Malaysia has been named among the world’s top 50 places to travel in 2022. The country was ranked number 27 among Travel Lemming’s annual list of global emerging destinations.
In describing why Malaysia was selected, the article cites the country’s pandemic performance, saying “Malaysia took covid seriously. It’s one of the most vaccinated countries on the planet and, as of this article’s publication, is actually still mostly closed to foreign visitors. But the government has promised to open in January, 2022, and those first few travelers who visit are likely to find that some of Southeast Asia’s most pristine beaches are their own private retreats.”
The article continues: “Travelers will find natural wonders and historical sites at every turn, plus an unparalleled melting pot of cultures and cuisines. If you always wondered what travelling Southeast Asia was like before the era of mass tourism, you just might have the chance to find out in Malaysia in 2022.”
The list was selected in collaboration by the 15 travel writers and editors of Travel Lemming, an online guide with more than a million annual readers in the United States and Canada. The popular annual list emphasizes destinations that are underrated or considered “hidden gems.”
This year’s article focuses mostly on domestic US destinations in light of the risks of international travel. The only other destination in Southeast Asia on the list is Cambodia, which the article also praises for its high vaccination rates.
Travel Lemming’s founder Nate Hake commented: “As much as we all wish the global pandemic will end soon, it seems likely that 2022 will continue to see international travel impacted by covid-19. Travellers looking for a safer experience will look for places that have relatively higher vaccination rates, like Malaysia. Although nothing is certain in this ‘new normal,’ I think Malaysia’s tourism industry is as well-positioned as any destination to thrive in this environment.”
TravelLemming.com is a U.S.-based online travel guide founded by Nate Hake, an American who has been traveling the world full time since 2016. Travel Lemming publishes long-form guides from the perspective of locals and expert travelers and serves an audience of more than 1 million annual readers in the U.S. and Canada.
