Malaysia welcomed close to 17 million international arrivals from the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
These arrivals made up approximately 75% of the total international arrivals for Malaysia in 2008 and contributed around US$9.4 billion to the economy, recording a 10% increase from 2007.
Malaysian tourism authorities have identified the region as a vital source of demand, given its total population of 570 million and the preference for short-haul travelling amidst the current economic conditions.