TOURISM MALAYSIA CHENNAI STRENGTHENS INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS TO BOOST MALAYSIA–INDIA TOURISM
Airline and travel trade interaction highlights collaboration, connectivity and Visit Malaysia 2026–2027
CHENNAI, 5 NOVEMBER 2026
Tourism Malaysia Chennai, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Malaysia in Chennai, organised an exclusive Industry Meet – Airlines & Travel Trade Interaction on 5 November 2026 at Prego, Taj Coromandel, Chennai. The event brought together representatives from travel trade associations, airline partners and tourism organisations to strengthen tourism cooperation between Malaysia and India.
The engagement was attended by Ms. Aida Safura Niza Othman, Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai, and Mr. Hishamuddin Mustafa, Director of Tourism Malaysia Chennai, overseeing South India and Sri Lanka, Mr. K. Vishnutharan Consul Immigration. It provided an opportunity for the Consul General to meet key industry stakeholders, hear their perspectives on the South Indian outbound travel market and discuss ways to deepen cooperation.
INDIA REMAINS A KEY SOURCE MARKET
India is an important source market for Malaysia, supported by geographical proximity, strong people-to-people links, a wide range of holiday experiences and direct air connectivity. Malaysia welcomed approximately 1.13 million Indian visitors in 2024 and 1.56 million in 2025. From January to September 2026, the country recorded approximately 1.06 million Indian tourist arrivals.
South India is estimated to account for around 60 per cent of Indian visitor traffic to Malaysia. Its established travel trade network and air links with Malaysia offer opportunities to further develop the market. Participants also exchanged views on challenges affecting outbound travel, including higher airfares, currency fluctuations, changing consumer spending patterns, regional competition and geopolitical uncertainties.
CONSUL GENERAL CALLS FOR CLOSER COOPERATION
Ms. Aida Safura Niza Othman highlighted tourism's role in strengthening people-to-people connections and bilateral relations, and acknowledged the contribution of Indian travel trade and airline partners in promoting Malaysia.
Ms. Aida Safura Niza Othman said:
“India remains an important strategic partner for Malaysia, and tourism continues to be one of the strongest platforms for strengthening our people-to-people connections and bilateral relations. We recognise the significant contribution of the Indian travel trade and airline industry in promoting Malaysia and connecting travellers to our destinations.
“I look forward to working closely with Tourism Malaysia, travel trade associations, airlines and all industry partners to explore new opportunities, strengthen connectivity and develop more collaborative promotional initiatives. Together, we can further enhance Malaysia's visibility in the Indian market and encourage more Indian travellers to discover the many experiences that Malaysia has to offer.”
SUPPORTING VISIT MALAYSIA 2026–2027
Tourism Malaysia outlined its promotional priorities under the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign, including destination marketing, airline cooperation, travel trade engagement, media outreach and consumer promotions. The discussion also considered opportunities to develop tailored packages, encourage longer stays and promote itineraries beyond Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia's tourism offerings include family holidays, shopping, culture and heritage, culinary experiences, island escapes, nature and adventure, luxury travel, destination weddings, medical and wellness tourism, education tourism and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). These products provide opportunities for the Indian travel trade to reach different traveller segments and encourage repeat visits.
AIR CONNECTIVITY AND TRAVEL TRADE COLLABORATION
Air connectivity was a key topic, with participants discussing the importance of maintaining existing direct services between South Indian cities and Malaysia, exploring opportunities for additional routes and working together on promotions that stimulate demand. Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi are among the regional gateways connecting travellers with Malaysia.
Discussions with travel trade representatives, including those from the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) and SKÅL International, focused on joint marketing, destination presentations, agent training, familiarisation trips, business-to-business engagements and the promotion of Malaysia's secondary destinations and niche tourism products.
Participants also considered opportunities in MICE, destination weddings, medical and wellness tourism, education tourism and luxury travel. The meeting recognised the role of travel agents and tour operators in turning destination awareness into bookings, and the value of continued dialogue in responding to market needs.
TOURISM MALAYSIA REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE INDIAN MARKET
Mr. Hishamuddin Mustafa said:
“India remains one of Malaysia's most important tourism source markets. We welcomed approximately 1.56 million Indian visitors in 2025, while the latest figures recorded 1.06 million arrivals between January and September 2026. These numbers demonstrate the continued importance of India to Malaysia's tourism industry and the significant opportunities that remain, particularly in South India.
“Our focus is to strengthen existing partnerships and develop new business opportunities with airlines, travel agents and tourism organisations. Through better air connectivity, innovative joint promotions, attractive travel packages and continuous industry engagement, we can collectively encourage more Indian travellers to choose Malaysia.
“We greatly appreciate the continued support of our industry partners, and I am confident that with stronger collaboration and a shared commitment, we can further enhance Malaysia's position as a preferred international holiday destination for Indian travellers under the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign.”
MOVING FORWARD
The interaction reaffirmed the commitment of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Chennai, Tourism Malaysia and industry partners to strengthen Malaysia–India tourism cooperation. Tourism Malaysia Chennai will continue engaging airlines, travel trade associations and tourism organisations across South India and Sri Lanka to build partnerships, promote Malaysia's diverse tourism products and support the objectives of Visit Malaysia 2026–2027.
