In the previous year, Malaysia welcomed 38 million foreign visitors.

Speaking following the meeting of the Tourism and Culture Cabinet Committee, he highlighted that the sector has established itself as a key contributor to the nation's economic development and job creation, reported New Straits Times Online.

"The government is enhancing collaboration to ensure the tourism sector continues to be the leading force behind the nation's economic advancement," he stated, pointing out that the strategy aims to not only draw in more global tourists but also to increase their duration of stay and optimize their expenditure.

With this remarkable success, Malaysia maintained its status as the tourism leader in Southeast Asia for the second year in a row.

Thailand, typically the region's favorite, came in second with 32.9 million visitors for 2025, reflecting a 7% decline year-on-year, marking the first annual drop in international arrivals in ten years outside of the pandemic context, as reported by Bloomberg.

Once a tourism giant in Southeast Asia, Thailand encountered challenges last year due to incidents of kidnapping, a devastating earthquake, tensions at the border with Cambodia, and severe flooding.