Russians set record for visits to single country

Russian tourist traffic to Malaysia grew by 6.7% in 2025, reaching 139,700 visits, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported.

“This is one of the highest records for 2025: never before have so many Russians travelled to Malaysia,” Caliber.Az quotes the association as saying in a statement.

According to ATOR, Russia has also entered the top 20 countries by the number of tourists visiting Malaysia.

In the winter season of 2026, Malaysia ranks among the top ten destinations favoured by Russians, with bookings extending well into the summer. Current demand trends allow tour operators to expect a year-end growth of 15–30%.

The association explained that this trend reflects growing Russian interest in less-explored destinations, active promotion of the country as a travel destination, and convenient transportation options. 

This year, Russia is running a major campaign, Visit Malaysia 2026, with experts predicting tourist arrivals from Russia to increase by more than 20%.

Overall, foreign tourist traffic to Malaysia reached 42,196,892 visits last year, up 11.2% from 2024.

By Jeyhun Aghazada