Table 1: Tourist Arrivals Trend to Malaysia by Region (2008-2013)

2008

2009

2011

2012

2013

Tourist

(%)

Tourist

(%)

Tourist

(%)

Tourist

(%)

Tourist

(%)

ASEAN
EAST ASIA
SOUTH

Arrivals
16,636,977
1,849,245
762,863

75.4
8.4
3.5

Arrivals
18,386,363
1,844,375
828,290

77.8
7.8
3.5

Arrivals
18,885,302
2,138,812
985,030

76.4
8.7
4.0

Arrivals
18,809,736
2,555,289
1,043,719

75.1
10.2
4.2

Arrivals
19,105,915
2,865,387
1,063,248

74.3
11.1
4.1

ASIA
WEST ASIA
AMERICAS
EUROPE
NON ASEAN
GRAND

264,338
345,217
1,010,860
5,415,511
22,052,488

Country

1.2
1.6
4.6
24.6

284,890
345,768
1,150,594
5,259,828
23,646,191

1.2
1.5
4.9
22.2

358,994
339,911
1,108,668
5,829,022
24,714,324

1.5
1.4
4.5
23.6

311,722
327,065
1,029,630
628,394
25,032,708

1.2
1.3
4.1
2.5

268,655
335,840
1,078,926
643,421
25,715,460

TOTAL

The tourist arrivals trend shows that ASEAN countries dominating the arrivals to Malaysia which
Singapore remain as the biggest contributor within the study period. Tourist arrivals from ASEAN
countries in 2012-2013 recorded a decreased by - 0.8% compared to 2008-2009 recorded an increased
2.4%. The Non ASEAN country becomes the 2nd highest tourist arrivals with a total number from
628,394 to 643,421 for year 2012 and 2013 respectively. While in year 2009, the number of tourist
arrival from non ASEAN showed a slightly decreased to 5,259,828 compared 5,415,511 in year 2008.
Tourist arrivals from West Asia countries recorded the least within the period while those from other
regions showed an increased from year to year.
Chart 1: Tourist Arrivals Trend to Malaysia by Age Group (2008-2013)
40
35
30
2008 (%)

25

2009 (%)

20

2011 (%)
2012 (%)

15

2013 (%)

10
5
0
15-19

20-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

>65

The graph above showed that most of the tourist arrivals to Malaysia dominated by younger age group
25-34 years followed by those in range 35-44 years. Specifically in 2013, 35.4 per cent were in the

1.0
1.3
4.2
2.5

age group 25 to 34 years, 33.1 per cent in the age group 35 to 44 years, and 18.2 per cent in the age
group 45 to 54 years and below 10.0 per cent by those below 24 years and above 65 years of age.
Tourist from the age group 65 years and above accounted for the remaining 1.9 per cent. For overall
analysis, the percentage distribution of tourist arrivals by age group recorded an increased every year.
Chart 2: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia- Breakdown by Occupation (2008-2013)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

2013 (%)
2012 (%)
2011 (%)
2009 (%)
2008 (%)

The majority of tourists who come to Malaysia in 2008-2013 are from the professional group
followed by management and administration occupation group. Professional occupation recording at
29.1% (2008), 34.1% (2009), 38.7 % (2011), 28.7 % (2012) and 32.0% (2013), while for management
and administration occupation group, accounting for 20.8% (2008), 23.1% (2009), 21.9% (2011),
22.2% (2011) and 21.0% (2013).
Chart 3: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia by Marital Status
80.0
60.0
MARRIED

40.0

SINGLE

20.0
0.0
2008 (%) 2009 (%) 2011 (%) 2012 (%) 2013 (%)

From the chart 3 above, its shows that the percentages of tourist arrivals from year to year are mostly
contributed by married status. 60.7% which was recorded in 2008 and continue increased to 61.2%
and 67.9% in 2009 and 2011 respectively. For the following year 2012, the percentage slight
decreased to 65.8% but recorded an increased to 69.0% in year 2013. The single status of tourist
arrivals was decreased from 39.3% in 2008 to 38.8% in 2009 and the trend continues decreased to
32.1% (2011), 34.2% and 31.0% in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Chart 4: Tourist Arrivals by Gender (2008-2013)

2013 (%)
2012 (%)
2011 (%)

MALE
FEMALE

2009 (%)
2008 (%)
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0

The proportion of male tourist arrivals in 2008 was 63.8 per cent and female was 36.2 per cent. The
percentage continued recorded an increased every year as shown in Chart 4. The percentage of
female tourist registered a marginal increase of 4.2 per cent as compared with 2012.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

2008 (%)

2009 (%)

2011 (%)

2012 (%)

2013 (%)

Chart 5: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia- Breakdown by States

Kuala Lumpur/ Selangor continued to remain as the most popular state visited by tourists which
recorded 56.9 per cent in 2009. The ratio recorded was the same as 2008 at 57.1 per cent. For the
following year the percentage continue recorded an increased up to 64.1 per cent and 78.4 per cent in
2011 and 2012 respectively. However in 2013, the percentage recorded a decreased to 43.2 per cent.
The trend also showed others states visited according to the percentage of each state where from the
chart above, the second largest state visited was Penang followed by Melaka. Melaka and Penang
(Georgetown) are well known as the historic cities and being declared a UNESCO World Heritage site
in 2008 that made this city become popular and must visit amongst tourist.

Table 2: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia- Purposed of Visit

Purpose

2008 (%)

2009 (%)

2011 (%)

2012 (%)

2013 (%)

Holiday

75.0

64.5

55.5

54.1

57.8

VFR

4.6

10.0

10.7

14.0

14.4

Business

7.0

11.6

17.2

12.0

11.2

Shopping

1.6

3.9

0.9

3.5

3.6

Conference/Convention

2.1

5.2

5.1

5.1

2.5

Sport

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.5

0.3

Official Mission

0.7

0.9

1.1

1.2

1.1

Incentive Travel

1.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

1.5

Health Treatment

1.3

2.3

6.6

6.8

4.8

Education

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.4

From the table 2, Holiday the major factor in determining the purposed of tourist visit to Malaysia are
for Holiday. This are indicated by aggregate percentage that higher compared than other purpose visit
objective. In year 2008, accounting for 75.0 per cent but the percentage started declined which is
recorded 64.5 per cent (2009), 55.5 per cent (2011), 54.1 per cent (2012) and 57.8 per cent (2013).
Although, the percentage are declining, holiday objective is still dominating the purposed of tourist
visiting Malaysia. Business visit also recorded an increased which is 7.0 per cent (2008), 11.60 per
cent (2009) and 17.2 per cent (2013). As compared with 2012, the percentage of business visit
registered a marginal decreased of -6.70 per cent. For the purpose of visiting friend and relatives
(VFR) recorded a small increased to 14.4 per cent in 2013 (14.0 per cent in 2012).
Chart 6: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia- Breakdown of Tourist Expenditure
35.0

ACCOMODATION

30.0

SHOPPING

25.0

FOOD & BEVERAGES

20.0

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

15.0

ENTERTAINMENT

10.0

DOMESTIC AIRFARES

5.0

ORGANISED TOUR

2008 (%) 2009 (%) 2011 (%) 2012 (%) 2013 (%)

MISCELLANEOUS

Table 3: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia- Breakdown of Tourist Expenditure (2008-2013)

2008
2009
2011
2012
2013
COMPONENT
(RM
%
(RM
%
(RM
%
(RM
%
(RM
%
Mill)
Mill)
Mill)
Mill)
Mill)
ACCOMODATION
15,463
31%
16,574
31% 17961.3 31% 18651.5
31%
19829.3 30%
SHOPPING

13,282

27%

15,103

28%

17494.8

30%

18590.9

31%

19763.9

30%

FOOD &
BEVERAGES
LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION
ENTERTAINMENT

8,772

18%

9,291

17%

9797.1

17%

9689.1

16%

8180.4

12%

5,154

10%

5,253

10%

4373.7

8%

4057.3

7%

4450.1

7%

1,487

3%

1,594

3%

2216.0

4%

1816.7

3%

2028.7

3%

DOMESTIC
AIRFARES
ORGANISED TOUR

2,429

5%

2,275

4%

2390.0

4%

3693.9

6%

6937.0

11%

2,032

4%

2,271

4%

2682.5

5%

2422.3

4%

2356.0

4%

MISCELLANEOUS

942

2%

1,008

2%

1399.6

2%

1635.0

3%

1897.9

3%

49,561

100
%

53,368

100
%

58,315.
0

100
%

60,556.
7

100%

65,443.
3

100
%

TOTAL

From the statistics for the total expenditure of RM49.6 million (2008), RM53.4 million (2009),
RM58.3 million (2009), RM60.56 million (2009) and RM65.4 million (2013) spent by the tourist,
about 31 per cent of the total expenditure in 2008 to 2012 was spent for accommodation while in 2013
was about the same with the previous year. Out of the total RM65.4 million tourist expenditure in
2013, about 30 per cent or RM19.76 million was spent on shopping as compared with 2012 about 31
per cent or RM18.65 million. Total spending for both component of expenditure recorded an increased
where in 2012 and 2013 almost equal to the value spent on both components. For food and beverage
component recorded a decreased from 18 per cent (RM8.7 million) in 2008 to 12 per cent (RM 8.2
million) in 2013.
Table 4: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia- Breakdown of Tourist Average per Capita Expenditure
(2008-2013)

Average Per Capita (RM)

Country of Nationality
ASEAN
East Asia
South Asia
West Asia
Americas
Europe
Non ASEAN

2008

2009

2011

2012

2013

1,961.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3,078.3

2,009.5
2,535.0
2,294.6
7,167.7
2,934.5
3,297.1
3,121.7

2,093.5
2,678.3
2,475.2
7,347.2
2,909.3
3,280.0
3,221.7

2,150.4
2,765.1
2,463.9
7,443.0
2,967.0
3,295.2
3,231.3

2,227.9
3,023.0
2,701.6
7,724.7
3,237.8
3,663.3
3,461.3

In term of expenditure by regions, tourist from West Asia was the highest spenders within the study
period with total average per capita approximately up to RM 8,000 followed by Europe which
spending from RM3, 295.2 to RM3, 663.3 in 2013. While tourist from Non-ASEAN region was the
third highest spenders with average per capita RM3, 461.3 in 2013.