The Ten Most Visited Countries in Asia

Asia is experiencing a huge travel boom that coincides with the continent’s rising economic fortunes and the outpouring of newly wealthy Chinese travelers who are eager to explore the tourist attractions of their neighbors. Asian countries now account for two of the world’s ten most visited countries, and for the first time ever an Asian city, Bangkok, is the world’s most visited city. We wanted to do something to showcase these up-and-coming Asian destinations, so we put together a ranking of the ten most visited countries in Asia using data compiled by the World Bank on international arrivals.

A look at the ten most visited countries in Asia.

10. Japan with 6,219,000 foreign visitors each year

Somewhat surprisingly, Japan is only the tenth most visited country in Asia. This is despite being home to Tokyo, one of the world’s greatest cities, the second busiest airport in Asia, Tokyo Haneda, and some seriously amazing secondary destinations. Japan’s modest visitor numbers can be explained by its remoteness and its lack of large neighbors, which means that unlike most of the other nations on this list virtually all travelers to Japan must arrive by air.

A Tokyo taxi driving through the neon-lit streets of Shinjuku,

9. India with 6,309,000 foreign visitors each year

India is a historic, huge and incredibly diverse travel destination. Its three megacities – Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi – first welcome the vast majority of international travelers before sending them off on an exploration of the country’s many temples, national parks and historic attractions. Big draws in the north include the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra and the spiritual city of Varanasi, while the south is best known for the beaches of Goa and the backwaters of Kerala.

Varanasi is the holiest city in all of India for the Hindu and Jain religions, and Buddhism was founded near here too.

8. Indonesia with 7,650,000 foreign visitors each year

There are over 6,000 inhabited islands in the Indonesian archipelago and you can bet that there some truly idyllic ones! Bali, for instance, is without a doubt one of the world’s most beautiful islands, and each year hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive on its shores in search of white-sand beaches, Hindu temples and luxurious resorts. Other popular destinations in Indonesia include the Gili Islands, which are well known by scuba divers, the Orangutan-laden tropical forests of Borneo and Jakarta, the country’s densely populated capital city.

There aren’t many places in the world better for relaxation than Bali.

7. South Korea with 9,795,000 foreign visitors each year

Seoul is one of the world’s greatest cities, and home to one of the world’s greatest airports, so it’s not surprising that South Korea manages to attract almost ten million foreign visitors each year. But while Seoul gets most of the attention from foreigners, locals know that South Korea has a lot more to offer than just one megacity. Busan, on the southeastern coast, is a buzzing city with contrasting scenery of forested mountains, sheltered bays and sandy beaches. Jeju Island is another popular destination and is known for its casinos, hiking trails and beaches.

Skyscrapers lining the coast in Busan, South Korea’s second largest city.

6. Singapore with 10,390,000 foreign visitors each year

Singapore’s close proximity to the much larger nations of Malaysia and Indonesia certainly plays a role in its huge number of visitors, but there can be no denying that Singapore has made some serious strides in the past few years in increasing its desirability as a destination. Two mega-casinos, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, have played a big role, as have unique and new attractions like Gardens by the Bay.

The vertical gardens known as Supertrees in the Gardens by the Bay.

5. Macau with 12,925,000 foreign visitors each year

Like Hong Kong, Macau is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. The reason it’s not bundled together with China or Hong Kong according to World Bank statistics is because Macau retains control over its own borders, like Hong Kong, and grants visa-free entry to over 60 nationalities. But why do so many travelers visit Macau? The answer is simple: it’s the world’s leading gambling center, having surpassed even the mighty Las Vegas in gambling receipts.

The Cotai Strip is the Macau equivalent of the Las Vegas Strip and is home to its flashiest casinos.

4. Thailand with 19,230,000 foreign visitors each year

Thailand is an incredibly well-known travel destination, as its pristine beaches and tropical islands have been the subject of a countless number of films and holiday day dreams and its capital city, Bangkok, is the world’s most visited city, receiving an astonishing 15,980,000 visitors each year. The secret to Thailand’s success: beautiful places, affordable prices and a welcoming people.

If Bangkok has one truly must-see attraction, it’s the Grand Palace.

3. Hong Kong with 22,316,000 foreign visitors each year

Admittedly, Hong Kong’s numbers are inflated by visitors from neighboring Mainland China who come to Hong Kong in droves to buy luxury goods from its palatial shopping malls and to take advantage of its status as a free port – no sales tax and no import tariffs. But, still, 22 million visitors for what basically equates to a city-state is pretty impressive! And even without the day trips of its shopaholic neighbors Hong Kong still receives almost nine million overnight visitors annually.

With a skyline like this who wouldn’t want to visit Hong Kong?

2. Malaysia with 24,714,000 foreign visitors each year

The entry point for most visitors to Malaysia is the international airport at Kuala Lumpur, a city known for the Petronas Twin Towers and its excellent shopping. But Malaysia has so much more to offer visitors than just a city. For instance, some of the world’s best scuba diving can be found in Sipadan off the coast of Borneo Malaysia, while the islands near the Malaysian Peninsula like Tioman and Langkawi are some of the best beach destinations in Asia.

Long Beach on Perhentian Kecil is a popular hangout spot for backpackers and scuba divers.

1. China with 57,581,000 foreign visitors each year

China receives a ton of international visitors and these numbers don’t even take Hong Kong or Macau into account, two autonomous cities of China that combine for about 30 million foreign arrivals each year. The number of visitors traveling to China is only expected to increase, as the country continues to modernize and open up its doors to international travelers. Top-tier attractions in the country include the historic sights of Beijing, the city life of Shanghai, the mountains of Guilin and the Terracotta Army near Xi’an.