Strong festive arrivals in Malaysia signal confident start for tourism sector, says minister

SIBU (Feb 19): A surge in visitor arrivals and near-full hotel occupancy nationwide during the Chinese New Year festive season signals a strong and confident start for Malaysia’s tourism sector this year, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

He said early indicators point to sustained domestic and international travel demand, reflecting growing confidence in Malaysia as a preferred destination.

“On the first day alone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) 1 recorded about 6,500 arrivals within two hours, while KLIA 2 saw around 1,500 arrivals.

“The full official figures are still being compiled, but the initial response is very encouraging,” he told reporters after the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Chinese New Year Open House here on Thursday.

Tiong said similar momentum was observed in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, where four- and five-star hotels reported close to 100 per cent occupancy throughout the festive period.

He added that the strong performance underscores the steady recovery and expansion of the tourism sector, driven by ongoing promotional efforts and strategic collaboration between federal and state agencies.

Looking ahead, he stressed the need for closer coordination between his ministry and the Sarawak tourism ministry to further strengthen marketing initiatives.

“After Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, we will engage with the Sarawak side to align our promotional strategies more comprehensively.

“I have also instructed my ministry to be more aggressive in its outreach and to work closely with all states to enhance our national tourism campaign,” he said.

He added that the strong performance underscores the steady recovery and expansion of the tourism sector, driven by ongoing promotional efforts and strategic collaboration between federal and state agencies.

Looking ahead, he stressed the need for closer coordination between his ministry and the Sarawak tourism ministry to further strengthen marketing initiatives.