The first Tourism Malaysia seminar and presentation, held at the Archabil Hotel in the capital, opened a new chapter in relations between the tourism industries of Turkmenistan and Malaysia. The event, organized by the Malaysian tourism agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in cooperation with the Embassy of Malaysia in Turkmenistan, brought together key players in the tourism industry and representatives of leading media outlets.
During the event, Nor Shazli Azmi, Director of the Tourism Malaysia Almaty office, spoke to a correspondent of “GA” about the agency’s strategic objectives in the Turkmen market, transport accessibility, and the growing mutual interest in tourism.
Nor Shazli Azmi emphasized that the presentation was of particular importance to both sides, as it laid the foundation for systematic joint work.
“It is a great honor for me to participate in the first Tourism Malaysia seminar in Ashgabat. This is our first specialized event for representatives of Turkmenistan’s tourism industry. We view it as the beginning of a long-term and deep partnership. At Tourism Malaysia, we are convinced that the successful development of the industry is impossible without strong connections. Therefore, our goal is not simply to present Malaysia, but also to better understand the specific characteristics of Turkmenistan’s tourism market, hear your ideas, and jointly develop tourism products that meet market demand,” said the head of the office.
One of the main indications of the high potential for bilateral cooperation was official statistical data. According to the figures presented, interest among Turkmen citizens in traveling to Southeast Asia is showing steady growth.
“We consider Turkmenistan a market with great potential and are pleased to see that interest in Malaysia continues to grow. In 2025, Malaysia welcomed 10,750 tourists from Turkmenistan, which was 42.5 percent more than the previous year. This figure confirms the strong interest in this destination and the long-term potential of the Turkmen market,” said Nor Shazli Azmi.
According to the head of the regional office, the availability of direct, nonstop air service between the capitals of the two countries is the main driver of growth in both tourism and business travel. Convenient logistics make Malaysia one of the most comfortable and accessible destinations in Southeast Asia for Turkmen travelers.
Summing up the results of the event, Nor Shazli Azmi expressed confidence that the forum would serve as a starting point for the implementation of new projects.
“The seminar provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnership ties, and outline practical steps for further cooperation. We sincerely hope that the result of our work will be the launch of unique tourist routes and a further increase in tourist exchanges. We look forward to fruitful cooperation and will be delighted to welcome even more guests from Turkmenistan to sunny Malaysia,” concluded the guest.
