NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Malaysia has set an ambitious target of 2.1 million tourist arrivals from India in 2026, as Tourism Malaysia concluded its Sales Mission 2026 in Bengaluru, reinforcing its engagement with one of South India’s most influential outbound travel markets.
The Sales Mission was held on Friday in partnership with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA). The programme brought together 49 Malaysian sellers and leading travel trade partners from Bengaluru and across Karnataka.
The delegation was led by Tourism Malaysia Chairman Datuk Manoharan Periasamy and Mdm Nuwal Fadhilah binti Ku Azmi, Senior Director of the International Promotions (Asia/Africa) Division, underscoring Malaysia’s continued focus on strengthening its footprint in the Indian market, particularly Southern India.
India remains one of Malaysia’s key source markets, recording 1,565,194 tourist arrivals in 2025, up from 1,365,387 in 2024, reflecting a robust 14.6 per cent growth. In line with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the country is now targeting 2.1 million arrivals from India.
Strong travel demand is supported by extensive air connectivity, with 238 weekly direct flights offering 47,399 seats from 14 Indian cities to Malaysia. South India plays a pivotal role, accounting for 151 weekly direct flights and 29,541 seats, making Malaysia highly accessible to travellers from the region.
The Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai, K Saravana Kumar, said tourism continues to serve as a strategic pillar in Malaysia-India relations.
The Consulate General of Malaysia in Chennai has reaffirmed its strong support for Tourism Malaysia’s outreach efforts across South India, actively facilitating industry partnerships, promotional initiatives and stakeholder engagement to boost outbound travel.
He noted that coordinated efforts between the consulate and tourism authorities aim to enhance destination awareness, strengthen tourism trade linkages and deepen bilateral cooperation. Programmes such as sales missions and networking platforms play a vital role in encouraging business collaboration and reinforcing people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy highlighted Malaysia’s focus on expanding trade partnerships and promoting diverse tourism segments. The Sales Mission showcased Malaysia’s wide-ranging offerings, including leisure travel, family holidays, island escapes, shopping, culture and nature-based experiences. Growing segments such as MICE and wedding tourism were also spotlighted, reflecting rising demand among Indian travellers.
Mdm Nuwal Fadhilah said the mission aimed to strengthen business engagement by bringing Malaysian sellers and Indian trade partners together on a single platform. She described Bengaluru as a strategic market and said Tourism Malaysia remains committed to introducing refreshed tourism products, new destinations and enhanced experiences ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Hishamuddin Mustafa, Director of Tourism Malaysia Chennai, said Bengaluru continues to be one of the strongest source markets in South India, with high outbound potential across leisure, luxury, MICE, weddings and corporate segments.
The Sales Mission, he added, provided an important platform to equip trade partners with updated destination knowledge and new opportunities in the lead-up to 2026.
The Sales Mission 2026 is supported by Batik Air as the Official Airline Partner, further strengthening connectivity and travel opportunities between India and Malaysia.
Tourism Malaysia said it will continue to work closely with Indian travel trade stakeholders, airlines and industry partners to sustain bilateral tourism growth and position Malaysia as a preferred destination for Indian travellers.
(UNI)
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