Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia

Malaysia: Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 19.87 million guests in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
19.87 million guests
Change on year
down 35.3%
World rank
19th
of 96 countries
All-time high
52.42 million guests
in 2018
All-time low
11.49 million guests
in 1999
Years of data
23
1999–2021

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia, 1999–2021

10.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M1999201020211999: 11.5M guests2000: 13.6M guests2001: 15.6M guests2002: 16.5M guests2003: 18.3M guests2004: 27.9M guests2005: 29.9M guests2006: 31.9M guests2007: 36.3M guests2008: 40.6M guests2009: 32.9M guests2010: 27.5M guests2011: 27.7M guests2012: 29.9M guests2013: 34.3M guests2014: 45.4M guests2015: 45.9M guests2016: 46.4M guests2017: 49.2M guests2018: 52.4M guests2019: 51.1M guests2020: 30.7M guests2021: 19.9M guests

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.

Analysis

The most recent figure for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia is 19.87 million guests, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of down 35.3% on the previous year and down 28.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia peaked at 52.42 million guests in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11.49 million guests, in 1999.

That places Malaysia 19th out of 96 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia, 1999 to 2021.
Year guests Change
1999 11.49 million guests
2000 13.61 million guests +18.4%
2001 15.56 million guests +14.4%
2002 16.46 million guests +5.7%
2003 18.34 million guests +11.4%
2004 27.89 million guests +52.1%
2005 29.93 million guests +7.3%
2006 31.90 million guests +6.6%
2007 36.25 million guests +13.6%
2008 40.61 million guests +12.0%
2009 32.92 million guests -18.9%
2010 27.54 million guests -16.4%
2011 27.74 million guests +0.7%
2012 29.90 million guests +7.8%
2013 34.27 million guests +14.6%
2014 45.38 million guests +32.4%
2015 45.94 million guests +1.2%
2016 46.44 million guests +1.1%
2017 49.25 million guests +6.0%
2018 52.42 million guests +6.4%
2019 51.09 million guests -2.5%
2020 30.70 million guests -39.9%
2021 19.87 million guests -35.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 11.49 million guests 11.49 million guests 11.49 million guests 1
2000s 26.35 million guests 13.61 million guests 40.61 million guests 10
2010s 41.00 million guests 27.54 million guests 52.42 million guests 10
2020s 25.29 million guests 19.87 million guests 30.70 million guests 2

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 16 Poland 30.64 million guests compare
  2. 17 Iran 25.70 million guests compare
  3. 18 Republic of Korea 23.84 million guests compare
  4. 20 Sweden 19.21 million guests compare
  5. 21 Netherlands 16.47 million guests compare
  6. 22 Argentina 14.13 million guests compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia?
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia was 19.87 million guests in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 52.42 million guests in 2018.
What is the lowest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 11.49 million guests in 1999.
How does Malaysia rank for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
Malaysia ranks 19th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
Is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/domestic-guests-in-tourism-accommodation-hotels-and-similar-establishments-vs-foreign/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments
Unit
guests
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
96 places, 1,992 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of domestic visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments within their own country.