Malaysia emerges as Southeast Asia’s top destination for tourism and investment under Madani leadership

MALAYSIA has solidified its position as a rising star in Southeast Asia, emerging as the region’s top destination for both foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism.

This achievement reflects the Madani government’s commitment to good governance, investor-friendly policies and strong international diplomacy.

From easing visa regulations to deepening diplomatic ties, the Madani government is paving the way for Malaysia’s global recognition.

Malaysia was recently ranked the third most attractive destination for FDI globally in the newly released 2025 Baseline Profitability Index (BPI), trailing only India and Rwanda.

Regionally, Malaysia leads Southeast Asia, outpacing peers such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The BPI, developed by economist Daniel Altman evaluates 100 countries based on their potential for profit generation, value preservation and capital repatriation over a five-year horizon.

In another significant development, Malaysia has overtaken Thailand as Asean’s most visited tourist destination in the first quarter of 2025, according to Vietnam Express.

The report, citing official data from several Asean nations, revealed that Malaysia welcomed over 10.1 million foreign tourists from January to March 2025.

Thailand came in second with 9.55 million visitors, followed by Vietnam and Singapore with six million and 4.31 million arrivals, respectively.

Malaysia’s recent appointment as the United Nations Habitat Assembly president is a timely recognition of the country’s leadership in sustainable urban development.

This role positions Malaysia to deepen international cooperation and expand the country's influence on the global stage.

As Malaysia rises on the global stage, it is crucial to maintain momentum to uphold investor confidence and ensure continued political and economic stability.

Nga Kor Ming is the Housing and Local Government Minister and UN Habitat General Assembly president. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.