Malaysia is seeing a sharp rise in Bangladeshi tourists, with around 185,000 visiting in the first eight months of 2025.
The country aims to attract more than 300,000 visitors from Bangladesh next year, according to Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Malaysia’s deputy minister of tourism.
Highlighting the visa difficulties faced by Bangladeshis in India and other countries, Khan said Malaysia is leveraging the opportunity to promote medical, educational, and leisure tourism.
“Under the Visit Malaysia campaign, we are prepared to invite more tourists from Bangladesh,” he added.
Tourism contributes significantly to Malaysia’s economy.
In 2019, it accounted for 6.8 percent of GDP, equivalent to 102 billion ringgit (Tk 6 trillion).
The sector plunged 78 percent during COVID-19 but rebounded, contributing 14.9 percent of GDP in 2024.
Malaysia has designated 2026 as its Tourism Year, aiming to attract 47 million visitors, with Bangladesh being a key market.
Mohammed Shoeb, marketing manager of Tourism Malaysia Bangladesh, said: “Last year, about 140,000 Bangladeshi tourists visited Malaysia. This year, the number has exceeded 185,000 in the first eight months. We expect over 300,000 next year.”
Malaysia is offering adventure, golf, and island tourism packages beyond Kuala Lumpur, including destinations such as Malacca, Langkawi, and Penang.
Shoeb added that medical tourism and education opportunities, including short courses for students, are also being promoted.
Addressing concerns about Malaysian immigration, he said: “Genuine tourists face no issues. Properly completed e-visa applications are processed quickly. All information must be accurate; no falsified documents are allowed.”
While the Second Home project is not actively promoted in Bangladesh due to legal constraints, it allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency through investment.
