“Malaysia Truly Asia” which has been used since 1999 is one of the best and strongest slogans in the world that describes the country in the framework of diversity.[1][2]
Tourism in Malaysia is a major industry and contributor to theMalaysian economy.Malaysia was once ranked 9th in the world for tourist arrivals.[3] In 2017, theTravel and Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Malaysia 26 out of 141 countries using its Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) which measures the various components and policies of a country that are in place to allow for the sustainable development of its travel and tourism sectors.[4]
In an effort to diversify Malaysia's economy and reduce its dependency on exports, the government pushed to increase tourism in Malaysia. This led tourism to become Malaysia's second largest source of foreign exchange income.[5] In 2022, tourism contributed 14% to Malaysia's overall GDP.[6]
The government agency in charge of promoting tourism in Malaysia isTourism Malaysia or the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB). On 20 May 1987, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism (MOCAT) was established and TDC moved to this new ministry. TDC existed from 1972 to 1992, when it became the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB), through the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Act, 1992.
In 2007, Malaysia launched its most notable tourism campaign titled "Malaysia Truly Asia".[7] This campaign was launched in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th year of independence and was heavily promoted and advertised.[7] It exceeded expectations and was a massive success, chartering the arrivals of 20.97 million tourists.[7]
In 2025,Kuala Lumpur andJohor Bahru were named among the top 10 destinations in Asia with the highest number of repeat visitors, according toAgoda.[8] In the same year, Malaysia received approximately 26.6 million international tourist arrivals from its main source markets, the vast majority originating from Asia (about 23.7 million visitors, or 89.1%), while Western markets —Europe,Northern America, as well asAustralia andNew Zealand — accounted for only about 2.2 million arrivals (8.2%). Other regions, including the Middle East and Africa, accounted for a comparatively smaller share of arrivals. Major source markets includedSingapore (35.1%),China,Indonesia,Thailand andIndia, while the largest Western source markets wereAustralia, theUnited Kingdom, theUnited States,France andGermany.
Most nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa and are normally issued 30, 60, or 90-day entry permit stamps. Some nationalities that are not eligible to enter without a visa can get a tourist visa on arrival; other nationalities must apply for a visa in advance. Most notably, holders of Israeli or Serbia-Montenegro passports arenot allowed to visit Malaysia without separate, prior approval from the Home Ministry (a fairly routine but bureaucratic process). See theImmigration Department of Malaysia website for the current scoop.
Most international flights land atKuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) (IATA airport code {{{3}}}:KUL, {{{2}}} |Template:ICAO); AirAsia flights now use the new LCC terminal, a 20km road transfer away from the main KLIA terminal. KLIA's predecessor, theSultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA airport code {{{3}}}:SZB, {{{2}}} |Template:ICAO) in Subang nearKuala Lumpur handles chartered and turboprop aircraft.
National carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has an extensive worldwide network coverage and regularly ranks high in airline quality assessments, while no-frills low-cost carrier AirAsia now covers an ever-expanding set of neighbouring destinations including Cambodia, Indonesia, Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
To/from Thailand: Direct sleeper train services operated by the State Railway of Thailand[1] connectBangkok (Thailand) andButterworth nearPenang (Malaysia), while Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malaysian Railways)[2] runs trains betweenHat Yai (Thailand) andKuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Both trains cross the border atPadang Besar where Thai and Malaysia immigration formalities are all conveniently done in the station. There is also a less used eastern route fromHat Yai to Thai border townSungai Kolok, but there are no through trains to the nearby Malaysian station at Wakaf Bahru (nearKota Bharu).
To/from Singapore: Comfortable overnight sleeper and somewhat misnamed daytime "express" trains also connect Singapore withKuala Lumpur andKota Bharu. Bizarrely, ticketsfrom Singapore are twice as expensive as thoseto Singapore; you can save quite a bit by taking the train fromJohor Bahru instead.
Long-distances buses/coaches into Malaysia run from Brunei, Indonesian Borneo, Singapore and Thailand. Please see the relevant city pages for more details.
Brunei – buses connect Bandar Seri Begawan with severalSarawak cities. The most popular jumping-off point isMiri.
Singapore – a multitude of bus companies operate direct routes from Singapore to various destinations inPeninsular Malaysia, includingMalacca, Kuala Lumpur,Penang andEast Coast cities. Frequent buses make the short run between Singapore andJohor Bahru. To save costs, many people coming in from Singapore make the short hop to Johor Bahru and catch coaches to other Malaysian destinations from there.
Thailand – several companies operate services fromKuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia toHat Yai insouthern Thailand, where direct connections are available toBangkok and many other Thai destinations.
Brunei – the main crossings are atSungai Tujoh on theMiri, Sarawak, to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) road, and theKuala Lurah-Tedungan checkpoint which is used for traffic travelling between Bandar Seri Begawan and Limbang inSarawak. You can also access the Temburong district of Brunei by road fromLimbang (Sungai Pandaruan) and Lawas (Trusan).
Indonesia – the main crossing is at theTebedu-Entikong checkpoint on the mainKuching-Pontianak road. Various other minor border crossings used by locals are not necessarily open to foreigners.
Singapore – the two crossings are theCauseway which linksJohor Bahru withWoodlands in Singapore, and the Malaysia-SingaporeSecond Link which links Tanjung Kupang inJohor with Tuas in Singapore. SeeJohor BahruGet in section andSingaporeGet in section for more details.
Brunei – ferries daily between the Muara Ferry Terminal in Brunei andLabuan island and Lawas inSarawak. Speedboats, mostly in the morning, also run between Bandar Seri Begawan jetty and Limbang,Sarawak.
Singapore – daily passenger boats run between Changi Point and Pengerang,Johor; daily vehicle ferries operate between Changi Ferry Terminal and Tanjung Belungkor,Johor. See theSingapore "Get in" section for details.
Thailand – four ferries daily (reduced to three during Ramadan) between Tammalang atSatun and Kuah onLangkawi, Malaysia. Vehicle ferries operate betweenTak Bai inNarathiwat province and Pengkalan Kubur inKelantan, Malaysia.
It is possible to walk across the Causeway between Singapore andJohor Bahru at the southern tip of Malaysia. You can also walk in/out of Thailand at Wang Kelian andPadang Besar (both inPerlis), Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah), Pengkalan Hulu (Perak) and Rantau Panjang (Kelantan).-->
Bukit Bintang, it has long been Kuala Lumpur's most prominent retail belt that is home to many landmark shopping centres, al-fresco cafés, bars,night markets, food street,mamak stalls as well as hawker-type eateries.
Perdana Botanical Gardens, the first large-scale recreational park since 1888, it contains sculpted and manicured gardens, lake garden, and a host of attractions.
Merdeka 118, the world's second tallest building with a height of 678.9meters.
There are many tourist attractions outside of the city, spread acrossGreater Kuala Lumpur andKlang Valley area which has hosted various major national and international events, from man-made attractions to natural attractions such as mountainous landscapes, hills, and rice fields.
Batu Caves, cave complex contains manyHindu temples, the most popular of which is a shrine dedicated toTamil godMurugan with a 43 m (141 ft) highMurugan statue, one of the largest Murugan statues in the world, and the focal point of theTamil festival ofThaipusam in Malaysia.
Sunway Lagoon, anamusement park located inSunway City,Subang Jaya,Selangor, featured two main areas:Waters of Africa, offering 13 attractions, andSurf Beach, with 9 attractions. The park is also home to over 140 species. The animal sanctuaries within the park are uniquely named, such asPet Village,Jungle Trail, andBird Savannah.
These three places arehill station located in theTitiwangsa Mountains,Pahang, centralPeninsular Malaysia, at 800 m (2,600 ft) to1,800 m (5,900 ft) elevation. It was primary tourist attraction in the state, especiallyGenting Highlands, a hill resort where casinos and theme parks are situated and where gambling is permitted.
Resorts World Genting is the main attraction that has seven hotels, with one of them being a leisure resort. One of the seven accommodations, First World Hotel, held the Guinness World Record as the largest hotel globally from 2006 until 2008 and regained the title in 2015 with 7,351 rooms. In 2018,Forbes Travel Guide Star Ratings awarded 4-star rating and 'recommended' citation to Genting Grand and Maxims respectively.[10] Crockfords at Resorts World Genting was awarded the 5-star rating in 2019 & 2020, making it the first and only hotel in Malaysia to achieve this award.[11] There are currently three theme parks at Resort World Genting,Genting SkyWorlds, Skytropolis Funland, and Genting Grand Indoor Theme Park, including a defunctmonorail service that operated from 1994-2013.[12][13][14]
Mohamed Noah Foundation Mosque is the sole mosque named after late politician and co-founder of Genting Group Mohamed Noah Omar, Gohtong Memorial Park - memorial and cemetery of the late founder Lim Goh Tong[16]
Johor Bahru is the capital city ofJohor, it was the world's39th most visited city by international tourists, according toEuromonitor International in 2019, as well as the second most visited city in the nation, after Kuala Lumpur.[19] Known as the gateway toSingapore, the primary visitors of this border city are from Singapore andIndonesia, majority of them come here for day trips owing to its cheaper exchange rates.[20] Many of them also pay visit to the state as part of themedical tourism initiative.[21]Johor Zoo is known as the oldest zoo in Malaysia, with history hails back before the independence of Malaysia, it will also feature night safari in 2025.[22] TheArulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple is the world's first glass temple and the only one in Malaysia.[23]
West of Johor Bahru,Legoland Malaysia Resort is the firstLegoland theme park in Asia, and the sixth in the world.Kukup Island is also the world's second largest uninhabited mangrove island and is listed as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention 1971, thus attracting many tourists and researchers.[24]Tanjung Piai is the location of the 'Southernmost Tip of Mainland Eurasia', and is one of the most visited places and national parks in Johor.[25]
To the east coast of Johor,Desaru is known to host many 5-star luxurious integrated resorts, water park and a prestige beach area.[26] It was also listed among the world's 100 greatest places to visit byTime (magazine) in 2021, the only destination in Malaysia in this ranking.[27]
The capital city ofPenang isGeorge Town. It was well-known for its diversified cultural history, historic sites, and street art scene. ThePenang Island City Council has officially identified 3,642 heritage buildings inside the UNESCO-demarcated zone.[33] Shophouses sit alongside Anglo-Indian bungalows, mosques, temples, churches, and European-style administrative and commercial complexes, shaping the city's multicultural framework.[34] Among the landmarks within the zone that feature various Asian architectural styles are theKhoo Kongsi,Kapitan Keling Mosque andSri Mahamariamman Temple.[35] Elsewhere in the city, the influence of Siamese and Burmese cultures can be seen at places of worship likeWat Chayamangkalaram,Dhammikarama Burmese Temple andKek Lok Si.[36]Gurney Drive alongGurney Bay it is also popular places for chills and famous for thestreet cuisine at the seafront's hawker centre.
Batu Ferringhi is Penang's popular beach destination, home to several five-star hotels, resorts and a 4-km stretch of white sandy beaches with the varied water activities, including parasailing, jet-skiing and even windsurfing. Another major highlight here is the night market, shops and restaurants.
Teluk Bahang is home to several tourist attractions, located 13.6 km (8.5 mi) west of the city centre near the northwestern tip ofPenang Island, which include forest reserves, ecotourism sites and theme parks, such asPenang National Park, Teluk Bahang Forest Eco Park, Entopia Butterfly Farm, and ESCAPE Adventure Play theme park, including ESCAPE Adventure Play also the ESCAPE Water Play consists of a variety of aquatic attractions and swimming pools, including the world's longest water slide.[39][40][41]
Theduty-free island and anarchipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in theStrait of Malacca) located some 30 km off the coast of northwesternKedah, Malaysia. This tourist island can be reached viaLangkawi International Airport or ferry fromKuala Kedah. On 1 June 2007, Langkawi Island was given aWorld Geopark status byUNESCO.[42] Three of its main conservation areas in Langkawi Geopark are Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest park (Island of the Pregnant Maiden Lake). These three parks are the most popular tourism area within Langkawi Geopark.
TheLangkawi Cable Car andSky Bridge is one of the main attractions on the island to enjoy the view of the entire island group and UNESCO's national park. The Sky Bridge can be reached by first taking the cable car to the Top Station, where aninclined lift called SkyGlide takes visitors from the Top Station down to the bridge.[43] The bridge deck is 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level at the peak ofMount Mat Cincang.[44]
TheKilim Karst Geoforest Park is a mangrove forest park which consists of limestone caves and three interconnected river estuaries that stretch approximately 10 km from Kisap village to Tanjung Rhu.[45] Bats, crocodiles, eagles, kingfishers, monitor lizards, macaques, otters, snakes and tree crabs are some of the most commonly found wildlife in the park.[46][47]
Eagle Square orDataran Lang inMalay is a 12-meter high sculpture in the shape of a sea-eagle perched on rocks in pre-flight pose. It is located on the waterfront of Kuah near the jetty. The eagle is the emblem ofLangkawi Island as its name is thought by some to have been derived from the Malay word for eagle. The square is a landscaped area with ponds, terraces and bridges.[48]
MAHA Tower is a 2-storey tower with a height of 138 meters in downtown ofKuah, it is the latest addition, also part of the Langkawi City's project.[49] The tower is approximately 1.40 km from Dataran Lang.[50]
Langkawi Legend Park is a park in the downtown of Kuah. The park spreads over an area of 50 hectares with a total of 17 sculptures telling legends and myths about Langkawi from prehistory until modern times.[51][52] There are also 4 artificial lakes and a beach.[53]
Durian Perangin Waterfall is a cascading waterfall located on the northeastern side of Langkawi Island, Malaysia. It is named after the durian trees that grow in the surrounding rainforest. The waterfall consists of multiple tiers, with natural pools at the base of each cascade.[54]
Kota Kinabalu is often known asKK both inMalaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a gateway for travellers visitingSabah andBorneo.[55][56] It is located on the northwest coast ofBorneo facing theSouth China Sea. TheTunku Abdul Rahman National Park[57] lies to its west andMount Kinabalu, which gave the city its name, is located to its east. There are many other tourist attractions in and around the city, such as KK Waterfront which features restaurants, cafes, pubs, and a nightclub. Kota Kinabalu is also one of the major industrial and commercial centres ofEast Malaysia. These two factors combine to make KK one of the fastest-growing cities in Malaysia.[58]
TheTunku Abdul Rahman National Park is a group of five islands ofGaya,Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi andSulug. It is located between 3 and 8 km from the city. The ferry station for visitors traveling to the islands is located in the city center of Kota Kinabalu, and is also the departure point for visitors staying at Manukan Island Resort, Gayana Resort, or Bunga Raya Resort.
Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain inBorneo andMalaysia. With an elevation of 4,095 metres (13,435 ft), it is thethird-highest peak of an island on Earth, and20th most prominent mountain in the world. The mountain is located inRanau district,West Coast Division ofSabah or approximately 60 km from the capital city of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. It is protected asKinabalu Park, aUNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird and around 100 mammal species,[59] and over 110 land snail species.[60]
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is located about 25 kilometres west ofSandakan in the state ofSabah,Malaysia. The centre opened in 1964 as the first officialorangutan rehabilitation project for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting or kept as pets.[61] The orphaned orangutans are trained to survive again in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready. The sanctuary is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which covers an area of 4,294 ha (10,610 acres), much of which is virginrainforest.[62] The reserve has been designated anImportant Bird Area byBirdLife International. Today around 60 to 80 orangutans are living free in the reserve.[63]
Diving tours on the islands around Sabah, such asSipadan,Ligitan or andBohey Dulang Island are several famous islands for the beauty of their underwater nature. It is located in theCelebes Sea andSulu Sea off the east coast ofSabah,Malaysia. Especially the island of Sipadan, it was formed by livingcorals growing on top of an extinctvolcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of theIndo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world.[64] More than 400 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem. Frequently seen in the waters around Sipadan:green andhawksbill turtles[65] (which mate and nest there), enormous schools ofbarracuda in tornado-like formations as well as large schools ofbig-eye trevally, andbumphead parrotfish. Pelagic species such asmanta rays,eagle rays,scalloped hammerhead sharks andwhale sharks also visit Sipadan. A turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the island, formed by an underwaterlimestonecave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that become lost and drown before finding the surface.[66] Visiting Sipadan Island requires a permit issued by Sabah Parks, a Sabah Government agency. Since 2019, there are 178 permits available each day.[67]
Mabul Island is a small resort island in the southeastern coast ofSemporna District, Sabah. The two main settlements on the island are Mabul and Mus village. After the 1990s, Mabul gained popularity with scuba divers due to its proximity toSipadan island.[68] The island is roughly 15 km north ofSipadan, 0.2km2 in size, and around 2–3m above sea level.
TheTip of Borneo is the northernmost tip of Kudat Peninsula,Borneo located inKudat District. The tip marks the meeting point of theSouth China Sea andSulu Sea.[69][70] The tip is one of Sabah's popular tourist attractions.[71] Within the area, there is a park-like grounds with aMalaysian flag pole and a large bronze globe which opened since 2004.[72][73] The bronze globe marks the location of the Borneo Island tip at latitude7 degrees north and longitude116 degrees east with a map featuring the island embossed in bronze and laid on a flat surface at an angle with inscriptions to mark the tip. Over the years, several infrastructure and public amenities have been erected at the site which including a public rest area with acafé, souvenir shop andwashrooms.[72] In the park-like grounds, it has become one of the destination to view sunsets andfull moons.[74]
Gunung Mulu National Park is aUNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses caves andkarst formations in a mountainousequatorial rainforest setting, it is located . The national park is named afterMount Mulu, the second highest mountain inSarawak. The park is famous for its caves and the expeditions that have been mounted to explore them and their surrounding rainforest, most notably theRoyal Geographical Society Expedition of 1977–1978, which saw over 100 scientists in the field for 15 months. This initiated a series of over 20 expeditions now named the Mulu Caves Project.[78]
Niah National Park is a national park,UNESCO'sWorld Heritage Site inMiri Division and the site of the Niah Caves which are an archeological site. The Great Cave is the most epic in Niah National Park. Its dramatic 61 m (200 ft) high and 244 m (801 ft) wide entrance and stalactite columns make it one of the most spectacular cave entrances in the world.[79] The caves are home to the region's oldest human remains, including the so-called Deep Skull, confirmed to be at least 65,000 years old and the earliest evidence ofHomo sapiens (modern man) inthe region.[80]
Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef is a protected area ofcoral reefs inMiri Division. The park is a populardive destination, lying at depths ranging from 7 to 50 metres (23 to 164 ft) at the seaward edge, has an average visibility of 10 to 30 metres (33 to 98 ft). The best time to dive is from late March through November each year. Popular diving sites includes Anemone Garden, Grouper Patch Reef, Atago Maru Wreck and Seafan Garden.[81][82]
Beside the main cities, there are other towns and places in Malaysia offering some special tourist attraction. Such as inTaiping for their landscape and local attraction.Teluk Intan for theirLeaning tower.Genting Highlands,Cameron Highlands,Bukit Tinggi in Pahang andKundasang inSabah for a cool climate.Muar in Johor is famous for its food.Miri is the official tourism-city and resort city ofSarawak andSibu in Sarawak is famous for its landscape and parks.
Medical tourism is popular in Malaysia, with theMalaysia Healthcare Travel Council reporting an arrival of 1.3 million foreign patients in 2019, almost double from 2014 figure with around 882,000 foreign patient.[83] Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, a government agency with the aim of promoting medical tourism, was launched in 2009 as an initiative by theMinistry of Health.[84] The established private healthcare facilities supported by internationally recognized doctors and trained medical staff have made Malaysia a top destination for medical travel. In 2019, Malaysia attracted 1.3 million international healthcare tourists who generated over $500 million in hospital receipts.[85]
In 2016, Malaysia recorded 26,757,392 tourist arrivals, a growth of 4.0% compared to 25,721,251 in 2015. The table lists the top 15 arrivals to Malaysia by their origin countries.
—N/a
Denotes that the country was not within the top 15 arrivals for that year
^Liew, T.S., M. Schilthuizen & M. Lakim, 2017. The determinants of land snail diversity along a tropical elevational gradient: insularity, geometry, and niches. Journal of Biogeography, 37: 1071-1078
^Thompson, Shawn (2010).The Intimate Ape: Orangutans and the Secret Life of a Vanishing Species. Citadel Press. p. 54.ISBN978-0-8065-3133-5.
^Fabio Spadi (2003) "Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan: New Parameters for the Concept of Dependency in the Maritime Environment? The ICJ judgment of 17 December 2002",The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law 18: 295–310
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Singapore
China
Indonesia
Thailand
India
Brunei
South Korea
Australia
Philippines
Taiwan
United Kingdom
Japan
United States
Vietnam
Bangladesh
France
Germany
Myanmar
Pakistan
Russia
Canada
Netherlands
Spain
Italy
Sri Lanka
Cambodia
Saudi Arabia
New Zealand
Poland
Kazakhstan
Switzerland
Turkey
Belgium
Laos
Ireland
Egypt
Sweden
Nepal
Denmark
Iran
Iraq
South Africa
Ukraine
Norway
United Arab Emirates
40.7%
3.1%
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