Most Visited ASEAN Countries According To United Nations World Tourism Organization

You might not like the result I have posted here and may, in no time, arguing with me. As much as I would like everybody to be included on the top 5, there are rules we cannot bend. Questioning a result from a reputable source is a bad idea, my mom once said. Unless you have a much better source then go ahead and spit it out. If you don't then get on with it and move on. Kidding. Relax.

The list we have was from World Tourism rankings compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2013. No mistake there. The result was last year's really and not this year. Again, if you have 2014 data then show it to me (show me the money!). You heard that? Huh!

The ranking shows the most-visited countries in terms of international tourist arrivals. In Asia and the Pacific, China dominated the list with 55.7 million tourists; placing itself confidently at number one. Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India were on the top ten list as well. Hey, they aren't ASEAN member states! Yeah, I know. I heard you. I'm not deaf, you d**k.

I filtered the list to have our top 5. Here.

1. Thailand was actually the country next to China if we talk about Asia and the Pacific. If we talk about the world, the land of smiles was at number 10. Therefore, it's no contest that it ranked 1st in ASEAN. It had a total of 26.5 million international tourist arrivals. Need I say more?

2. Malaysia was ranked third in Asia and the pacific and second in ASEAN. Its international tourist arrivals was 25.7 million. Judging Th and MY, I'd say both were vying closely for the ASEAN top spot, but with the exception of 2010 data. Malaysia was the powerhouse, edging Thailand with more than 10 million tourists that year.

3. For some reasons, Singapore didn't have the figure of international tourist arrivals posted on board. But it was at number 5 in Asia and the pacific as what the record suggested. It had more than 11 million tourists arrivals in 2012, though. It sits mightily at number 3 in ASEAN's list. 

4. The largest country in the region with nearly 20 thousand islands was nesting comfortably at number 4. It had a total of 8.8 million tourist arrivals. Viva Indonesia!

5. Other countries may find it surprising that Vietnam landed at the top 5. But need I remind you about the source? Chill. They got 7.5 million international tourists arrivals.

Looking closely at the 2010, 2011 and 2012 data, 2013 figures were pretty much the same. Can't wait for the 2014 data. Let's see if there are big differences.

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Have a good one