Sultan urges Kelantan government to intensify push for more overseas tourists
Sultan Muhammad V called on Kelantan's state government to step up promotion, partnerships and tourism product development to attract more international visitors, after reporting 12 million domestic and 6.5 million foreign arrivals in 2025.
During his birthday address at Istana Balai Besar in Kota Bharu, Sultan Muhammad V appealed to the Kelantan state government to intensify efforts in drawing foreign tourists through coordinated promotion, stronger strategic partnerships, and the development of high-impact tourism products such as world-class medical tourism. He highlighted that the state recorded 12 million domestic and 6.5 million international visitors in 2025, reflecting strong visitor confidence in Kelantan's unique heritage and cultural attractions.
The Sultan praised recent airline links to Jakarta and Singapore and urged the creation of further international routes to improve access. He stressed that expanding tourism is vital for positioning Kelantan as a world-class destination and for leveraging its cultural and natural assets for economic growth.
Why it matters
Boosting international tourism could drive economic growth and raise Kelantan's global profile.
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