A view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in Malaysia, May 30, 2023. Photo by Reuters
Malaysia welcomed 10.6 million tourists in the first quarter of this year, up 5% year-on-year, reinforcing its position as the most visited country in Southeast Asia.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said arrivals continue to grow despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Malay Mail.
“Although there is a dip in tourists from the Middle East, there is a slight increase in the number of tourists coming from Asian and European countries,” he said.
Thailand, traditionally the region’s favorite, ranked second after receiving 9.3 million arrivals between January and March, a slight year-on-year decrease of 2.3%, Bangkok Post reported.
Vietnam welcomed 6.76 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest quarterly figure ever recorded and a year-on-year increase of 12%, according to the General Statistics Office.
Malaysia has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s tourism bright spots in recent years, supported by flexible visa policies and infrastructure improvements.
The country welcomed a record 42.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, establishing itself as the top destination in Southeast Asia. It targets 47 million tourists this year.
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