KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia recorded 2,835,724 international visitor arrivals between March 1 and 26 this year, a 2.4-percent increase from the same period last year and demonstrating the tourism sector's resilience despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said on Tuesday.
Arrivals from the Southeast Asian region remain the largest contributor with 2,093,096 arrivals, while East Asia continued to register strong growth with 407,171 arrivals, up 12.8 percent, driven by a 22.7 percent rise in visitors from China, he said in a statement.
In contrast to the increased arrivals from the region, arrivals from the Middle East fell sharply by 40.3 percent, reflecting the impact of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Tiong said that Malaysia remained a safe, stable and welcoming destination, and the ministry will work closely with industry stakeholders to address operational challenges, including cost pressures linked to fuel and diesel.
Tiong also encouraged industry players to provide detailed data and feedback, particularly comparisons of cost structures since the conflict and other disruptions, for the government to provide effective policy responses. ■