SHAH ALAM, Sept 7 — Tourism Selangor has noted a phenomenal increase in visitors to the state for religious or spiritual purposes in the first half of this year.
In terms of international arrivals, 26,651 came to Selangor last year, while January to June this year saw 39,474 coming for religious/spiritual reasons, marking a 48 per cent increase.
"This shift clearly reflects a new trend among tourists, who are increasingly prioritising spiritually-oriented experiences over purely entertainment-based attractions," Tourism Selangor said in its Tourism Statistics Report released yesterday.
In contrast, other tourism segments for international arrivals recorded contractions, including others at -14 per cent, eco-tourism at -5 per cent, museums/galleries at -3 per cent, and theme parks at -29 per cent.
Domestically, 2024 saw 67,358 tourists for religious/spiritual reasons, while the first half of 2025 saw 187,635 tourists, or a remarkable 179 per cent increase.
"Overall, all segments in terms of domestic visitors saw growth, including others at 75 per cent, museums/galleries at 72 per cent, eco-tourism at 44 per cent, and theme parks at 29 per cent.
"This upward trend highlights Malaysians’ growing inclination to appreciate and explore local tourism destinations, thereby contributing to the expansion of the domestic tourism sector," it said.
Selangor is home to several notable houses of worship, including Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam, the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, the Sri Shakti Dhevasthanam in Bukit Rotan, Kuala Selangor, and the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, among many others.
