Malaysia Is The Most-Visited Southeast Asian Country In 1st Quarter Of 2026

When it comes to attracting foreign tourists in the first quarter of this year, Malaysia is number one with 10.6 million tourists attracted and that is more than a million ahead of 2^nd placer Thailand, according to a news report by VnExpress. It is recalled that Malaysia counted 42.2 million international visitor arrivals in 2025, and it will host the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2027.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Malaysia welcomed 10.6 million tourists in the first quarter of this year, up 5% year-on-year, reinforcing its position as the most visited country in Southeast Asia.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said arrivals continue to grow despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Malay Mail.

“Although there is a dip in tourists from the Middle East, there is a slight increase in the number of tourists coming from Asian and European countries,” he said.

Thailand, traditionally the region’s favorite, ranked second after receiving 9.3 million arrivals between January and March, a slight year-on-year decrease of 2.3%, Bangkok Post reported.

Vietnam welcomed 6.76 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest quarterly figure ever recorded and a year-on-year increase of 12%, according to the General Statistics Office.

Malaysia has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s tourism bright spots in recent years, supported by flexible visa policies and infrastructure improvements.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Malaysia will be able to attract 47 million foreign tourists by the end of 2026? If you have visited Malaysia before, what do you think makes it very attractive to foreigners?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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