Malaysia Tourism and Scapia Launch Campaign to Expand Indian Travel Beyond Kuala Lumpur

Scapia and Tourism Malaysia have launched Malaysia Calling, a four-month campaign designed to help Indian travellers discover more of Malaysia beyond the familiar city-and-highlands itinerary.

The campaign focuses on making a wider range of Malaysian destinations visible and accessible to Indian holidaymakers. It will spotlight Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Melaka and Langkawi, placing culture, food, nature, island experiences and outdoor adventure at the centre of the travel proposition.

For Tourism Malaysia, the partnership supports its continuing effort to deepen engagement with the Indian market. For Scapia, it responds to clear demand from its users, while offering travellers rewards and discounts that can reduce the cost of planning a multi-stop Malaysian holiday.

Moving beyond Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands

Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands remain among the best-known Malaysian choices for Indian visitors. Their direct flights, shopping, family attractions and short-break appeal have made them central to many first-time itineraries.

However, Malaysia Calling is intended to widen that travel map. The campaign will introduce travellers to Penang’s heritage streets and food culture, Melaka’s historic character, Langkawi’s beaches and cable-car experiences, as well as Sabah and Sarawak’s rainforest, wildlife and adventure opportunities on Borneo.

This approach reflects a broader shift in Indian outbound travel. Holidaymakers are increasingly looking for trips that combine convenient access with experiences that feel local, varied and memorable. Instead of remaining in one destination, many travellers now build itineraries around food, activities, coastal stays, culture and outdoor exploration.

Malaysia offers a strong fit for this trend, with urban hubs, heritage destinations, islands and natural landscapes available within a relatively well-connected tourism network.

Stronger travel demand on the Scapia platform

Scapia said flight bookings to Malaysia on its platform have risen nearly fourfold year-on-year, while stay bookings have doubled during the same period. These figures point to sustained interest among Indian travellers, particularly as Malaysia continues to strengthen its positioning as a short-haul international destination.

The company said Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi account for a significant share of experience bookings. Travellers are also booking theme parks, cable-car rides, aquariums, city tours and dining experiences.

Importantly, Scapia is seeing emerging bookings for Genting Highlands, Penang and George Town. That suggests travellers are beginning to extend their journeys beyond the most established routes and are seeking a more rounded view of the country.

Under the campaign, eligible bookings for Malaysian flights, stays and experiences will receive discounts and bonus Scapia Coins. The benefit is designed to support travellers across different parts of their trip rather than only at the flight-booking stage.

Culture, nature and adventure take centre stage

Malaysia Calling will showcase the country through three broad themes: culture, nature and adventure.

Penang and Melaka offer heritage, architecture, museums and regional food traditions. Langkawi presents a different style of break, centred on beaches, island landscapes, water-based activities and scenic viewpoints. Sabah and Sarawak provide another dimension, with rainforests, wildlife, diving, hiking and river expeditions.

These destinations can appeal to a range of Indian travel segments, including families, young professionals, couples, food-focused travellers and adventure seekers. They also give repeat visitors reasons to return and explore beyond the first holiday itinerary.

Anand Kandadai, Head of Strategic and Travel Partnerships at Scapia, said the partnership would bring more Malaysian experiences to the company’s customers while adding value across flights, stays and activities.

Malaysia’s Consul General in Mumbai, H.E. Ms Najwa Musyrifah Ramli, said Indian travellers are increasingly looking beyond familiar itineraries and that Malaysia’s mix of rainforests, islands, food and local culture gives visitors a broad choice of experiences.

Air links and visa-free entry support growth

The campaign arrives at a time of strong air connectivity between India and Malaysia. As of October 2026, Malaysia has 193 weekly direct flights from more than 10 Indian cities, offering a combined weekly capacity of 36,010 seats to Malaysian gateways including Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang.

This level of connectivity helps make Malaysia practical for short holidays, long weekends and multi-destination trips. It also supports the country’s potential to attract travellers from beyond India’s largest metropolitan markets.

Visa-free entry for Indian nationals, introduced in December 2023, has further supported travel demand. Malaysia recorded 962,983 visitor arrivals from India between January and August 2026, underlining India’s importance as a tourism source market.

A wider invitation to Indian holidaymakers

Malaysia Calling is more than a promotional offer. It is an effort to reshape how Indian travellers view Malaysia, from a familiar short-haul getaway to a destination with enough variety for repeated and more immersive holidays.

By linking rewards with destination discovery, Scapia and Tourism Malaysia are encouraging travellers to look beyond a standard itinerary. For India’s growing outbound market, Malaysia’s combination of accessibility, value, food, nature and cultural depth may give the campaign a strong foundation through Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 and beyond.

Malaysia Calling gives Indian travellers a stronger reason to look beyond Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands. With visa-free entry, extensive direct flights, rewards and destination-led storytelling, the Scapia and Tourism Malaysia partnership can support longer, more varied holidays while directing visitor spending towards Malaysia’s culture, islands, heritage cities and nature experiences.