Malaysia has strengthened its tourism outreach to India through events like SATTE 2026 in New Delhi, aiming to increase visitor arrivals under the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. The effort targets key segments such as MICE and destination weddings, building on 1.6 million Indian visitors in 2025. Connections between Indian cities and Malaysian destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi are expanding via enhanced air links.
Malaysia participated prominently at SATTE 2026, held at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on February 27, 2026. The event served as a platform for the Malaysian delegation, led by Tourism Malaysia officials and including 55 industry partners from hotels, tour operators, and state authorities. Batik Air acted as the official airline partner, emphasizing aviation's role in tourism growth.
This initiative forms part of the broader Visit Malaysia 2026 roadmap, which seeks to deepen ties with the Indian market. Prior to SATTE, Tourism Malaysia engaged in the Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai and a sales mission across Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru from February 5 to 14, 2026. The strategy extends beyond major cities, recognizing rising outbound travel from Tier-2 Indian locations.
In 2025, Malaysia received 1.6 million visitors from India, a 14.6 percent increase from the previous year. Over 240 weekly flights connect major Indian cities to gateways including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi, operated by airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, IndiGo, and Batik Air. Visa facilitation measures have further eased travel for leisure and business segments.
The focus includes MICE events, leveraging venues like the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, and destination weddings in settings such as Langkawi's resorts and Penang's heritage sites. Visit Malaysia 2026 features over 300 festivals and events nationwide, offering themed itineraries for Indian travelers. This coordinated approach aligns aviation, hospitality, and tourism to support sustained growth in bilateral travel.
