Malaysia's tourism industry has experienced remarkable growth with Chinese tourist arrivals reaching 3 million in the first 11 months of 2024, reflecting a dramatic increase of almost 133% compared to the previous year according to Tourism Malaysia.
The visa-free policy for Chinese nationals has proven highly successful, with Malaysia already welcoming nearly 900,000 Chinese visitors in the first few months of 2025, building on the over 4 million Chinese tourists who visited in 2024.
Chinese tourists have become a pivotal force behind Malaysia's current tourism momentum, accounting for 1.12 million visitors in Q1 2025 alone, making China Malaysia's second-largest source market after Indonesia.
The Malaysian government has set ambitious tourism targets for 2025, aiming to attract 31.3 million international tourist arrivals and generate RM125.5 billion (approximately USD 26.6 billion) in tourism receipts, representing a 25% increase in arrivals and 23% rise in revenue compared to 2024.
Looking ahead to 2026, Malaysia has unveiled an even more ambitious tourism strategy targeting 35.6 million international visitors, with the extension of the 30-day visa exemption for Chinese nationals through 2026 demonstrating the country's commitment to expanding its economic footprint in the tourism sector.
