Tourism Malaysia targets Bangladesh’s Muslim travel market
Dhaka: Tourism Malaysia
is seeking to attract more Bangladeshi travelers by promoting destinations
beyond Kuala Lumpur and expanding awareness of the country’s education, health,
business and Muslim-friendly tourism offerings.
The initiative was
highlighted at a networking and engagement session with Bangladesh’s tour
operators and airline officials, organized by Tourism Malaysia Dhaka in
collaboration with Malaysia’s Islamic Tourism Centre, at InterContinental Dhaka
on October 28.
Mohd Hafiz B Mohd Shah,
senior tourism officer in Tourism Malaysia’s International Promotion Division
for Asia and Africa, encouraged Bangladeshi visitors to explore destinations
such as Malacca and Johor Bahru. He also highlighted opportunities in education
tourism, medical travel, second-home programs and meetings, incentives,
conferences and exhibitions (MICE).
He emphasized Malaysia’s halal food options, Muslim-friendly facilities and family-oriented attractions.
Bangladesh recorded
130,026 visitor arrivals to Malaysia from January through September 2026, a 36 percent
decline from the same period last year, according to figures shared at the
event. Shah said the market had room to recover, noting that 43 direct flights
currently connect the two countries, offering a combined 11,361 seats. He also
said Novoair is expected to launch Malaysia services in the second quarter of
2027.
Mohammad Faisal Bin Abu
Suaib Khan, director general of Malaysia’s Islamic Tourism Centre, joined
virtually and highlighted the country’s longstanding appeal to Muslim
travelers. He said Malaysia had ranked as the leading Muslim-friendly
destination for 11 consecutive years in the Global Muslim Travel Index.
Malaysia welcomed 42
million visitors last year, including 10 million Muslim travelers, he said,
adding that Bangladeshi food is also available in the country.
Tourism Malaysia’s latest outreach reflects its broader effort to rebuild visitor numbers from Bangladesh by highlighting diverse destinations, accessible air connectivity and Muslim-friendly travel experiences. With additional flight capacity expected in 2027, the country hopes to encourage more Bangladeshis to discover its wider tourism offerings and strengthen travel ties between the two nations.
