Tourists coming from Singapore were at the top of the list for the highest number of international travelers visiting Johor, Malaysia’s second-largest state, making up almost 78%.
Over 11 million of Johor’s total 14 million international visitors from January to June 2025 were Singaporean nationals.
The Straits Times
reported, referencing K. Raven Kumar, chairman of the Johor Unity, Culture and Heritage Committee.
In addition to Singapore, the country is also attracting numerous tourists from Indonesia, China, India, the Philippines, South Korea, and various European nations.
Raven noted that this represented an optimistic and motivating development for the state government and local tourism sector, as they prepare for the Visit Johor Year 2026 initiative.
Initiatives are also being implemented to highlight smaller towns within Johor’s ten regions as possible tourist spots for both international and local visitors,
The Star
reported.
He further mentioned that the government plans to draw 12 million visitors to Johor in 2026 through improvements of different tourist attractions and hosting events aimed at reinforcing the state’s status as a major travel hotspot.
Johor is recognized as Malaysia’s second-largest state in terms of population, following Selangor. The region features well-known travel spots including Legoland Malaysia, cultural landmarks such as the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque and the Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple, as well as natural sights like Desaru Beach and the Kota Tinggi Firefly Park.
The Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, stated that 10.3 million visitors from Singapore traveled to Malaysia between January and June, marking an increase of 22.5% over the same timeframe in 2024.