Kuala lumpur: Malaysia's tourism industry generated RM323 billion and contributed 15.9 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year, according to the Tourism Satellite Account 2025 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, DOSM stated that the industry grew 8.6 per cent last year, up from 7.8 per cent in 2024, driven by strong demand for internal tourism, comprising inbound and domestic tourism expenditure. The internal tourism expenditure rose to RM236.9 billion in 2025 from RM205.6 billion the previous year, with inbound tourism accounting for 52.7 per cent and domestic tourism 47.3 per cent.

Of the RM323 billion generated, retail trade accounted for the largest share at 50.6 per cent, followed by food and beverage services at 16.4 per cent and specialised tourism-related services, including health and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), at 13.1 per cent. Accommodation contributed 9.3 per cent, while cultural, sports and recreational activities accounted for 4.3 per cent.

DOSM reported that tourism-related industries employed 3.7 million people in 2025, representing 22.1 per cent of total employment in Malaysia. Employment in these industries grew 3.5 per cent last year, compared with 4.6 per cent in 2024, with retail trade accounting for 37.9 per cent, followed by food and beverage services at 36.7 per cent and specialised tourism-related services at 10.5 per cent. Together, the three subsectors accounted for 85.1 per cent of total employment in tourism-related industries, DOSM stated.