By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 13: Malaysia has welcomed more than 10 million tourists to the country as of the first quarter of 2025, says federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.
In a Facebook post, he said it was an encouraging start but also warned of complacency.
“This is a very encouraging start. However, we must not become complacent. Within ASEAN, we have surpassed our neighbouring countries, but to stay ahead, we must continue to move forward with greater diligence and strategic planning.
“The craft industry also deserves serious attention. Our products must continue to be innovative, modern, and of the highest quality. We must be bold in trying new approaches so that our products can attract tourists and penetrate international markets,” he said.
According to Bernama, Malaysia has surpassed Thailand as ASEAN’s most visited tourist destination in the first quarter of 2025.
It cited a report by Vietnam Express, which showed that Malaysia welcomed more than 10.1 million foreign tourists from January to March this year. Thailand recorded 9.55 million visitors, while Vietnam and Singapore received six million and 4.31 million tourists, respectively.
Meanwhile, Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman, congratulated the 251 recipients of the 2024 Excellent Service Award (APC) during the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) Appreciation Ceremony 2025 held recently.
“You have proven that excellence is not just reflected in your work outcomes, but also in your spirit, integrity, and determination to serve the people and the nation.
“Let this award be a motivation to continue contributing with even greater excellence, in line with the values of Malaysia MADANI,” he said.
He also highlighted that the ceremony celebrated 52 MOTAC retirees and thanked them for their services and contributions.
“Even in retirement, your experience and expertise remain invaluable assets to the nation. I believe you can still contribute, especially in efforts to promote cultural tourism leading up to Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.
“My sincere thanks to all members of MOTAC and its agencies. Let us continue to strive to ensure that the tourism, arts, and cultural industries of our nation remain relevant, sustainable, and a source of national pride.” — DayakDaily
