Brutal Covid lockdowns and complex vaccine mandates crippled SE Asia’s tourism industry. In 2022, Thailand led the charge on a tourism resurgence in the region. Other countries that drew plentiful tourists in 2022 included Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s tourist sector has struggled. Planning a trip to Southeast Asia in 2023? Here are the countries most visited by tourists last year.
In 2019, the SE Asian tourism industry was booming. When Covid hit, most countries locked down in April 2020. 2021 was the most brutal year.
2022 brought a resurgence. Thailand led the way with 11.2 million tourist visitors (1). That’s well below 2019’s 39.9 million.
Even so, numbers are trending in the right direction. Here’s a look at tourist visitor numbers for the top 5 SE Asia travel destinations:
| Country | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 (most between Jan. to March) | 2019 |
| Thailand | 11.2 million | 428,000 (2) | 6.7 million | 39.9 million |
| Singapore (3) | 6.3 million | Less than a million | 1.5 million | 19.2 million |
| Indonesia(4) | 5.5 million | 1.5 million | 4 million | 16.1 million |
| Vietnam(5) | 3.5 million | 3,500 (!!!) | 3.5 million | 18 million |
| Philippines (6) | 2 million | 163,000 | 1.4 million | 8.2 million |
State Of SE Asia Tourism In 2023
Four of the top five tourist countries in SE Asia have dropped Covid mandates. That means no more proof of vaccination or testing upon entry. The Philippines is the exception: vaccination status is still checked; unvaccinated travelers need to test negative.
Entry rules in four out of the top 5 countries are similar for North American, EU, and UK passport holders: visa-free entry for 30 days. Vietnam is the exception, with complex, inconvenient entry rules that have kept visitors away.
Find below a summary of key Southeast Asia tourism statistics and trends.
Thailand: Booming Marijuana Hotzone
Entry requirements: visitors can enter for 30 days with a ‘visa on arrival’.
Covid restrictions: dropped (Jan. 2023); proof of vaccination / PCR tests not required(7).
Thailand’s tourism industry is bouncing back. The government is also taking steps to boost growth further. To speed customs processing, entry forms are no longer required. Then, in June 2022, the government legalized marijuana for ‘therapeutic’ and culinary uses.
Starting March 31 this year, visitors will get 45-day visas on arrival(8) (instead of the current 30-day limit). On the downside, starting in June, all visitors will be required to pay a $12 entry fee (400 TBH) on arrival.
| Country | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Thailand | 11.2 million | 428,000 (2) | 6.7 million | 39.9 million |
Is Thailand Worth It In 2023?
Absolutely! Thailand offers easy entry requirements, affordable luxury, legal marijuana, great beaches, amazing food, and fun-loving, hospitable locals. I’ve been to Bangkok twice this year for solo adventures and had a blast each time.
While tourist numbers are up, they’re still a fraction of what they were in 2019. As a result, there’s a lot of enthusiasm in the air to keep the tourist party train going.
These days, expect great prices, enthusiastic locals, and enough tourists around to keep things fun without getting overcrowded. Check out my single-guy trip report:
Singapore: Futuristic Disneyland
Entry requirements: 30-day visa-free entry for citizens from most G8 countries.
Covid restrictions: dropped (February 2023).
In 2022, Singapore’s tourism reached S$13.8 billion — about 50% of 2019’s tourism revenue(9). Per the Singapore Tourism Board, tourists spent mostly on accommodation, shopping, and higher flight fees into the country.
| Country | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Singapore (3) | 6.3 million | Less than a million | 1.5 million | 19.2 million |
Is Singapore Worth Visiting In 2023?
Hong Kong is the most expensive Asian country to visit; a business trip there now averages USD$ 520 per day. Singapore is the second-most expensive, averaging $515 per day(10).
- Hong Kong: $520/ day for a typical business trip
- Singapore: $515 per day
- Tokyo: $424 per day
- Shanghai: $392 per day
- Seoul: $280 per day
Singapore is super-clear and orderly; English is widely spoken. Most activities here involve eating rich foods, shopping for luxury goods, or sightseeing. Popular attractions include the Zoo, Night Safari, Botanical Gardens, and Chinatown.
Bottom line: in 2023, Singapore is a nice but pricey break from the chaos of SE Asia’s wildest spots. In my experience, a 3-4 day stint here is plenty. After that, I find the super-orderly dynamic feels a bit sterile and restrictive.
Indonesia: Bintang Bogan Chaos
Entry requirements: 30-day visa-free entry for citizens from 86 countries.
Covid restrictions: dropped (Dec. 2022).
Every year, Indonesia draws the most visitors from Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. In 2021, only 3,196 Aussies visited the country. In 2022, that number soared to 654,464 bogans causing a ruckus(4).
Early this year, Indonesian President Joko Widodo outlined a plan to lure 7.5 million tourists to Indonesia this year(11). The country will host 110 festivals and 65 sports, music, and creative events this year.
Notables planned include F1 Powerboat, the U-20 FIFA World Cup, the FIBA World Cup, the ANOC World Beach Games, the MotoGP, and the World Superbike (WSBK) race.
| Country | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Indonesia(4) | 5.5 million | 1.5 million | 4 million | 16.1 million |
Is Indonesia Worth It In 2023?
Indonesia is made up of over 18,000 islands, with only around 6,000 inhabited. The opportunities to explore here are endless. On the downside, Indonesia has scored the most polluted air in the region for several years running.
Bogans looking for a ‘curry and a fight’ will love the chaos. Kuta Cowboys (local gigolos) are also well-employed by legions of lusty Aussie and Kiwi lasses(12). It’s so wild that the government is trying to crack down.
Last year, the government began issuing fines for Bogans caught ‘bonking’. In 2023, dress and conduct codes are being put in place(13). There’s also talk of banning foreigners from renting scooters. In short, the tourist experience here is a special type of madness that might not be for everyone.
Vietnam: Stunted By Regulations
Entry requirements: complex. Visa waivers for some countries, e-visas for others.
Covid restrictions: dropped (May. 2022).
Vietnam welcomed 18 million foreign tourists in 2019. In 2022, that figure rebounded to just 3.6 million, around 1/5 of pre-pandemic levels. Lifting all Covid restrictions in May 2022 didn’t help much.
| Country | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Vietnam(5) | 3.5 million | 3,500 (!!!) | 3.5 million | 18 million |
Notably, while Thailand streamlined its entry requirements to lure tourists, Vietnam remains convoluted:
- Visa waivers: visitors from 13 nations (11 in Europe and two in Asia) can stay for 15 days.
- ASEAN nations: visitors from 9 ASEAN countries can stay visa-free for 30 days.
- E-Visas: visitors from 80 countries have to procure online e-visas before arriving.
To goose tourist numbers, Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh recently ordered officials to relax visa rules (14). Proposed measures include fixing smelly toilets, granting more visa waivers, and extending stays for up to 30 days.
Is Vietnam Worth It In 2023?
Vietnam has amazing food, beautiful women, good beaches, and plenty of cultural attractions. But in 2023, the clunky entry rules are a deterrent. For instance, Canadians must apply for an e-visa on an old and clunky website.
Inconvenient entry rules are just a start. The streets of most major cities are jammed with unending seas of very aggressive drivers. Another issue for tourists is that English is only sporadically spoken. This leaves tourists susceptible to scams.
In fact, the Government of Canada website warns Vietnam is a ‘high risk’ country for scams(15). These include:
- Frequent thefts in tourist areas (markets, beaches, sleeper trains).
- Criminals have posed as airport taxi drivers to rob tourists by forcing them to withdraw ATM cash.
- Getting duped into ‘too good to be true’ gambling scams.
Also, Vietnam is heavily censored. Local authorities may review your phone or search your hotel room without your consent.
Philippines: Covid Rules Still Enforced
Entry requirements: 30-day visa-free entry for citizens from most G8 countries.
Covid restrictions: visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative antigen test.
The Philippines is the only country on the SE Asian tourist trail still demanding proof of vaccination for entry. Unvaccinated tourists are also welcome, but they need insurance and proof of a negative test to clear customs.
In 2022, the country attracted 2 million tourists. This year, the Department of Tourism targets 4.8 million(16). The plan to reach those numbers: marketing at travel trade fairs.
| Country | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Philippines (6) | 2 million | 163,000 | 1.4 million | 8.2 million |
Is The Philippines Worth It In 2023?
On the plus side, the country offers amazing scenery, friendly people, and cheap prices. English is widely spoken. This clip of Bohol shows off one of the country’s top beach destinations:
Downsides include perhaps the slowest Wi-Fi in the region, corruption, extreme poverty, and many signs of environmental degradation. If you can handle those, the stunning scenery and friendly people make a trip here well worth it.
Conclusion
Out of the most visited SE Asia countries of 2022, these are my top picks for travelers in 2023:
- Thailand: easy entry rules, legal marijuana, great prices, and world-class beaches make this the best destination of them all.
- Singapore: this super-orderly island city-state is the priciest SE Asia tourist destination. Good for those into fancy sightseeing spots, luxury shopping, and luxurious cuisine.
- Indonesia: Bogan brawlers and Kuta Cowboy gigolos give this place a hedonistic, raunchy, ‘anything goes’ type of feel.
- Vietnam: inconvenient entry rules, super-dense traffic, and tons of tourist scams hinder the experience.
- Philippines: beautiful beach enclaves are broken up by large swaths of crushing poverty and environmental degradation.
Footnotes
- James Guild. ‘Southeast Asia’s Post-Pandemic Tourism Revival’. March 21, 2023, https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/southeast-asias-post-pandemic-tourism-revival/, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Number of international tourist arrivals in Thailand from 2015 to 2022’. February 15, 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/994693/thailand-number-international-tourist-arrivals/, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Singapore Tourism Statistics 2023’. February 2023, https://www.budgetdirect.com.sg/travel-insurance/research/singapore-tourism-statistics, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Tourism in Indonesia’. Last edited 25 March 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Indonesia, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Tourism in Vietnam’. Last edited 2 April 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Vietnam, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Tourism in the Philippines’. Last edited 19 April 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_the_Philippines, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Tommy Walker. ‘Thailand Reverses New COVID Vaccine Rules for Visitors’. January 9, 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/thailand-reverses-new-covid-vaccine-rules-for-visitors-/6910820.html, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Donald Wood. ‘Thailand Drops New Entry Rules, Adds Tourist Fee’. January 13, 2023, https://www.travelpulse.com/News/Impacting-Travel/Thailand-Drops-New-Entry-Rules-Adds-Tourist-Fee, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Chew Hui Min. ‘Visitor arrivals in Singapore creep back to pre-pandemic levels as tourism sector rebounds’. January 17, 2023, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tourism-visitor-arrivals-receipts-2022-singapore-tourists-3209721, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Goh Chiew Tong. ‘Traveling to Asia for work? This city is its most expensive business destination’. March 21, 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/22/hong-kong-retains-spot-as-most-expensive-business-destination-in-asia.html, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- VNA. ‘Indonesia accelerates tourism growth in 2023’. January 30, 2023, https://vir.com.vn/indonesia-accelerates-tourism-growth-in-2023-99433.html, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Travel to Bali Trilogy: The Conclusion. Temples, Waterfalls, and Kuta Cowboys’. July 16, 2022, https://jenniferspath.org/travel-to-bali-travel-blog/, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Carly Bass. ‘Bali gets tough on ‘Aussie bogans’ with new campaign teaching tourists etiquette’. March 8, 2023, https://au.news.yahoo.com/bali-tough-aussie-bogans-new-campaign-teaching-tourists-etiquette-013331116.html, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Mai Ngoc Chau. ‘Vietnam Looks to Ease Visa Requirements to Woo More Tourists’. March 16, 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-16/vietnam-looks-to-ease-visa-requirements-to-woo-more-tourists, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- ‘Vietnam travel advice’. March 16, 2023, https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/vietnam, (accessed 24 April 2023).
- Zacarian Sarao. ‘1.15 million international tourist arrivals in Q1 2023’. March 15, 2023, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1743455/dot-records-over-1-1-million-international-tourist-arrivals-in-2023, (accessed 26 April 2023).
