Malaysia’s tourism industry contributed 15.1% to GDP in 2024, and 21.6% to total employment
Summary
Malaysia’s tourism sector strengthened in 2024, contributing 15.1% to national GDP (up from 14.9% in 2023) and growing 7.4% to RM291.9bn, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) 2024. The sector supported 3.5 million jobs, equal to 21.6% of total employment, with employment rising 4.6% year-on-year.
Retail trade, food & beverage services and other services (health, education, MICE, spa) dominated both revenue and employment. Inbound tourism spending surged 41.1% to RM107.0bn, while domestic tourism spending rose 25.1% to RM98.4bn. Combined internal tourism consumption increased 33.0%, with shopping, food & beverage and accommodation making up around 70% of that total. Accommodation and passenger transport have yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels.
Key Points
- Tourism accounted for 15.1% of Malaysia’s GDP in 2024, up from 14.9% in 2023.
- Industry value reached RM291.9bn in 2024, a 7.4% increase year-on-year.
- Tourism supported 3.5 million jobs (21.6% of the workforce); employment grew 4.6% in 2024.
- Retail trade was the largest revenue source (RM154.5bn; 52.9%), followed by food & beverage (RM47.7bn; 16.3%) and other services (RM39.0bn; 13.3%).
- Inbound tourism expenditure rose 41.1% to RM107.0bn; shopping was the top inbound spending category (36.1% growth).
- Domestic tourism spending increased 25.1% to RM98.4bn, led by shopping and F&B.
- Internal tourism consumption shifted back towards inbound-led growth (inbound 52.1% of internal consumption in 2024).
- Accommodation and passenger transport remain below pre-pandemic levels and have room for recovery.
Why should I read this?
Quick version: tourism is back and it matters — for jobs, retail and the wider economy. If you work in HR, hospitality, retail or policy, this snapshot tells you where demand and hiring pressure are concentrated (think retail and F&B). Worth a skim so you know which parts of the sector are booming and which still need a push.
Context and relevance
The TSA 2024 confirms a strong post-pandemic rebound in Malaysia’s tourism, driven by inbound visitors and spending on shopping, food & beverage, and accommodation. For employers and policy-makers this highlights where labour demand is highest and where investment or targeted support could speed recovery (notably accommodation and transport). The shift back to inbound-led consumption also signals renewed international confidence and opportunities for export-orientated tourism businesses.
