Asia's most loved country named 2024 destination of the year

The accolade was determined through a voting process involving travel enthusiasts, reflecting Malaysia's appeal as a top destination.

"It is truly an honor," said Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, as quoted by The Star.

The awards, organized by TripZilla, a Singapore-based online travel media platform with a monthly reach of over 20 million travelers, celebrate exceptional contributions to the travel industry.

This year’s event marked its largest iteration yet, featuring a record number of nominees and voters, and presenting over 60 awards.

Known for its rich cultural diversity, Malaysia outshined regional competitors such as Singapore and Thailand to secure the title of Asia’s most-loved country, according to a survey by Insider Monkey in June.

To attract more visitors, Malaysia has introduced relaxed visa requirements for travelers from key markets like China and India.

The country aims to welcome 27.3 million foreign visitors in 2024. It received over 16 million tourists as of August this year.