Lonely Planet List's Malaysia as One of the Top 10 Countries To Visit In the World.

Malaysia is the only Asian country to have made the cut in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 – Top 10 countries, ranking 10th on the list.

The list published by the travel publication placed Malaysia as one of the countries to visit due to “an array of new attractions”.

“The headline grabbers are the largest bird park in Southeast Asia in Malacca, Legoland Malaysia and Hello Kitty Land in Nusajaya, which are packing in both locals and Singaporeans flocking across the causeway,” said the world’s largest publisher of travel guide books.

“The new second terminal in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, catering mainly to the booming budget airline sector, is another major factor in attracting more visitors,” it added.

The travel guide recommended sights in Borneo, including Kudat as an off-the-beaten-track spot, Pulau Gaya and cycling-tourism in Sabah.

The guide book described Malaysia as “like two countries in one, cleaved in half by the South China Sea”.

“The multicultural peninsula flaunts Malay, Chinese and Indian influences, while Borneo hosts a wild jungle of orang-utans, granite peaks and remote tribes,” it said.

The list, published on the travel site yesterday, named Brazil as the top country to visit in 2014 since the FIFA World Cup will be held there next June and July. Other countries/regions making the cut are Antartica (2), Scotland (3), Sweden (4), Malawi (5), Mexico (6), Seychelles (7), Belgium (8) and Macedonia (9).

In the same category in 2013, two Asian nations were listed – namely Sri Lanka and South Korea.

Last month, CNN published the world’s 10 best shopping cities according to data in the Globe Shopper City Index by Global Blue, a firm that mediates transactions between consumers, merchants and banks. Kuala Lumpur ranked 4th, besting Hong Kong, Paris, Dubai and Madrid in the index. - October 29, 2013.

From the 2014 guide:

Top 10 countries for 2014 
1. Brazil 
2. Antarctica 
3. Scotland 
4. Sweden 
5. Malawi 
6. Mexico 
7. Seychelles 
8. Belgium 
9. Macedonia 
10. Malaysia

Top 10 regions for 2014 
1. Sikkim, India 
2. Kimberly 
3. Yorkshire 
4. Hokuriku, Japan 
5. Texas 
6. Victoria Falls 
7. Mallorca 
8. West Coast, New Zealand 
9. Hunan, China 
10. Ha'apai Tonga

Top 10 cities for 2014 
1. Paris 
2. Trinidad 
3. Cape Town 
4. Riga 
5. Zurich 
6. Shanghai 
7. Vancouver 
8. Chicago 
9. Adelaide 
10. Auckland

Best value destinations for 2014 
1. Greek Islands 
2. Italy's Heel (Puglia) 
3. Nicaragua