PETALING JAYA: Lower costs, as well as convenience and peace of mind are the top reasons many Malaysians are choosing to go on “staycations” or holidays located close to home. Many took a break in their home state, with 35% of the total 79.6 million domestic tourists spending at least one night in their own state last year.
Most states – 11 out of 16 states and territories in Malaysia – showed the same trend, whereby the top location being visited was a local tourist’s own state. Only people from five states, namely Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Penang, Perlis and Putrajaya, chose to go elsewhere as their top local destination, based on data from the Domestic Tourism Survey 2023 by the Statistics Department. Domestic tourists are residents in Malaysia who travel within the country but outside of their usual environment for at least one night.
On the reasons for such domestic trips, most locals wanted to visit their family members and friends, followed by shopping and leisure or relaxation. A practical choice For those wanting a getaway, staycations are fast becoming an increasingly practical option, said Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Datin Christina Toh. Due to lower spending power from the rising cost of living, she said many Malaysians preferred staying in their own states for holidays.
“The convenience and reduced travel costs of staycations appeal to many,” Toh said. It doesn’t help that the average expenditure for a tourism trip has shot up to i.
