KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's travel activities recorded a net inflow of 49.2 billion ringgit (12.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, a significant rise from the 37.4 billion ringgit recorded in 2024, driven by strong inbound tourism, according to the finance ministry.

Due to a stronger ringgit, the spending by Malaysians traveling abroad rose to 61.4 billion ringgit in 2025, compared to 57.9 billion ringgit in 2024, the ministry said.

Despite this higher outbound expenditure, inbound travel receipts remained exceptionally robust, totaling 110.6 billion ringgit, a sharp rise from the 95.3 billion ringgit collected in 2024.

Malaysia also welcomed 42.2 million international visitors in 2025, a significant increase from the 38 million recorded the previous year.

"Inbound tourist performance is set to stay strong throughout 2026. This growth is supported by increased flight frequencies, easier visa access, and a surge in promotional campaigns leading up to the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 launch," it said. (1 ringgit equal 0.25 U.S. dollars) ■