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By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has been named in a United Nations (UN) report as one of several major tourist destinations that has recorded a surge in arrivals in the first six months of this year. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation’s World Tourism Barometer report, international tourist arrivals to Malaysia rose by 9% from January to June compared to the same period last year. “Some of the highest growth rates among large destinations in H1 2025 were recorded in Japan and Vietnam (both +21%), the Republic of Korea (+15%) and Morocco (+19%), as well as Mexico and the Netherlands (both +7%). “Malaysia and Indonesia both reported 9% growth and Hong Kong (China) 7%, though arrivals in these destinations remained somewhat below 2019 levels,” the report said.   The report noted that arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew 11% during this period, which is 92% of the pre-pandemic levels as the region continues to recover. ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA : Malaysia is named among the fastest-growing tourist destinations worldwide, according to United Nation Tourism.  In its World Tourism Barometer report, international tourist arrivals to Malaysia rose by 9% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year.  This placed Malaysia alongside Indonesia (9%), and ahead of Hong Kong, Mexico and the Netherlands, which each saw 7% growth. Japan and Vietnam led the growth chart with 21% each, followed by Morocco (+19%) and South Korea (+15%). Nearly 690 million tourists travelled internationally in the first half of 2025, marking a 5% increase or 33 million more than in the same period last year.  In terms of regional, South East Asia ranked sixth among global regions for international tourist arrivals in the first half of 2025, recording a 5.5% growth. Northeast Asia led the global tourism rebound with a 20.1% jump in arrivals, followed ...

  By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Malaysian scam victims lost an average of US$1,035 per person last year, the second highest in South East Asia after Singapore, according to a new study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (Gasa). Its State of Scams in South East Asia 2025 report found that Singaporeans recorded the biggest losses, averaging US$2,132 per victim in 2024, followed by Malaysia and Thailand at US$354. Across the region, an estimated US$23.6bil was stolen by scammers, or an average of US$660 lost per adult. “Over one-fifth or 22% of South East Asian adults have had money stolen by scammers in 2024,” Gasa managing director Jorij Abraham said in the report. Malaysia ranked highest in the region in terms of scam prevalence, with 32% of its adults losing money to scams, followed by the Philippines (31%) and Singapore (21%). The study also revealed that Malaysians were most often tricked into transferring funds directly, with 55% ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA : Singaporean scam victims lost an average of US$2,132 per person last year, the highest in South East Asia, according to a new study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (Gasa). Its State of Scams in South East Asia 2025 report put Malaysia in second place with losses averaging US$1,035 per person, followed by Thailand at US$354. Across the region, an estimated US$23.6bil was stolen by scammers, or an average of US$660 lost per adult. “Over one-fifth or 22% of South East Asian adults have had money stolen by scammers in 2024,” Gasa managing director Jorij Abraham said in the report. Malaysia ranked highest in the region in terms of scam prevalence, with 32% of its adults losing money to scams, followed by the Philippines (31%) and Singapore (21%).   The study also revealed that Malaysians were most often tricked into transferring funds directly, with 55% of victims using bank transfers.  Another 22% pai...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI  PETALING JAYA: Malaysians lost an average of US$1,035 (RM4,967.60) per person to scams last year, the second-highest in Southeast Asia after Singapore, according to a new study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (Gasa). Its State of Scams in Southeast Asia 2025 report found that Singaporeans recorded the biggest losses, averaging US$2,132 per victim in 2024, followed by Malaysia and Thailand at US$354. Across the region, an estimated US$23.6bil was stolen by scammers, or an average of US$660 lost per adult.   “Over one-fifth or 22% of Southeast Asian adults have had money stolen by scammers in 2024,” Gasa managing director Jorij Abraham said in the report. Malaysia ranked highest in the region in terms of prevalence, with 32% of its adults losing money to scams, followed by the Philippines (31%) and Singapore (21%). The study also revealed that Malaysians were most often tricked into transferring funds directly, w...