Tourism in Malaysia

Tourism in Malaysia is a major industry and contributor to the Malaysian economy.
Malaysia was once ranked 9th in the world for tourist arrivals. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks Malaysia 25th out of 141 countries overall.
In an effort to diversify the economy and make Malaysia's economy less dependent on exports, the government pushed to increase tourism in Malaysia. As a result, tourism has become Malaysia's third largest source of foreign exchange income, and accounted for 7% of Malaysia's economy as of 2005.
The government agency in charge of promoting tourism in Malaysia is Tourism 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 1999, Malaysia launched a worldwide marketing campaign called "Malaysia, Truly Asia" which was largely successful and brought in over 7.4 million tourists. The extra revenue generated by tourism helped the country's economy during the economic crisis of 2008.
Types of tourism
Medical tourism
Medical tourism is popular in Malaysia, with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council reporting an arrival of 641,000 foreign patients in 2011, 728,800 in 2012, 881,000 in 2013 and 882,000 in 2014. Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, a government agency with the aim of promoting medical tourism, was launched in 2009 as an initiative by the Ministry of Health.
Tourist arrivals
Tourist arrivals
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.
Destinations and attractions
Alor Star – capital of Kedah, the state of the paddy fields
George Town – the capital city of Penang, one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 7 July 2008.
Ipoh – capital of Perak, famous for its Chinese food, tin mines and limestone mountains and caves
Johor Bahru – capital of Johor, and gateway to Singapore
Kangar – capital of Perlis, and gateway to Thailand
Kota Kinabalu – capital of Sabah, nearest city to Mount Kinabalu
Kota Bharu – capital of Kelantan, and gateway to Thailand
Kuala Terengganu – capital of Terengganu, famous for the turtles and beaches
Kuantan – capital of Pahang, noted for its many beaches
Kuching – capital of Sarawak, the Cat City of Malaysia
Malacca City – a historical city in Malaysia. This is the other cultural World Heritage Site in Malaysia since 7 July 2008.
Seremban – the capital of Negeri Sembilan, and the nearest cities to Port Dickson
Putrajaya – the administrative centre of Malaysia
Petaling Jaya – a satellite city located in the state of Selangor, and is in the proximity of Kuala Lumpur. It has the most commercial complexes in Malaysia.
Beside the main cities, there other town and places in Malaysia offer some special tourist attraction. Such as in Taiping for their landscape and local attraction. Teluk Intan for their Leaning tower. Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands, Bukit Tinggi in Pahang and Kundasang in Sabah for a cool climate. Muar in Johor is famous for its food. Miri is the official tourism-city and resort city of Sarawak and Sibu in Sarawak is famous for its landscape and parks.
Islands and beaches
Malaysia has several tropical islands. Some of the islands in Malaysia are:
Kapas
Labuan
Langkawi
Lang Tengah
Mabul
Pangkor
Penang
Perhentian
Rawa
Redang
Sipadan
Tenggol
Tioman
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
National parks and nature reserves
Kubah National Park, Sarawak
Bako National Park, Sarawak – famed for its wildlife, especially Bornean bearded pigs and proboscis monkeys
Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak.
Gunung Buda National Park, Sarawak.
Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak
Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak
Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak
Niah Caves National Park, Sarawak
Loagan Bunut National Park, Sarawak
Kinabalu National Park, Sabah – home of 4100 metre peak Mount Kinabalu
Taman Negara National Park – the world's oldest rainforest, spanning Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu
Endau Rompin National Park, Johor
Taman Eko Rimba, Kuala Lumpur - the nature reserve in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. The nature reserve is located near Kuala Lumpur Tower.
Other places of interest
A' Famosa Resort, Malacca
Aquaria KLCC, KL
Bakelalan, Sarawak
Bario, Sarawak
Batu Caves, Selangor
Batu Ferringhi, Penang
Berjaya Hills Resort, Pahang
Berjaya Times Square, KL
Bukit Bintang, KL
Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Central Market, KL
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Malacca
Chin Swee Caves Temple, Pahang
Crystal Mosque, Terengganu
Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, Penang
Fort Cornwallis, Penang
Fraser's Hill, Pahang
Genting Highlands, Pahang
Gurney Drive, Penang
Islamic Arts Museum, KL
Kampung Baru, KL
Kek Lok Si , Penang
Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, Pahang
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, KL
Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park, KL
Kuala Lumpur Tower, KL
Long Pasia, Sipitang, Sabah
Masjid Negara, KL
Merdeka Square, KL
Mines Wellness City, Selangor
Muzium Negara, KL
National Monument, KL
Penang Hill, Penang
Perdana Botanical Gardens, KL
Petronas Twin Towers, KL
Poh San Teng Temple, Malacca
Snake Temple, Penang
Sri Mahamariamman Temple, KL
Stadium Merdeka, KL
Sultan Abdul Samad Building, KL
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, Selangor
Sunway Lagoon, Selangor
Thean Hou Temple, KL
Wat Chetawan, Selangor
Wat Phothivihan, Kelantan
Zoo Negara, Selangor
See also
List of museums in Malaysia
Visa policy of Malaysia
Tourist Police (Malaysia)
Malaysian Tourist Guides Council
References
Top 15 arrivals by nationality
External links
Tourism Malaysia
Pahang Tourism official website