Top 9 Most Popular Tourist Destinations in Southeast Asia
9. Myanmar (Burma): 1.06 million visitors
Myanmar, or Burma, came in 9th position with 1.06 million visitors in 2024.
Top 3 source markets
- United States
- Taiwan
- China
Top visitor destinations
- Yangon
- Bagan
- Mandalay
- Inle Lake
Why Myanmar stands out
- Affordability
- Beautiful destinations
- Temples
Things to improve
- Security for travellers.
8. Laos: 4.1 million visitors
Laos, the land of a million elephants, came 8th with 4.1 visitors in 2024.
Top 3 source markets
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- China
Top visitor destinations
Why Laos stands out
- Cruise
- Affordability
- Rich cuisine
Things to improve
- Tourist infrastructure
7. Philippines: 5.4 million visitors
With a population of over 100 million, the Philippines was ranked 7th, attracting 5.4 million visitors in 2024. In total, tourism generated over USD 13 billion.
Top 3 source markets
- Republic of South Korea
- United States of America
- Japan
Top visitor destinations
- Boracay
- Palawan
- Cebu
Why the Philippines stands out
- World’s leading beach and dive destination with over 7000 islands
- Asia’s best cruise destination
- Warm hospitality
- Strong English language
Things to improve
- Relations with China to tap into the big tourist market.
- Safety for tourists. On my way from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, I spoke to a retired Korean-American chef who said he felt unsafe in the Philippines and wanted to relocate to Cambodia.
6. Cambodia: 6.7 million visitors
Cambodia came in 6th with 6.7 million visitors in 2024.
Top 3 source markets
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- China
Top destinations
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat temples)
- Phnom Penh
- Battambang
Why Cambodia stands out
- Angkor Wat temples
- Affordability
- Khmer hospitality
Things to improve
- Entrance for Africans. Maltreatment and discrimination of Africans at border points is unacceptable and costly. All travellers should be treated fairly if they meet entry requirements.
- Use of American dollars is a strain on most tourists
- English language.
5. Indonesia: 13.9 million visitors
With almost 4 per cent of the world’s population, Indonesia came fifth with 13.9 million tourists in 2024.
Top 3 source markets
- Australia
- Malaysia
- Singapore
Aussies love Indonesia, especially Bali. Flights to Bali from major Australian cities are affordable, which attracts young and retired Aussie travellers.
I have visited Bali several times while working in East Timor. I have also visited Jayapura, Surabaya and West Timor.
Top visitor destinations
- Bali
- Borneo
- Jakarta
Why Indonesia stands out
- Affordability
- Fun, especially Bali
- Beautiful beaches and parks
- Tourist infrastructure
Things to improve
- Security for tourists
4. Singapore: 16.5 million visitors
Singapore, Southeast Asia’s economic giant, ranked 4th with 16.5 million visitors, earning SGD 22 billion (A$25,928,760,000).
Given the size and population of that country (only 6 million people on approximately 720 square km), the result is impressive.
Top 3 source markets
- China
- Indonesia
- India
Top visitor destinations
- Singapore (Night Safari, Marina Bay Sands Skypark, Orchard Road, Sentosa Island, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanic Gardens).
Why Singapore stands out
- Visa exemption for many countries
- Shopping mecca, e.g. Bugis Junction.
- Flights and ports
- Advanced technology
- Organisation and efficiency
- Non-discriminatory visa policy.
I love Singapore because it is easy to get in and out without wasting time at the border. The Singaporean border police have never discriminated against me, even when I held a Ugandan passport many years ago.
Many nationalities get a 14-30 day visa on arrival, which is unique to that country.
Singapore is also a leading shopping destination. Its shopping malls feature original Western and Asian brands, and are tourist attractions in their own right.
Jewel Mall, newly completed in 2019, is one of the most beautiful shopping malls I have ever seen. I was fortunate to visit the mall shortly after it opened in April 2019, on my way back from Nairobi to Australia.
@afrofeast #Singapore #jewelmall #2019 #afrofeast #afrofeasttravel #changiairport #aussiesdoingthings
♬ The Singaporean Dream – Jessica Chan
The downside to Singapore is the cost; the Singaporean dollar is overvalued. That means goods and services are expensive. For example, accommodation in Singapore is as expensive as in most Western countries. The cheapest hotel rate per night is around A$100.
But the food is cheap. I mainly go to Geylang, where there is a variety of Chinese, Indian, and Malay food.
Recently, I visited the Geylang Bahru Market & Food Centre, and the food prices were as low as SGD 4.
Things to improve
- Cost of living.
3. Vietnam: 17.5 million visitors
Vietnam came in 3rd with over 17.5 million visitors in 2024. In total, Vietnam earned approximately $32 billion in tourism revenue.
Top 3 source markets
- Republic of South Korea
- Taiwan
- China
Top visitor destinations
- Saigon
- Ha Noi
- Hue
- Hoi An
- Nha Trang
- Ha Long Bay
- Sapa
- Da Nang.
Why Vietnam stands out
- Diverse landscape (mountains, lowlands, beaches)
- Affordability
- A variety of attractions
- Ease of entry at the border
- Online visa processing
Things to improve
- English language training for locals to interact with and sell services to international travellers.
2. Malaysia: 25 million visitors
Malaysia came in second place with 25 million visitors.
I last visited Malaysia in 2010 and tried to enter the country recently. However, I was unsuccessful because I was required to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. I have now learnt that I can apply beforehand.
Top 3 source markets
- Singapore
- Indonesia
- China
Top visitor destinations
Why Malaysia stands out
- Good and cheap food
- Stunning cityscape
- Visa exemptions, e.g. Australia, India.
Things to improve
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. Before Christmas, there was a lot of congestion at KL Immigration due to the Digital Arrival Card.
1. Thailand: 35.5 million visitors
Thailand took the number one spot as the most visited country in Southeast Asia in 2024, with 35.5 million visitors generating 1.6 trillion baht, or approximately A$75 billion. That is staggering!
Amongst the 35.5 million visitors was Amen and I, who visited that country twice.
Top 3 source markets
- China
- Malaysia
- India
Top visitor destinations
- Bangkok
- Chiang Mai
- Phuket
- Pattaya
Why Thailand stands out
- Outstanding customer service
- Affordability
- Beautiful destinations such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket.
- Ease of entry at the border
- Connecting flights in Bangkok
- Visa exemptions e.g. Australia, India.
I love Thailand. They work hard, and try to make life easy for tourists. Not to say there are no challenges. There are several. However, they still try; that’s why many foreigners call Thailand home.
They also speak fairly good English. Amen struggled in Cambodia and Vietnam but felt at ease in Thailand due to the good English language.
Things to improve
- Introduce online visa applications to expedite entry for all nationalities. For example, Ethiopians cannot apply for e-visa, they must queue up at Suvarnabhumi Airport to gain entry.
Conclusion
Where are you headed to this year?