Malaysia's Perak Welcomes 10.4M Domestic Overnight Visitors, Strengthening Regional Appeal & Accelerating Visit Malaysia 2026 Despite Softer International Arrivals

Malaysia is reinforcing its position as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations as Perak recorded an increase in domestic overnight tourist arrivals, reflecting the continued strength of local travel demand ahead of the nationwide Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. The state welcomed 10.4 million domestic overnight visitors in 2025, up from 10.2 million in 2024, highlighting sustained confidence in domestic tourism despite ongoing challenges affecting international travel. As neighboring destinations including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar continue expanding tourism offerings and improving regional connectivity, Malaysia is leveraging its cultural heritage, natural attractions, and domestic tourism market to maintain strong visitor momentum. Perak’s latest tourism performance further cements its importance within Malaysia’s broader travel economy and demonstrates the resilience of local tourism against global economic uncertainties. While domestic tourism continued to grow, international visitor arrivals to Perak declined by approximately 1.5 percent during the same period. State officials attributed the decrease primarily to reduced connectivity following the suspension of the Singapore–Ipoh flight route and increased operating costs across the aviation sector caused by global oil price pressures. To stimulate travel demand and strengthen destination awareness, Tourism Malaysia launched Pantai Timur Fest 2026 in Ipoh, bringing together tourism businesses from Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang. The festival showcases cultural performances, heritage attractions, travel packages, hospitality services, traditional crafts, and regional cuisine while supporting Visit Malaysia 2026, positioning Perak as a major gateway for domestic tourism growth and future international recovery.