Malaysia has taken the lead as the most visited country in Southeast Asia, recording a whopping 10.1 million foreign arrivals in the first quarter of this year.
This tourism boom is largely credited to our country's relaxed visa policies.
Thailand, long considered the SEA region's tourism heavyweight, slid into second place with 9.55 million visitors.
Vietnam followed with 6 million, while Singapore logged 4.31 million arrivals, according to official figures.
In a move to keep the momentum going, Malaysia recently announced it will extend visa-free entry for Chinese tourists for another five years with a possible extension up to 2036.
Visa-free travel for Indian visitors has also been extended through 2026, according to Malaysia's Home Minister.
Thailand, on the other hand, is facing a rough patch.
Tourism numbers have taken a hit amid growing safety concerns, especially after the high-profile kidnapping of Chinese actor Xing Xing back in January, which raised alarm among Chinese tourists, a major source of visitors for the country.
