Malaysia has retained its position as Southeast Asia's most visited country, recording 28.8 million international tourists from January to August this year. This represents a 1.8% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director-General Mohd Akbal Setia.
Tourism contributes over 15% to Malaysia's GDP, supporting businesses across the value chain including hotels, e-hailing services, local artisans, and family-run restaurants. The strong performance highlights Malaysia's continued appeal as a destination and the importance of international tourism partnerships.
Thailand, traditionally the region's top destination, ranked second with 20.93 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2026, a 3.08% decline from the previous year. Vietnam followed with nearly 16 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2026, up 14.4% year on year.
Malaysia's recent tourism success has been supported by flexible visa policies and infrastructure improvements. The country received a record 42.2 million foreign visitors in 2025 and aims to reach 47 million in 2026.
