Malaysia, named Asia’s most-loved country in a survey last year, welcomed 22.5 million foreign tourists (excluding excursionists) between January and November 2024, marking a 26% increase compared to the previous year.
The largest group of visitors came from Singapore, with 8 million arrivals, followed by Indonesia with 3.2 million and China with 3 million, according to Malaysia’s Tourism Statistics. Thailand and Brunei rounded out 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 exemptions for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026, and similarly for Chinese nationals, also until 2026. Initially introduced in December 2023, these visa waivers allow Chinese and Indian tourists to stay for up to 30 days.
Known for its rich cultural diversity, Malaysia was recognized as Asia’s most-loved country in a June survey by the American finance site Insider Monkey.
In comparison, Thailand saw over 35 million foreign arrivals in 2024, while Vietnam welcomed nearly 16 million visitors as of November.
