Malaysia woos Bangladeshis beyond Kuala Lumpur tourism circuit
Malaysia is seeking to attract more Bangladeshi travelers beyond Kuala Lumpur by promoting lesser-explored destinations alongside education, healthcare, business and Muslim-friendly tourism opportunities to strengthen its position in Bangladesh's outbound travel market.
The initiative was highlighted at a networking session organised by Tourism Malaysia Dhaka in collaboration with Malaysia's Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) at a city hotel on Wednesday.
The event brought together Bangladeshi tour operators, airline representatives and tourism stakeholders to explore new travel packages and strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation.
Mohd Hafiz B Mohd Shah, senior tourism officer at Tourism Malaysia's International Promotion Division for Asia and Africa, encouraged Bangladeshi travelers to explore destinations such as Malacca and Johor Bahru beyond the Malaysian capital.
He identified education tourism, medical travel, second-home programmes and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) as promising segments for Bangladeshi visitors.
Shah also highlighted Malaysia's halal food options, Muslim-friendly facilities and family-oriented attractions as major advantages for Bangladeshi holidaymakers.
Muslim-friendly tourism gains importance
Malaysia's Islamic Tourism Centre Director General Mohammad Faisal Bin Abu Suaib Khan, joining virtually, said Malaysia had retained its position as the world's leading Muslim-friendly destination for 11 consecutive years in the Global Muslim Travel Index.
He said the recognition reflected Malaysia's commitment to providing halal dining, prayer facilities, family-friendly accommodation and culturally appropriate tourism services.
Malaysia welcomed approximately 42 million visitors last year, including 10 million Muslim travelers, he said.
The ITC chief also highlighted the availability of Bangladeshi cuisine in Malaysia, offering visitors familiar dining options alongside the country's diverse culinary experiences.
Bangladesh market offers recovery potential
According to figures presented at the programme, Malaysia recorded 130,026 visitor arrivals from Bangladesh during January-August 2026, marking a 36 percent decline compared with the corresponding period last year.
Despite the decline, Shah expressed optimism about the market's recovery, citing strong air connectivity and opportunities for developing new tourism products.
He said 43 direct flights currently connect Bangladesh and Malaysia, offering a combined 11,361 passenger seats.
Shah also said Bangladeshi private carrier Novoair was expected to introduce Malaysia services in the second quarter of 2027, potentially expanding travel options.
Tourism Malaysia expects closer cooperation with Bangladeshi airlines and tour operators to stimulate demand for leisure, medical, educational and business travel.
Malaysia showcases attractions at BTTF
The promotional initiative comes ahead of Tourism Malaysia's participation in the 14th Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2026, scheduled for October 29-31 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Under the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign, its pavilion will showcase cultural heritage, tropical beaches, ecotourism, shopping, gastronomy, medical tourism and MICE opportunities.
The Islamic Tourism Centre will also promote Muslim-friendly tourism products and experiences.
"Tourism Malaysia's participation in BTTF 2026 is a strategic initiative to enhance Malaysia's visibility in the Bangladesh market while strengthening relationships with local tourism industry players," Shah said.
The fair is expected to attract more than 220 exhibitors, participants from over 20 countries, approximately 60,000 general visitors, 2,500 trade visitors and over 250 international and regional buyers.
Tourism Malaysia said its participation would encourage Bangladeshi tour operators to develop attractive travel packages featuring destinations beyond Kuala Lumpur.
