Malaysia is the only country in the Southeast Asia region with travel increasing and exceeding pre-pandemic tourism levels.
Malaysia achieved a complete recovery rate of 116.69% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, the highest among the regions, according to travel insights firm Outbox Company.
The country with the highest number of tourists in 2023 will be Thailand with 28 million tourists, followed by Malaysia with 20 million and Singapore with 13.6 million.
Also read: Next year’s tourist arrivals expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels
According to the study, the overall recovery rate for Southeast Asian countries reached 72% as of December 2023, with Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia exceeding their tourist targets.
The total number of international tourist arrivals in Southeast Asia increased by 22%, reaching a total of 97 million during the year.
The increase in tourist numbers in December 2023 alone further highlights Malaysia’s growing popularity, hosting 2.3 million international tourists, an increase of 36% from the previous month, and maintaining its lead with 3.3 million. It was ranked second only to Thailand. 23% increase.
Looking ahead to 2024, the tourism landscape in Southeast Asia looks promising, with continued growth expected from diverse markets, particularly China.
With this achievement, Malaysia has established a positive direction for the future to attract international tourists and further strengthen its position as a major player in Southeast Asia’s tourism industry.
