Boom in domestic tourism
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KUALA LUMPUR – Domestic tourism expenditure in Malaysia surged 12.3% year-on-year to RM32.8 billion in the second quarter, ending June 30, according to the Statistics Department. Concurrently, the number of domestic tourists climbed 7.9% to 29.6 million. The department defines a domestic tourist as an individual who travels and stays for a minimum of one night.
In contrast, the first quarter saw a 3.6% decrease in expenditure, dropping to RM34 billion from RM34 billion the previous quarter. The department defines a domestic tourist as a traveler who stays for at least one night.
A domestic tourist is defined as someone who travels and stays for a minimum of one night. The number of domestic visitors rose 4.3% to 76.9 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared to 73.8 million visitors during the same period in 2025. The primary purpose of domestic travel remains visiting relatives and friends, accounting for 44.1% of trips, followed by shopping at 21.6% and holidays at 13%.
Overall, the performance of Malaysia's domestic tourism sector in the second quarter demonstrates resilience, fueled by a consistent increase in both visitor numbers and spending, the department reported.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
