KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 (Bernama) — South Africa is optimistic about doubling the number of arrivals from Malaysia this year, following an increase last year, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said.
Speaking here on Wednesday during her Southeast Asia tour, she said that in 2025 South Africa received 7,773 Malaysian visitors, an increase of 17.3 per cent from the previous year.
She highlighted that South Africa and Malaysia share historic relations dating back 300 years with the Cape Malays, noting that the country also offers a variety of Muslim-friendly tourism offerings, including Halal cuisine and infrastructure.
“While Malaysians who travel to South Africa enjoy our hospitality and wildlife, we (South Africa) want to share that we have more to offer.
“Last year, we launched the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre, where the oldest dinosaur embryo in the world was discovered,” Lille said, adding that the centre has attracted over 80,000 visitors since the launch.
Meanwhile, South African Tourism said in a statement that Malaysia continues to strengthen its position as a leading source market for South Africa in Southeast Asia, driven by resilient travel demand, rising arrivals, and a return to record visitor spending.
According to the statement, overall outbound travel from Malaysia is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1 per cent between 2024 and 2030, supported by strong demand across both business and leisure segments.
“Malaysian travellers are showing an encouraging appetite for leisure, wildlife, cultural, and business experiences, returning to pre-pandemic levels and reflecting a strong recovery.
“This demand provides opportunities to diversify South African tourism offerings while strengthening cooperation through joint tourism promotion, knowledge-sharing and strategic initiatives,” the statement said.
— BERNAMA