Chinese actress Fan Bingbing poses with people during her trip to Malaysia’s Melaka, June 2024. Photo courtesy of Fan Bingbing’s Instagram
Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing has called on the public to be more welcoming to foreigners after several government agencies reported complaints from tourists about rude treatment when they sought assistance.
“I have received complaints and have sought explanations from the relevant agencies,” Tiong said after welcoming visitors at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 as reported by The Sun newspaper.
“They informed me that when tourists ask for help, some members of the public have been less than friendly and even appeared irritated.”
He urged everyone to work together to prove Malaysia is a very welcoming nation, adding that hospitality plays a crucial role in shaping visitors’ perceptions, Malay Mail reported.
Malaysia aims to attract 43 million international visitors in 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the tourism sector as a key driver of national economic growth, according to Tourism Malaysia.
The country received 28.2 million tourists as of August last year, marking a 14.5% increase year-on-year. In 2024, it received 38 million international visitors, up 31.1% from 2023.
In 2024, Malaysia ranked as the 22nd friendliest country in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, surpassing Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
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