Tourism Malaysia highlights rising numbers of Thai applicants to the Malaysia My Second Home programme, citing shared culture, quality education, and long-term lifestyle appeal.
Malaysia’s Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is gaining ground in Thailand, thanks to strong cultural ties, geographic proximity, and the appeal of a lower cost of living. The update came from Tourism Malaysia’s Bangkok office, with details shared via Bernama.
According to Nurul Ain Mohammed Yunus, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Bangkok, more Thais are looking beyond short-term visits, turning instead to long-term living options in countries offering safety, stability, and quality of life. Malaysia, she said, checks those boxes.
“Thailand has emerged as a promising market for the MM2H segment,” Nurul Ain noted. “A major draw for Thai applicants is Malaysia’s education sector – our globally ranked universities, international schools, and multilingual learning environment make us one of the region’s top education hubs.”
She added that thousands of international students, including many from Thailand, are already studying in Malaysia – drawn by its academic standards, affordability, and close proximity.
Malaysia’s broader appeal includes world-class healthcare, modern infrastructure, and a strong sense of multicultural community, making it an attractive option for both families and retirees looking for a more permanent base in Southeast Asia.
The comments were made during a business matching session held in Bangkok recently, where Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, also paid a courtesy call to his Thai counterpart, Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong, as part of a working visit to enhance bilateral tourism cooperation and support the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
From January to April 2025, Malaysia recorded 13.4 million international visitors, a 21% rise compared to the same period last year. Of these, 833,610 arrivals were from Thailand, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.4% and reaffirming Thailand’s importance as a key tourism market.
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