10 million tourists picked this Asian paradise over Thailand in 2025
Malaysia received 10.1 million foreign arrivals in the first quarter of this year, making it the most visited country in Southeast Asia, thanks to its visa relaxation policies.
According to a report by VN Express, Thailand, which held the champion title for years, was second with 9.55 million, followed by Vietnam (six million) and Singapore (4.31 million), according to official data.
Malaysia recently announced the extension of visa exemption for Indian travelers until 2026. The exemption allows Indian nationals to visit Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days. A similar exemption has been granted to Chinese nationals.
ALSO READ: Malaysia extends visa exemption for Indian nationals
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Malaysia is also becoming an increasingly popular study-abroad destination for international students, thanks to its highly ranked universities, affordable tuition fees and relatively low cost of living.
Malaysia boasts eight universities ranked among the top 500 in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. Moreover, the country offers a highly affordable lifestyle compared to other leading study-abroad destinations. For example, Malaysia has been estimated to be two-thirds less expensive to live in than the US and half as expensive as Canada and Ireland.ALSO READ: This country with top universities and low tuition fees has become the new hotspot for international studentsIn addition to this, annual tuition for an undergraduate degree is on average US$6,000, as per an ICEF Monitor report.In 2023, all of Malaysia's Top 10 markets were in Asia and Africa. India emerged as one of Malaysia's key source markets for international students, ranking fifth among the top contributors that year. Indian students submitted 1,900 applications, marking an 18% increase compared to 2022. This highlights the growing appeal of Malaysia as a study-abroad destination for Indian students.
ALSO READ: Indians spoilt for choice as nations roll out easy visas As per the ICEF report, the Malaysian government has adopted a selective approach to post-study work policies for international students. In the previous year, students from 23 countries, including Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Switzerland, and Finland, became eligible for the 12-month Graduate Pass.
These countries are not major sources of international students in Malaysia but were chosen to promote two-way internationalisation with nations hosting significant numbers of Malaysian students.
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