Asia's most loved country welcomes 22.5 million foreign visitors

By Hoang Phong January 1, 2025 | 06:48 pm PT

A view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline in Malaysia, May 30, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Malaysia, voted Asia's most-loved country in a survey last year, received 22.5 million foreign tourists excluding excursionists between January and November 2024, reflecting a 26% year-on-year increase.

Singapore was the largest source of visitors, contributing 8 million arrivals, followed by Indonesia with 3.2 million and China with 3 million, according to Malaysia's Tourism Statistics.

Thailand and Brunei completed the top five sources of tourists.

For 2024, Malaysia has set a target of 27.3 million foreign arrivals.

To further boost tourism, Malaysia recently extended its visa exemption for Indian nationals until Dec. 31, 2026. Similarly, a visa exemption for Chinese nationals was extended until 2026.

Malaysia initially introduced visa waivers for Chinese and Indian tourists in December 2023, allowing them to stay for up to 30 days.

Renowned for its rich cultural diversity, Malaysia was named Asia's most-loved country in a June survey by American finance site Insider Monkey.

In comparison, Thailand welcomed over 35 million foreign arrivals in 2024, while Vietnam received nearly 16 million as of November.