The number of Saudi Arabian tourist arrivals in Malaysia is expected to increase by five per cent this year following the visit by the King of Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the country recently.

Malaysian Tourism Consul in Saudi Arabia Mohd Nasir Kushairi said the good relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia also enhanced the confidence of the people in the Middle East country to visit Malaysia, which had various tourist attractions.

"Saudi Arabian tourists stay in Malaysia for two weeks and above and they spent about RM10,000 each and this benefits the country's tourism and economic sector," he told reporters at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2017.

He said that in 2016, a total of 123,878 Saudi Arabian tourists came to Malaysia, from 99,754 people the previous year.

King Salman headed a delegation of 600 people to Malaysia during a visit to the country from Feb 26 to March 1 this year.

Seven Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in various areas, including construction, halal cooperation, aerospace and haj services, with an estimated value of RM9.74 billion, were signed between Malaysia and Saudi Arabian companies in conjunction with King Salman's visit.

Mohd Nasir said his office would further promote Malaysia's tourism, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, in Saudi Arabia.

He also urged cooperation from the state governments to work with the Tourism Malaysia office in Jeddah to promote the tourism products in their respective states.

- Bernama