Malaysia has once again taken the top spot as Southeast Asia’s most visited country.
This is the second year in a row Malaysia has welcomed more international travellers than Thailand, signalling a major shift in the region’s tourism scene.
The growth comes from a mix of traveller-friendly policies, better flight access, and upgraded tourism infrastructure.
The key numbers
• Malaysia recorded 38.3 million foreign arrivals in the first 11 months of 2025
• This already surpasses Malaysia’s total visitor count for the whole of 2024
• Thailand recorded 32.9 million arrivals in 2025
• Thailand’s numbers fell 7 percent year-on-year, according to Bloomberg
In short, Malaysia is attracting more tourists at a faster pace, while Thailand is seeing its visitor growth slow down.
Why Thailand lost momentum
For years, Thailand was Southeast Asia’s tourism powerhouse. But in 2025, several events hurt traveller confidence:
• Reported kidnapping incidents involving tourists
• A deadly earthquake
• Border tensions with Cambodia
• Severe flooding in popular tourist areas
These incidents raised safety concerns and disrupted travel plans, causing some tourists to choose other destinations instead.
Why Malaysia pulled ahead
Malaysia’s advantage comes from making travel easier and smoother for visitors especially the visa-free travel for Chinese tourists.
The government recently extended this visa exemption for another five years, with an option to extend it for five more. First introduced in December 2023, the policy is currently valid until 2026.
This matters because China is one of the world’s largest sources of international travellers. Making entry simpler encourages more Chinese tourists to pick Malaysia.
At the same time, flight connectivity has improved, meaning more direct international routes and easier travel into the country.
Malaysia has also completed key upgrades at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1. These improvements increase passenger capacity and create a smoother travel experience, from check-in to arrival.
A better airport experience often shapes first impressions and can influence whether tourists return.
Heading into 2026 on strong footing
With clear travel policies, easier access, and continued infrastructure investment, Malaysia has positioned itself as Southeast Asia’s leading tourism destination going into 2026.
For travellers, it means Malaysia is becoming not just an affordable choice, but also a convenient and reliable one.
