Perak Surpasses Selangor to Become The Most Popular Domestic Tourist Destination in Malaysia

Perak has been crowned the most popular domestic tourist destination in Malaysia, with 10.2 million visitors last year, surpassing all other states in the country.

This is according to data by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in its Domestic Tourism Survey 2024 that was published on 19 June.

Perak ranked as the most popular domestic tourist destination in Malaysia in 2024

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Perak State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee Chairman Loh Sze Yee was quoted by BERNAMA as saying that the state recorded a significant increase in domestic tourists last year.

Specifically, there was a 36.1% increase from the year prior, when Perak recorded 7.5 million visitors.

Moreover, Perak’s 10.2 million domestic tourist arrivals in 2024 surpass Selangor (9.6 million) and Pahang (9.5 million).

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Popular destinations in Perak include Teluk Batik, Lumut Waterfront, Ipoh Night Market, Gunung Lang Recreational Park, and Pangkor Island. Meanwhile, the districts in the state that recorded the highest tourist presence were Kinta, Larut and Matang, Manjung, Kuala Kangsar, and Batang Padang.

Loh attributed the success to the state’s Visit Perak Year campaign last year, which saw strong collaboration between the state and federal governments.

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He asserted,

“Congratulations to all stakeholders—government agencies, local authorities, district offices, NGOs, traders, and the public, for their efforts in making Perak a leading tourism destination…

“We must keep up this momentum. Last year, only four states, including Melaka, launched state-level tourism campaigns. But with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 approaching, every state will be actively competing to attract visitors,”

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Besides domestic tourism, Perak’s popularity is growing among foreign tourists too, with places in the state, especially its capital of Ipoh, being featured favourably in global travel publications.

Previously, global magazine Time Out named Ipoh as the 5th best place in Asia to visit in 2025. Meanwhile, Tatler named Ipoh the 2nd most underrated food city on the continent.

So, what do you guys think of Perak’s popularity among tourists? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments. 

Also read: “Paradise for noodle lovers” – Ipoh Ranks 2nd Among Asia’s Most Underrated Foodie Cities!