Shreya Shimpi
Tourism Malaysia’s Sales Mission to India 2026 Mumbai event brought together 40 Malaysian tourism stakeholders, comprising tour operators, hoteliers and airline partners, to strengthen trade partnerships, expand business opportunities and reinforce Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for Indian travellers. The programme also served as a platform for business-to-business (B2B) engagements, networking and the development of new travel opportunities between Malaysian and Indian tourism stakeholders.
The mission was led by Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, along with Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director Tourism Malaysia Mumbai, Dato Aruldas, President, MATTA; Nigel Wong, President, MITTA, and organised in collaboration with Batik Air, reflecting the strong public-private partnership in promoting Malaysia as a premier tourism destination.
Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said, “India remains one of Tourism Malaysia’s most important and fastest-growing source markets. While the current geopolitical developments and evolving international travel landscape may influence travel sentiment in certain regions, Tourism Malaysia remains committed to maintaining a strong presence in the market and ensuring Malaysia remains top of mind among Indian travellers. This calls for sustained, targeted and market-driven promotional efforts, supported by close collaboration with our airline partners and the travel trade.”
In an exclusive chat with BOTT, he said, “We are here in Mumbai to promote the ‘ Visit Malaysia Year 2026-2027’ and to invite Indian travellers to visit and discover the vibrant multicultural city of Malaysia from pristine beaches, incredible wildlife, world-class gastronomy, and rich heritage, Malaysia has something in store for every type of traveller.” He also highlighted that while the regular destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Genting highlands are popular, Tourism Malaysia endeavours to spotlight the lesser-known destinations such as Sarawak, Langkawi, Penang, Johor and Sabah.
India continues to be one of Malaysia’s key international source markets, supported by an extensive network of more than 190 direct flights weekly, offering a seat capacity of over 37,000 seats per week. This strong air connectivity provides seamless access to Malaysia and continues to support sustained growth in visitor arrivals.
The market also continues to record encouraging performance. Following the introduction of visa-free travel for Indian nationals in December 2023, Malaysia welcomed more than 1.5 million visitor arrivals from India in 2025, placing India among Malaysia’s top five international source markets, alongside Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and China. This positive momentum is expected to continue through 2026 and beyond.
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