Malaysia Targets 22 Million Tourist Arrivals From Singapore During VMY 2026 – Azfar

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is targeting the arrival of 22 million tourists from Singapore in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026, thus further boosting the country’s tourism economy as the republic remains one of Malaysia’s key tourist markets.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar said that almost 12 million Singaporeans have visited Malaysia so far this year, and the number is expected to keep rising leading up to 2026.

“As we know, tourists from Singapore form the largest group of foreign visitors. So far, we have recorded nearly 12 million Singaporean arrivals.

“Our target for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is to welcome 22 million Singaporeans to Malaysia for tourism activities and other purposes,” he told Bernama after the handing over ceremony of a hearse between Muslim Care Malaysia and 1 Third Media Movement at Al-Jawahir Mosque here today.

He said  Malaysia’s geographical proximity and Singapore’s relatively high cost of living make Johor in particular a top destination for Singaporeans seeking leisure and shopping experiences.

Azfar said a recent international report ranked Singapore as the  fourth most expensive city in the world, which has led many middle-income Singaporeans to choose Malaysia, particularly Johor, as a preferred destination for shopping and obtaining daily necessities.

“Not all Singaporeans are wealthy, many are from the middle class. I am confident they will continue to come to Johor to shop, buy household items, and so on,” he said.

He added that this trend generates a positive economic spillover for Malaysia, but stressed the importance of safeguarding the welfare of locals, especially Johoreans, from being adversely affected by Singaporeans’ stronger purchasing power.

“Currently, the Singaporean dollar is worth about three times the Malaysian ringgit, giving them higher purchasing power. At the same time, we must ensure that our people are not burdened by this situation.

“But overall, we are working to attract even more Singaporeans to visit Malaysia, with Johor remaining the key destination,” he said.

-- BERNAMA