Malaysia Targets 4.6 Million Indonesian Tourists in 2026

January 14, 2026 | 06:17 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysia is targeting to attract 4.6 million Indonesian tourists by 2026. This target is part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, following positive results last year.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin said the target is based on the steady growth in the number of Indonesian tourists in recent years, coupled with a series of promotional activities throughout 2026, as reported by the Malay Mail.

In 2024, Malaysia received around 4.1 million tourists from Indonesia, and last year, as of November, it recorded around 3.8 million.

"So we hope to achieve the target of 4.6 million tourists this year," he said at a press conference after launching the VM2026 campaign, held in collaboration with Indonesia AirAsia, in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Direct Flights Between Indonesia and Malaysia

The high number of Indonesian tourists to Malaysia is driven by transportation infrastructure. There are currently 396 direct AirAsia flights from 16 cities in Indonesia to Malaysia each week, with a total seating capacity of 72,822, as reported by Bernama.

AirAsia Indonesia also plans to open a new route to Malaysia, which is expected to be completed by mid-year.

Syed Mohamad Hasrin added that Malaysia has planned 320 large-scale programs to highlight Malaysia's unique natural attractions, adventure activities, and dynamic urban landscapes throughout the VM2026 campaign themed "Surreal Experiences."

Malaysia has surpassed Thailand for the second consecutive year in foreign tourist arrivals. Malaysia is currently the Southeast Asian country with the highest number of foreign tourists, thanks to flexible visa policies and improved infrastructure.

In the first 11 months of 2025, Malaysia welcomed 38.3 million foreign tourists, surpassing the total recorded for the entire 2024, according to Tourism Malaysia, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Read: Malaysia Surpasses Thailand as Tourist Arrivals Reach 38.3 Million

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