Malaysia is ranked 11th in the world and 2nd in Southeast Asia for tourist arrivals.
In an effort to diversify the economy and make Malaysia's economy less dependent on exports, the government pushed to increase tourism in Malaysia. As a result, tourism has become Malaysia's third largest source of foreign exchange income. and accounted for 7% of Malaysia's economy as of 2005.
The government agency in charge of promoting tourism in Malaysia is Tourism Malaysia or the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB). On 20 May 1987, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism (MOCAT) was established and TDC moved to this new ministry. TDC existed from 1972 to 1992, when it became the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB), through the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Act, 1992.
In 1999, Malaysia launched a worldwide marketing campaign called "Malaysia, Truly Asia" which was largely successful and brought in over 7.4 million tourists. The extra revenue generated by tourism helped the country's economy during the economic crisis of 2008.
Medical tourism is popular in Malaysia, with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council reporting an arrival of 641,000 foreign patients in 2011, 728,800 in 2012, 881,000 in 2013 and 882,000 in 2014. Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, a government agency with the aim of promoting medical tourism, was launched in 2009 as an initiative by the Ministry of Health.
In 2016, Malaysia recorded 26,757,392 tourist arrivals; a growth of 4.0% compared to 25,721,251 in 2015.
Destinations and attractions
Alor Star – capital of Kedah, the state of the Paddy fields.
George Town – the capital city of Penang, one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites and well-known for its street cuisine
Ipoh – capital of Perak, famous for its Chinese food, tin mines and limestone mountains and caves.
Johor Bahru – capital of Johor, and gateway to Singapore.
Kangar – capital of Perlis, and gateway to Thailand.
Kota Kinabalu – capital of Sabah.
Kota Bharu – capital of Kelantan.
Kuala Terengganu – capital of Terengganu, famous for the turtles and beaches.
Kuantan – capital of Pahang, noted for its many beaches.
Kuching – capital of Sarawak, the Cat City of Malaysia.
Malacca City – a historical city in Malaysia. This is the other cultural World Heritage Site in Malaysia.
Miri – the resort city of Sarawak is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mulu caves and numerous national parks like Niah caves, Lambir Hills National Park and Loagan Bunut National Park. Noted for its prstine coral reefs and ecotourism attractions too.
Seremban – the capital of Negeri Sembilan, and the nearest cities to Port Dickson.
Putrajaya – the administrative centre of Malaysia, known for its lavish buildings, bridges and man-made lakes.
Petaling Jaya – a satellite city located in the state of Selangor, and is in the proximity of Kuala Lumpur. It has the most commercial complexes in Malaysia.
Beside the main cities, there other town and places in Malaysia offer some special tourist attraction. Such as in Taiping, Perak for their landscape and local attraction. Teluk Intan for their Leaning tower. Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands and Bukit Tinggi in Pahang for a cool climate. Muar in Johor is famous for its food. Miri is the official tourism-city and resort city of Sarawak and Sibu in Sarawak is famous for its landscape and parks.
Islands and beaches
Malaysia has several tropical islands, some of which have been voted the most beautiful in the world. Some of the islands in Malaysia are:
Labuan
Langkawi
Pangkor
Penang Island, the western halve of Penang, which also includes George Town
Redang Island
Tenggol Island
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Perhentian Islands
Kapas Island
Lang Tengah Island
Rantau Abang Beach
Mabul
Tioman Island
Sipadan
Rawa Island
National parks and nature reserves
Kubah National Park, (Sarawak)
Bako National Park, Sarawak – famed for its wildlife, especially Bornean bearded pigs and proboscis monkeys
Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak
Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak
Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak
Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak
Niah Caves National Park, Sarawak
Loagan Bunut National Park, Sarawak
Kinabalu National Park, Sabah – home of 4100 metre peak Mount Kinabalu.
Taman Negara National Park – the self-proclaimed World's Oldest Rainforest, spanning Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu
Endau Rompin National Park, Johor
A' Famosa Resort, Malacca
Aquaria KLCC, at KLCC tower, KL
Batu Caves, Selangor
Batu Ferringhi, George Town
Berjaya Hills Resort. French-themed village
Berjaya Times Square KL, KL
Bukit Bintangwalk, KL
Cruise Tasik Putrajaya (CTP) Lake cruises, boat rides, Putrajaya
Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Central Market, KL
Crystal Mosque, Kuala Terengganu
Dong Zen Temple
Eye on Malaysia, Malacca
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM),
Fort Cornwallis, George Town
Fraser's Hill
Genting Highlands
Gurney Drive, George Town
Iskandar waterfall Kota Tinggiwaterfalls
Islamic Arts Museum, KL
Kampung Baru, KL
Kek Lok Si, George Town
Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, KL
Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park, KL
Kuala Lumpur Hop-On Hop-Off, Double-decker city tour bus, KL
Kuala Lumpur Look out point, KL
Kuala Lumpur Tower, Menara Kuala Lumpur, KL
Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex, KL
Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC), KL
Masjid Negara
Merdeka Square
Mines Resort City, KL
Monorail train at KL
Muzium Negara, KL
National Monument Tugu Negara, KL
Penang Hill, Penang
Perdana Botanical Garden, KL
Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC), KL
Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, KL
Sri Mahamariamman Temple, KL
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, Shah Alam, Selangor
Sunway Lagoon, Petaling Jaya
Thean Hou Temple, KL
Underwater world, Langkawi
National Zoo of Malaysia (Zoo Negara), KL
