{
  "id": 1203112,
  "title": "Malaysians book earlier, spend more on travel: Trip.com",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/malaysians-book-earlier-spend-more-on-travel-trip-com",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-16T05:04:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/08/1512237/malaysians-book-earlier-spend-more-travel-tripcom"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian travelers are booking trips further in advance and spending more on experiences, according to Trip.com. Flight and hotel spending on the platform saw the strongest growth in Southeast Asia compared to the same period last year. Malaysian travelers are now planning their trips nearly a week earlier on average than in the previous year. Outbound travel remains more popular than domestic travel, with China, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan being the top destinations for Malaysian travelers. The largest booking groups are travelers aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 44, accounting for nearly half of the bookings. Spending is increasingly directed towards activities, higher-end accommodation, and premium stays. Attractions and cruise bookings nearly quadrupled and doubled year-on-year, respectively, while almost half of overseas hotel bookings are for four and five-star properties. Trip.com Malaysia's general manager, Stephane Thong, noted a shift towards digitally engaged and intentional travelers who place greater emphasis on quality experiences and convenience. The platform also reported double-digit monthly growth in its car rental business, with Malaysians among its top users, and strong year-on-year growth in its airport transfer service. Malaysia continues to attract international travelers, with China being the largest source of inbound flight arrivals. Major events like the return of Formula 1 to Sepang and the BTS Kuala Lumpur concert have significantly impacted travel demand, with international flight bookings to Kuala Lumpur doubling within days and hotel bookings in Sepang increasing by over 1,600 percent. The popularity of destinations like Guangzhou, Tokyo, Shanghai, Osaka, and Seoul among Malaysians booking more than 90 days in advance reflects their confidence in exploring established favorites and major regional hubs in the coming months.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian travellers are booking trips further in advance and spending more on experiences, according to Trip.com.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}