cruise ship with 2,000 passengers and 900 crew members. The ship departed Mauritius for a 17-day trip

The Malaysian Cabinet will discuss the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project soon with the funding constraints becoming a primary challenge. The government said the project can be funded by the private sector as the government prioritising efforts to reduce government debt reaching RM1.24 trillion

The Immigration Department said the MyBorderPass application is required for Malaysians to use the QR code system clearance at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Malaysian travellers with the app need to do a facial verification before departing or after arriving

During the Terengganu Monsoon Beach Cleanup 2024, a total of 15 tonnes of trash were collected in 4 hours. The program was organised by the Terengganu government together with Geng Plastik Ija, Petronas, the Kuala Terengganu City Council, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Terengganu State EXCO said this initiative targeted 2 popular tourist destinations Seberang Takir Beach and Batu Buruk Beach. 1,000 volunteers participated in the clean-up effort. In 2024, the state recorded 7.8 million tourists and they expect 2025 to surpass that

MIC Deputy President said he supports the proposal by Batu Caves Ayyappa Swami Devasthanam Temple to have a special lane at airports for Hindu devotees on pilgrimage to Sabarimala in Kerala, India

Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) and China Communications Construction ECRL (CCCECRL) signed a JV agreement to oversee the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) operation. The Transport Minister said under this partnership both parties will hold equal stakes and responsibility including in operational risks and financial deficits

The Penang Miaohui festival will be held on 1 Feb and is expected to attract 200,000 visitors. The event will be held under the theme “Penang Lang, Let’s Celebrate”

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will add 2 additional ETS trains for the KL Sentral-Padang Besar route in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. KTMB said the ticket sales will start on 3 Jan for travel between 17 Jan-16 Feb

The Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) has reported that it hosted 650 events in 2024, with 4 million visitors and adding RM1 billion to the tourism sector, creating 57,000 jobs

Perak Menteri Besar said the state recorded 8.4 million tourists from Jan-Nov 2024 in conjunction with Visit Perak Year 2024. He said that based on the Tourism Malaysia survey, the state welcomed 627,292 international tourists, +135% YoY. He said Ipoh and Pangkor remain top destinations while Larut, Matang, and Selama district stands out as well with 1,050,144 visitors making it the 3rd most visited district. Telegraph Museum, Antong Coffee, and Trong Leisure Farm were highlights of the district with +30% YoY in visitor arrivals

The Tourism Minister said Malaysia recorded 32.2 million international tourist arrivals from Jan-Nov 2024, +31.8% YoY. He said Malaysia recorded 193.3 million domestic tourist arrivals from Jan-Sep 2024, +28% YoY

Kedah Menteri Besar said 150 events are planned for 2025 Visit Kedah Year. He said these events will help the state to achieve 6 million tourist arrivals in 2025

The Home Minister said 40 lanes with a QR code system for autogate clearance will be launched on a trial basis in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2. The trial of the QR code system will be available exclusively for Malaysians at both departure and arrival halls. With this system, immigration clearance can be done within 5-7 seconds compared to 15-25 seconds with traditional automatic gates

Terengganu recorded 7.8 million tourist arrivals in 2024, surpassing its 4.5 million visitors target and surpassing the 3.5 million visitors recorded in 2023. Terengganu Tourism EXCO said the state plans to attract investment to develop 5-star hotels in 2025 to boost the tourism sector in line with the Terengganu Industrial Investment Development Policy 2024-2030, which will be launched in 2025

The Melaka government plans to develop a Smart Heritage Tourism application with tourism-related information and offers. State Tourism EXCO said it will be equipped with AI, VR, AR, and Chatbot functions

Penang Tourism EXCO said the state recorded 108,029 Chinese tourist arrivals via air, +222.7% YoY. He said the number of tourists is higher when taking into account those who entered by land via Kuala Lumpur. Loong Air launched a direct flight from Xi’an to Penang. He said Penang has direct connections to 20 international cities through 35 routes. Direct flight frequencies from China were 61 in Nov 2024, +259% YoY

An overwhelming number of vehicles from Singapore's Woodlands to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (BSI) complex in Johor Baru caused gridlock on the Causeways on 29 Dec. The congestion started around 2pm and was expected to stay until midnight

Sarawak Tourism Minister said events like the Rock in The Jungle (RiTJ) Music Festival 2024 were able to attract rock music fans from Peninsular Malaysia and other neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Brunei. He said with Sarawak’s own airline and better connectivity, this kind of event will attract more tourists to Sarawak

Sabah Tourism Minister said the state will launch the Elephant Food Corridor in Kinabatangan as part of a conservation effort in 2025. She said this will help to reduce human-elephant conflicts in the east coast regions of Sabah. The Sabah Wildlife Department extended the sea turtle conservation program for 5 years through an MoU with Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research (FOSTER) on Libaran Island. She said the Sabah Cultural Complex will start construction in Kinarut in 2025. The Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) hosted 1,428 in 2024 vs 1,301 events in 2023

The Light and Motion Putrajaya Festival (Lampu2024) is expected to attract 1 million visitors. The event will be held until 31 Dec

Pesta Pulau Pinang is targeting 500,000 visitors in the 2024 edition which started on 21 Dec 2024 and will run until 2 Feb 2025. The event will feature 100 booths offering various foods. The event welcomed 10,000 visitors on the first day of the event

The CEO of Pavilion said traffic and sales at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur have increased by 5%-10% vs pre-pandemic levels. The Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) forecasts 3.9% growth for the retail sector in 2024 in line with the estimated 5.3% growth of GDP. Sunway Mall’s CEO said they recorded strong year-end sales, particularly during the festive season with a forecast +7% YoY growth in Dec 2024

Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter Chairman said hotel booking rates in Penang, especially around the city centre and Batu Ferringhi, reached 90%-100% since 20 Dec driven by the school holiday and the extended Christmas holiday period. He said tourists from China, Indonesia, and Macau also show consistent arrival trends

Penang Chief Minister said Penang has around 12,000 hotel rooms but the state needs more hotels to accommodate the increasing number of tourists, especially in Seberang Perai. He said the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) has plans to address this issue. The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) offers various incentives to tourism and hospitality industry players. From Jan-Oct 2024, Penang welcomed 6.18 million domestic and international tourists via the Penang International Airport (PIA), +7.46% YoY. He also expects the state to welcome more MICE tourists with the opening of the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) in 2025

Sabah Tourism Minister said the Japanese Government has revised the travel advisory against visiting the east coast of Sabah. Japan lifted the ban to allow tourists to visit Tawau, Sandakan, and Lahad Datu but the islands off Semporna are still under a travel ban

The transport industry is facing a shortfall of 5,000 bus drivers and causing express and tour bus operators to fail to assign 2 drivers for long-haul routes. The President of the Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) warned the shortage has reached a critical level. The cost of obtaining a Class E licence and vocational permits such as the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) or Goods Driving Licence (GDL) are among the reasons for the shortage. He said Class E licence ranges from RM4,000-RM5,000 and the B40 group cannot afford it. He said drivers in Johor and Melaka are choosing to work in Singapore and some are leaving for other industries. Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) found 25 express and tour buses were operating with only 1 driver for destinations over 300 km. The Transport Ministry’s Malaysian Transport Statistics show there were 4,261 registered express buses and 5,092 tour buses

Melaka Tourism EXCO said 13,584,042 tourists visited Melaka from Jan-Nov 2024, +81.89% YoY in conjunction with Visit Melaka Year 2024. 10,249,895 visitors (75.46%) are domestic visitors and the remaining 3,334,147 (24.54%) are foreign visitors. The majority of domestic tourists are from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Putrajaya, and Negeri Sembilan. The international tourists are from China, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Melaka recorded RM2.688 billion in tourism receipts

Universiti Malaysia Sabah Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Director said Malaysian travellers are showing a preference for green tourism, especially in Sabah, where the state welcomed 2.1 million tourists from Jan-Aug 2024. He said domestic tourism accounted for 80% of 2024 tourism receipts supporting SMEs and promoting community-based tourism in rural areas. Domestic tourism expenditure is projected to increase by 27.2%, adding RM50 billion to GDP and benefiting cities like Ipoh and Alor Setar

The Transport Minister said the federal government has no immediate plan to develop a national policy on the development of airports and seaports following reports of Kedah and Johor expressing intention to build seaports. He said infrastructure could be a catalyst for economic growth and further development. He said the ministry will consider proposals from state governments and the private sector. He said the airport proposal must meet the technical requirements. He said the Kedah government has applied for an aerodrome licence to establish the Kulim International Airport and the ministry is evaluating the application. He said Sarawak is aspiring to develop into an aviation hub and the state has the financial capability to fund the airport development, but added it’s in the conceptual stage

Johor will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) from 15-20 Jan 2025 in Persada Johor International Convention Centre. Around 1,000 participants and international media from 10 ASEAN countries, China, Japan, Russia, and India will attend the event

Malaysia Tourism Federation President said Malaysian travel agencies and tour operators should offer tailored packages for Indian tourists. He said over 1 million Indian tourist arrivals have been recorded YTD. He said improved service offers, infrastructure and trained staff to meet cultural and dietary needs are important. He said Kuala Lumpur is positioned as a strategic stopover for Indian tourists to visit Indonesia with AirAsia and Batik Air providing extensive service in India. He said emerging destinations like Kota Kinabalu and Kuching have potential. Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association President said there will be a 20% increase in Indian tourist arrivals to Malaysia by 2025. He said in 2023, 100 out of 300 booked passengers couldn’t get visas but with the new visa-free policy Indian tourist travel became more convenient. He said new direct flights from India such as Chennai-Penang and Bangalore-Langkawi will contribute a 20% economic boost and 30% of Indian tourists are “free independent travellers”. He said most Indian tourists prefer mid-range accommodations and spend between RM300-RM400 per room. Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association President said they recorded a 100% surge in Indian tourists visiting Malaysia due to the visa-free policies. He asked the Tourism Minister to step up promotional activities to attract 1.5 million visitors. Malaysia’s High Commissioner to India said Malaysia welcomed 1 million tourist arrivals, +71.7% YoY and surpassed pre-pandemic levels

Russian Official said Malaysia will become a BRICS partner from 1 Jan 2025. He said BRICS received 35 applications

Thailand-Southeast Asia Halal Trade and Tourism Association said over 500,000 Malaysians are expected to visit Thailand in Dec 2024. The association said 4.6 million Malaysians visited Thailand in 2024. Over 30,000 rooms in Hatyai and Songhla have been fully booked for the Christmas holiday season and New Year celebrations. On average Malaysian tourists spend at least RM600 during their Thailand visit

Tourism Malaysia’s Eastern Region Director said they plan to expand the Midnight Sale program to east coast states as part of the Malaysia Year End Sale (MYES) campaign. He said the main objective is to encourage tourists from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei to shop and spend the night in Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia data shows from Jan-Sep 2024, total tourist expenditure reached RM26.98 billion, +63% YoY

Sabah Tourism Minister said the state will host the inaugural ASEAN Travel Exchange (ATE) 2025 to improve collaboration between regional tourism players. The Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA) President proposed this event. FATA, the ASEAN Tourism Association, the Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents, and AirAsia Group will form a strategic partnership with Sabah Tourism Board in hosting ATE 2025

Malaysia is targeting medical tourists from second-tier cities like Batam and Palembang, Indonesia, and Xiamen in China. Indonesian tourists accounted for 60% of medical tourists and 26% were from China in H1 2024

Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor Chapter Chairman said the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Jan 2025 and the close gap between Christmas and Chinese New Year contributed to the increase in hotel room bookings in Johor. He said the occupancy rate for hotels has been high during festive seasons. He said the 30-day visa-free benefit for Chinese tourists also contributed to this high occupancy. He hopes the Human Resources Ministry will ease the foreign worker hiring process, especially for the “dirty, dangerous and difficult” jobs

The International Cultural Run #DuyongKita will be held during the World Tourism Day (WTD) and World Tourism Conference (WTC) scheduled in Sep 2025. Melaka Chief Minister said this event will be held on a larger scale involving international participants attending WTD and WTC

Visit Selangor Year (VSY) 2025 was launched during an event at Setia City Park, Setia Alam from 20-22 Dec. 5,000 visitors joined the event. VSY 2025 under the “Surprising Selangor” aims to attract 8 million tourists and earn RM11.7 billion in tourism receipts. A new digital portal visitselangor2025.my was launched alongside the “Surprising Selangor” song. ‘Spark the Firefly’ will be the official mascot for the campaign. Selangor Tourism EXCO said the government allocated RM8 million for the campaign