It ranked fourth behind Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, while Indonesia rounded out the top five.

Over the past two years, Malaysia has overtaken Thailand to remain Southeast Asia's most-visited country, driven by relaxed visa policies, major infrastructure upgrades, stronger regional connectivity, and major international events.

A man uses his phone as the Petronas Twin Towers are seen in the background in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 12, 2021. Photo by Reuters

It welcomed a record 42.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, marking an 11.2% year-on-year increase.

The country, home to Southeast Asia's largest airport by land area and famous for its diverse mix of cultures, recorded 21.12 million international visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 2.5% increase from a year earlier.