KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s tourism sector is on track to achieve its best revenue year yet, with a remarkable RM45.42 billion in tourist receipts recorded in the first six months of 2024, signalling a robust recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to statistics provided by Tourism Malaysia, this figure represents a 50.8% increase, or RM15.3 billion, compared to the RM30.12 billion collected during the same period last year.
Moreover, the earnings are RM3.74 billion, or 9.0%, higher than the pre-pandemic figure of RM41.67 billion for the first half of 2019.
In terms of per capita tourist expenditure, Malaysia has reached a five-year high, with an average spending of RM3,846.45 recorded in the first half of this year. This marks an increase of RM678.21, or 21.4%, from RM3,168.24 during the same period last year, and is RM724.85, or 23.2%, higher than the figure in 2019.
Increase in tourist arrivals
The surge in tourist receipts and expenditure reflects a significant increase in tourist arrivals, with 11.8 million visitors recorded—an increase of 2.68 million, or 28.9%, compared to the same period in 2023. However, this figure remains 11.6% lower than the pre-pandemic total of 13.3 million tourists in 2019.
Among foreign tourists, Singapore leads as the top source market, contributing 4.27 million visitors in the January-June period, followed by Indonesia (1.78 million), China (1.44 million), Thailand (813,783), and Brunei (565,999).
Notably, tourist numbers from China have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 figures falling 120,000 short of the 1.56 million visitors recorded in the first half of 2019, according to a report from Xinhua News Agency.
Malaysia has also seen a five-year high in the arrival rate of excursionists—same-day visitors—totaling 5.67 million in the first half of this year. This figure represents an increase of 1.97 million, or 23.5%, compared to 4.5 million in the same period of 2019, and is 1.89 million, or 50.4%, higher than the 3.77 million excursionists recorded in the first half of 2023.
Singapore again dominates the top five source nations for excursionists, with 4.12 million visitors, followed by Thailand (361,035), Brunei (319,421), Indonesia (244,481), and China (157,702). – September 28, 2024