The domestic visitor spending is expected to reach MYR 106.5bn and international visitor expenditure is anticipated to reach MYR 93.7bn
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) projects a significant year of growth for Malaysia’s Travel & Tourism sector, with its economic contribution, employment, and domestic visitor spending expected to break all records this year.
According to the latest data, the sector’s contribution to Malaysia’s national economy is set to reach MYR 198.7bn in 2024, surpassing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 1.6%, representing 10.5% of the national economy.
The employment in travel & tourism is also expected to increase significantly this year, with job numbers projected to rise to more than 2.4mn, growing 5.2% compared to last year and 5.3% above the 2019 peak.
The visitor spending is forecast to experience substantial growth, with domestic visitor spending expected to reach MYR 106.5bn, more than one fifth (21.6%) 2019 levels. The international visitor expenditure is anticipated to reach MYR 93.7bn, up 27.8% from 2023, although still 6.2% behind 2019 levels.
The expected growth in Malaysia’s Travel & Tourism sector will be complemented by the governments recently announced ‘Visit Malaysia 2026’ strategic roadmap, which aims to attract more travellers from around the world over the coming years.
In 2023, Malaysia’s Travel & Tourism sector saw a significant resurgence, growing by a massive 97.8% to reach MYR 157bn, accounting for 8.6% of the country’s total economic output.
Whilst marking a strong recovery, travel & tourism’s economic contribution remained 19.8% below 2019 levels. The sector also contributed to job creation last year, with total employment reaching nearly 2.3mn, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 10.8% and matching 2019 levels.
Both international and domestic spending experienced considerable increases in 2023, with international visitor spending reaching MYR 73.3bn and domestic spending rising to MYR 87.6bn, showcasing significant strides towards 2019 numbers.
Looking ahead, the global tourism body forecasts that by 2034, Malaysia’s travel & tourism sector will enhance its annual GDP contribution to reach MYR 336.6bn, constituting 12.1% of the national economy. The employment in the sector is expected to exceed 3.5mn jobs, demonstrating its pivotal role in the national workforce, and employing one in six nationals.
