Malaysia’s domestic tourism sector saw a strong start to 2025, recording a total expenditure of RM29.4 billion in the first quarter alone, a 22.1 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
The surge in spending was driven by a notable rise in the number of domestic visitors, which climbed to 69.7 million, up 18.9 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2024.
The positive momentum reflects growing public confidence in domestic travel, supported by seasonal factors such as the Chinese New Year, Ramadhan, preparations for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and school holidays, all of which contributed to increased travel-related activity across the country.
Speaking on the findings, Chief Statistician of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin highlighted the resilience and evolving trends in domestic travel.
The increase in domestic visitors and expenditure during the first quarter of 2025 is an encouraging sign of recovery and transformation in Malaysia’s tourism landscape.
Malaysians are increasingly rediscovering the appeal of local destinations, which is important for sustaining the tourism economy,” he said.
In terms of composition, the number of domestic tourists defined as those who spent at least one night away from their usual residence also saw a notable rise of 37.6 percent, totaling 25.2 million for Q1 2025. This reflects a growing preference for short vacations and overnight trips within the country.
The overall annual performance in 2024 also pointed to sustained growth. A total of 260.1 million domestic visitors were recorded throughout the year, a 21.7 percent increase compared to 213.7 million in 2023.
Expenditures by domestic tourists and excursionists (day-trippers) combined to reach RM106.7 billion in 2024, up 25.6 percent from RM84.9 billion in 2023.
Tourists continued to be the main contributors to tourism receipts, accounting for 59.0 percent of total expenditure, although this marked a slight drop from 61.5 percent in 2023.
The average length of stay also increased marginally from 2.45 nights to 2.49 nights, suggesting that Malaysians are spending slightly more time at domestic destinations.
Land transport remained the primary mode of travel, used by 97.6 percent of domestic visitors. In terms of accommodation, most Malaysians continued to stay with relatives and friends (60.4 percent), though there was a noticeable rise in the use of paid accommodations.
Meanwhile hotel stays accounted for 21.7 percent, while the popularity of homestays grew from 6.7 percent in 2023 to 8.6 percent in 2024.
The main purpose of domestic travel in 2024 remained visiting relatives and friends, comprising 34.6 percent of all trips. However, travel for shopping declined slightly to 27.6 percent, down from 32.6 percent the previous year.
Despite the decline, shopping remained the largest expenditure category, accounting for 37.4 percent of total domestic tourism spending, followed by food and beverages (16.2 percent) and automotive fuel (12.7 percent).
At the state level, Selangor recorded the highest number of domestic visitors at 34.5 million, followed by Kuala Lumpur (27.0 million) and Perak (21.8 million). Notably, Perak saw a significant growth of 36.1 percent in domestic arrivals, climbing from 7.5 million in 2023 to 10.2 million in 2024 a testament to its growing appeal as a local travel destination.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia emphasized that these findings underscore the growing diversity and dynamism of Malaysia’s domestic tourism market.
While traditional travel motives remain strong, there is a noticeable shift towards leisure, experiential tourism, and weekend getaways that reflect changing lifestyles and preferences among Malaysian travellers.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
