Southeast Asia's most visited country targets 2.1 million Indian arrivals in 2026

Tourist arrivals from India reached 1.56 million in 2025, up from 1.36 million in 2024, representing a 14.6% increase, according to data from Tourism Malaysia.

Datuk Manoharan, chairman of Tourism Malaysia, said the 2.1-million target reflects Malaysia's continued focus on strengthening its presence in the Indian market, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Officials pointed to strengthened air connectivity between India and Malaysia as a key factor supporting tourism growth.

Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, operates four weekly services from Visakhapatnam to Kuala Lumpur via Singapore.

Overall, there are 238 weekly direct flights linking 14 Indian cities with Malaysia, offering a combined capacity of 47,399 seats. Of these, 151 weekly direct services, accounting for 29,541 seats, originate from cities in South India, Tribune India reported.

Malaysia has emerged as a popular wedding destination for Indian travelers.

According to officials, cultural similarities and familiarity make Malaysia an attractive choice for Indian families. The country's diverse culinary offerings are also seen as a draw for visitors

Malaysia's tourism sector recorded 42.2 million visitors in 2025, an 11.2% year-on-year increase and 20.4% higher than 2019 benchmarks, making it the most visited country in Southeast Asia.