High Commissioner: Numerous tourism offerings for Maldivians in Malaysia

Malaysia’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Maldives Badli Hisham Adam, on Wednesday, said that the Maldives represents a highly promising and important market for Malaysia’s tourism industry, highlighting while Kuala Lumpur remains a popular destination among Maldivians, numerous tourism offerings are available across other parts of Malaysia.

The High Commissioner made the remarks during a special event hosted by the Malaysia Tourism Board in Malé on Wednesday, aimed at introducing Maldivians to the wide range of tourism offerings available across Malaysia.

High Commissioner Badli said the number of Maldivian visitors to Malaysia has been steadily increasing. He noted that more than 22,000 Maldivian tourists travelled to Malaysia between January and June this year, marking an approximately 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Highlighting destinations beyond Kuala Lumpur, the High Commissioner said Langkawi, Penang, and Malacca offer rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary experiences. He also highlighted Sabah and Sarawak for their natural landscapes and adventure activities, noting that Malaysia is home to some of the world’s oldest rainforests and spectacular caves.

He further emphasized Malaysia’s position as a leading destination offering Muslim-friendly facilities and widely available halal cuisine. He added that, in addition to leisure tourism, Malaysia offers access to high-quality and affordable medical services, as well as strong opportunities for higher education.

Highlighting the strong air connectivity between the two countries, he said the four-hour journey is currently served by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Batik Air, which together operate 25 direct flights per week. These services provide a weekly capacity of more than 4,600 seats.

Malaysia remains a highly popular destination for Maldivian tourists, particularly due to the sizeable community of Maldivian families and students residing in the country.