Malaysia becomes Southeast Asia tourism champion on flexible immigration policy

Malaysia recorded nearly 29 million foreign arrivals last year, becoming the most popular destination in Southeast Asia, a throne that belonged to Thailand before Covid, according to Focus Malaysia.

Nor Hayati Zainuddin, director of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Department in Vietnam, told VnExpress she felt "proud" her tourism industry led the regional race.

"This was a milestone for the continuous efforts of the Malaysian government and the entire tourism industry," she said.

The Malaysian Immigration Department last year allowed foreign visitors to complete a digital arrival card online three days before entering the country to speed up immigration.

In addition, the 30-day visa exemption for Indian and Chinese tourists also contributed to boosting the tourist number.

The Malaysian government last year also tripled the duration of the visa-free stay for Hong Kong passport holders to 90 days in a reciprocal move.