Kuala Lumpur: Tourist arrivals in Malaysia are expected to soar to 27 million this year, representing a 35% increase from last year, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 26.1 million in 2019, said Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd .
Additionally, the growth will also be driven by the implementation of the 30-day visa-free arrangement for Chinese and Indian visitors to Malaysia, which commenced in December 2023. Kenanga IB also forecasts the airport’s system-wide passenger throughput to rise by 7% to 131 million this year.The resurgence in passenger numbers and connectivity is expected to be driven by the introduction of new airlines and services at key airports, including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi.
“In addition to fleet reactivation, it expects further upside from the current high yield environment, underpinned by the robust demand with forward bookings in February and March at 91% and 49%, respectively.