TM celebrates Hari Raya at KKIA

1 April 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism Malaysia (TM) warmly welcomed both domestic and international visitors to its grand Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, coinciding with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

Highlighting Malaysia’s rich traditions and its harmonious multicultural society, Tourism Malaysia, alongside esteemed guests, distributed festive treats at the Arrival Hall. Guests were also invited to partake in the time-honoured tradition of sharing Hari Raya Aidilfitri delicacies, exemplifying Malaysia’s renowned hospitality and cultural heritage, which capture the essence of ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’.

The festivities were enlivened by captivating cultural performances, including a special showcase themed around Aidilfitri. The celebratory atmosphere was further enhanced by the symbolic act of filling rice and boiling ketupat, cherished traditions during this festive season.

Among the distinguished attendees were Mr. Khairul Amir Anuar, Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah; Haji Jefry Ramli, Senior Airport Manager of Kota Kinabalu International Airport; and Ms Josephine Chai, Senior Marketing Manager of Sabah Tourism Board, along with representatives from various airlines and related agencies.

Similar welcoming events were also conducted at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 and 2, Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, and Kuching International Airport in Sarawak.

Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to show robust recovery and growth. In 2024, the country recorded 38 million visitor arrivals, marking a remarkable 31.1% increase compared to 29 million arrivals in 2023. This figure also surpassed the pre-pandemic record of 35 million arrivals in 2019 by 8.6%. The top visitor-generating markets included Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and Chinese Taipei. Total visitor receipts reached RM106.78 billion in 2024, reflecting substantial growth of 43.7% over 2023, and exceeding the 2019 level by 20%.

This positive momentum has continued into January 2025, with a notable 54.4% surge in visitor arrivals, reaching 3.8 million compared to the previous year and a 24.4% increase compared to the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. Singapore remains the dominant source market, contributing 1.7 million arrivals, followed by China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei.