In the first six months of 2016, ‘shopping tourism’ generated US$2.78 billion (RM11.7 billion) revenue for Malaysia, an increase of 17.1 per cent, making the sector the major contributor to Malaysia’s tourism revenue.
The sector contributed 31.4 per cent to overall tourism revenue of RM37.4 billion during the corresponding period last year, with tourist arrivals at 25.7 million people, Malaysian Deputy Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said.
The average per capita expenditure of a tourist in the shopping sector also rose by 13 per cent to RM900.07 this year compared to RM796.85 in the same period last year.
“Malaysia has over 500 shopping malls nationwide, including three which are listed as the top 10 biggest shopping malls in the world,” she said after opening 2016 1Malaysia End Of Year Sale Carnival at Freeport A’Famosa Outlet, in Alor Gajah Sunday.
Tourists from Singapore recorded the highest amount of spending (RM16.4 bln) in the first six months of this year, followed by Indonesia (RM4 billion), China (RM3.4 billion), Brunei (RM1.6 billion) and Thailand (RM1.6 billion).
