Tourism Malaysia is reporting a sharp rise in visitor numbers from Uzbekistan, part of a broader upward trend across Central Asia. Malaysia welcomed 16,283 Uzbek tourists between January and June 2026, a 62% increase from the 10,054 arrivals recorded over the same period in 2025.
The positive trend extends across the wider region. In the first six months of 2026, Malaysia received 53,347 tourists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan combined — a 23.3% increase from 43,280 arrivals during the same period last year.
Most Central Asian markets posted growth. Alongside Uzbekistan, which was among the fastest-growing markets, arrivals from Tajikistan rose 60.2%, climbing from 1,330 to 2,131 visitors. Kazakhstan, Malaysia's largest market in the region, grew 11.8%, from 23,527 to 26,296 tourists. Arrivals from Kyrgyzstan increased 13.7%, from 3,666 to 4,168, while Turkmenistan recorded 4,469 arrivals in the first half of 2026.
"Central Asia is an important and increasingly dynamic market for Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia is seeing not only overall growth in visitor numbers but also rising brand awareness across the region. More travelers are discovering the range of leisure opportunities Malaysia has to offer, and we see significant potential to build on this momentum," said Nor Shazlie Azmi, director of Tourism Malaysia in Almaty.
Cultural affinity is helping drive growing interest in Malaysia among Central Asian travelers. The country ranks among the most welcoming destinations for Muslim tourists, combining well-developed halal infrastructure, a wide range of halal dining options, and easy access to mosques and prayer spaces with its vibrant multicultural heritage.
Strong air connectivity is also supporting this growth. Kuala Lumpur is linked to Tashkent and Almaty by direct flights, while an extensive domestic network gives travelers convenient access to every corner of the country.
Air links between Malaysia and Central Asia continue to expand. In July 2026, Batik Air increased flight frequency between Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur, and starting in October 2026, Uzbekistan Airways plans to add further flights on the route. The expanded flight schedule is making trips to Malaysia more convenient and giving travelers greater flexibility when planning their vacations.
The rise in tourist numbers coincides with the large-scale international Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign, which aims to introduce foreign travelers not only to the country's best-known attractions but also to its various states, emerging destinations and broader range of leisure options.
"Travelers from Central Asia are becoming more experienced and are choosing destinations that can offer multiple types of experiences within a single trip. Malaysia is especially well positioned in this regard — combining city breaks, culture, cuisine, tropical beaches, nature, shopping and family entertainment all in one visit. Our goal is to showcase this diversity even more broadly to travelers in the region and encourage them not only to discover Malaysia, but to keep coming back to explore new parts of the country," Azmi added.
Given the continued growth in visitor numbers and expanding air connectivity between the two regions, Tourism Malaysia sees significant potential to further strengthen Central Asia's role as a source market and Malaysia's position as an accessible, culturally diverse, year-round travel destination.
