Malaysia Targets Four Types of Indonesian Tourists

January 26, 2026 | 05:18 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysia aims to attract a total of 43 million tourist visits by 2026. This includes tourists from Indonesia, with a target of 4.7 million visits. There are several segments of the Indonesian tourist market and other factors to achieve this target.

Hairi Mohd Yakzan, Director of Tourism Malaysia, stated that the target number of tourist visits from Indonesia may change. This is considering several natural disasters in Indonesia, such as floods in Sumatra. "We will revise the target number of tourists for Indonesia, and it will be released again," he said in Tangerang on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Targeting the Indonesian Tourist Market

According to Hairi, there are several segments of the Indonesian tourist market, including families, medical or wellness tourists, culinary enthusiasts, and shoppers. To achieve the target number of visits, several strategies are being prepared. These include collaborations with online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Traveloka and Tiket.com, as well as airlines. "We are currently exploring a collaboration with Garuda Indonesia, as an effort to increase tourist arrivals in Malaysia," he said.

Additionally, a total of 320 events are planned throughout the year in Malaysia. However, details on which events will be held are not yet available. As for destinations, Hairi aims to increase tourist visits to places other than Kuala Lumpur, such as Pahang, Malacca, and Johor. Until now, Kuala Lumpur has been a popular destination for tourists in Malaysia. Even Genting, located in Pahang, is often considered to be located in Kuala Lumpur.

He mentioned that there are other equally interesting destinations to explore. "In 2025, we introduced new destinations in northern Malaysia, such as Perak, Kedah, Perlis, and Langkawi," he said.

Hairi Mohd Yakzan (Director of Tourism Malaysia) during the signing of a strategic collaboration between Resorts World Genting and Global Tix, Plaza Premium Group, tiket.com, and Traveloka, in Alam Sutera, Tangerang, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Tempo/Yunia Pratiwi

Comfort for Tourists

Meanwhile, to enhance the comfort of tourists traveling in Malaysia, the local government has implemented training modules for the tourism industry. This includes hospitality towards visitors, as it is an important aspect of Visit Malaysia 2026.

"This is not only the responsibility of Tourism Malaysia, but also of the entire community, to start playing a role in providing the best possible service to guests," said Hairi.

Enhancing the Tourism Experience

Another way to attract more tourists to Malaysia is to enhance the tourism experience, as Resorts World Genting in Pahang has done. They have partnered with leading digital travel platforms in Indonesia, Traveloka and Tiket.com.

Spencer Lees, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Public Relations at Resorts World Genting, stated that this collaboration aims to attract more Indonesian tourists by providing easier access to hotels and theme parks. "Tourists will receive the latest offers online," he said.

In addition, tourists will also receive better travel recommendations, including for theme parks, outdoor activities, and natural attractions. One of them is by introducing the largest glasshouse in Malaysia. Spencer added that the integrated tourism area will become a hub for visiting other destinations in the Pahang area. "As a travel industry, it's all about collaboration, and we will create more promotions," he said.

Read: Batam Airport Expands Flight Routes to Jambi, Kuala Lumpur

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