Move to increase Iranian tourists to Malaysia

KUCHING : Malaysia and Iran are looking to strengthen tourism cooperation and destination marketing following a 49 per cent decline in Iranian tourist arrivals to Malaysia in the first eight months of this year.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said Malaysia received about 7,400 Iranian tourist arrivals up to August 2026, compared with 14,628 during the same period last year.

In a statement posted on his Facebook following a bilateral meeting with Iran’s Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Dr Ali Darabi, Tiong said both countries have significant potential to expand cooperation in cultural heritage, tourism, hospitality, branding, handicrafts, arts and culture.

He said Malaysia received approximately 21,000 Iranian tourists in 2025, highlighting the need for both countries to intensify tourism promotion and destination marketing to attract more Iranian visitors.

Tiong also said he had asked the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), an agency under the ministry, to take a more proactive role in strengthening tourism cooperation between the two countries.

“This includes expanding the promotion of Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) and strengthening Malaysia’s position as an Umrah hub,” he said.

He added that Malaysia wanted visitors to go beyond using the country as a transit destination and take advantage of its wider offerings in tourism, religious travel, education, medical tourism, health and wellness.

Darabi said Malaysia and Iran had long enjoyed close friendly relations and saw considerable opportunities for cooperation in various cultural and tourism-related sectors.

He also expressed hope that both countries would organise more roadshows, exhibitions and cultural activities, while strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in cultural heritage.

Tiong said he agreed with Darabi’s proposals and would ask the relevant tourism and cultural agencies to strengthen engagement with the Iranian Embassy in Malaysia upon his return to explore more concrete collaborative projects.

On cultural cooperation, he said Malaysia has received a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural and artistic cooperation from Iran in September.

The proposed MoU is being processed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and is awaiting final review by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.