According to the latest report from the World Tourism Organisation, Southeast Asia is among the world’s favourite destinations for travel, whilst Malaysia has been confirmed as one of the top countries within the region.
Malaysia was placed third overall in the list of Asia’s most visited countries; the nation attracted 26.75 million tourists last year alone, although the average duration of stay decreased within this group. China remains the leading destination in Asia, with nearly 60 million annual visitors (2016), whilst second-placed Thailand attracted nearly 33 million tourists in the same year. Japan and India completed the top five, with 24.04 and 14.56 million tourist visitors, respectively.
The report notes the continuing growth of tourist arrivals worldwide, citing that 25 million global travellers in 1950 has since grown to 278 million in 1980, 674 million in 2000, and 1.2 billion in 2016. Within this global boom for travel, the Asia Pacific region accounts for around 30 per cent of the world’s international tourism receipts. The region has outperformed all other areas in terms of growth, with international tourist arrivals increasing an average 7% per year compared to the world average of 4%.
With its unique combination of cultures, many natural attractions and a rich combination of heritage and modernity, Malaysia is uniquely placed to offer a host of highlights taken from around the region; a view of Asia in microcosm.
