AdminTourism Malaysia is set to launch its largest-ever Sales Mission to India from 3rd to 7th February 2025, focusing on Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kochi. The mission, featuring a delegation of 62 Malaysian sellers, aims to boost Malaysia’s appeal as a top destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), wedding tourism, and traditional leisure travel.
With India contributing over one million visitors to Malaysia in 2024—50% of whom came from Southern India—this initiative seeks to build on strong air connectivity and growing demand. The introduction of new direct flights, including those by Indigo Airlines from Chennai and Bengaluru to Penang and Langkawi, further enhances accessibility, making Malaysia a convenient and attractive destination for Indian travellers.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, who will lead the Sales Mission, emphasized India’s importance in Malaysia’s long-term tourism plans. “India has been a key market for Malaysia for over 20 years, and with the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026), we are targeting 1.6 million Indian travellers.”
“Southern India, with its robust flight connections, is crucial to our growth strategy. The 151 weekly flights and 26,686 seats per week reflect the high demand for travel between Malaysia and the Southern cities of India. This mission provides a valuable opportunity to highlight Malaysia’s appeal as a top destination for MICE, wedding tourism, and leisure travel, offering world-class infrastructure and beautiful destinations for all types of travellers.” he added.
Expanding MICE and Wedding Tourism Opportunities
Malaysia’s well-developed MICE sector positions it as a premier business events hub in Southeast Asia, offering state-of-the-art convention centres such as the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and the Borneo Convention Centre in Sarawak. The country boasts luxury accommodations tailored for corporate groups and incentive travellers, ensuring a seamless experience. Additionally, comprehensive event planning services provide professional support for conferences, exhibitions, and business gatherings, making Malaysia an ideal destination for international business events.
Wedding tourism is another booming sector, with an increasing number of Indian couples choosing Malaysia for their destination weddings. Offering picturesque beaches in Langkawi, opulent city hotels in Kuala Lumpur, and serene resorts in Sabah, Malaysia provides diverse venues for grand celebrations. The mission aims to showcase these offerings to wedding planners and travel agencies in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kochi.
According to Hishamuddin Mustafa, Director of Tourism Malaysia Chennai, the rising connectivity between Southern India and Malaysia plays a key role in boosting wedding tourism. “Whether it’s for MICE, a dream wedding, or a family vacation, Malaysia has something for everyone. With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 on the horizon, we are excited to showcase all the new destinations, cultural experiences, and world-class venues Malaysia has to offer.”
Enhancing Air Connectivity to Meet Growing Demand
Southern India’s strong air links with Malaysia play a crucial role in sustaining tourism growth. Currently, 151 weekly flights operate between the region and Malaysia, providing a total seat capacity of 26,686 per week.
Indigo Airlines recently launched new direct routes from Chennai and Bengaluru to Penang and Langkawi, opening more travel opportunities beyond Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, there are ongoing discussions with airlines to introduce direct flights from secondary Indian cities to Malaysia’s key tourism hubs, such as Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching.
The ease of travel between these cities reinforces Malaysia’s position as a top choice for Indian tourists, particularly for MICE events, weddings, and leisure vacations.
Strategic Push Ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026
With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) on the horizon, Tourism Malaysia has set an ambitious target of welcoming 1.6 million Indian tourists. The Sales Mission to India is a key part of this strategy, aiming to solidify Malaysia’s reputation as a preferred destination for Indian travellers.
Apart from promoting its tourism offerings, Malaysia continues to enhance its hospitality sector, introduce new attractions, and collaborate with travel industry stakeholders. With strong government support, including visa liberalization for Indian travellers, the country is well-positioned to achieve its tourism growth objectives in the coming years.
As Malaysia embarks on this landmark Sales Mission, the focus remains clear: to reinforce its presence in Southern India, leverage strong flight connectivity, and highlight its world-class infrastructure for business and leisure tourism.
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