Malaysians aren’t just travelling more in 2026 — they’re becoming increasingly selective about how they travel and what they choose to spend on.
According to data from Trip.com, Malaysia recorded the highest year-on-year growth in flight and hotel spending across Southeast Asia in the first half of 2026, with both categories more than doubling compared to the same period last year.
The trend suggests a shift towards more intentional, experience-focused holidays, with travellers planning earlier, spending on better accommodation and adding more activities to their itineraries.
Malaysians Are Planning Ahead
Outbound travel continues to grow faster than domestic travel, with Malaysians booking trips more than a month in advance on average — nearly a week earlier than they did last year.
Short-haul holidays remain particularly popular, accounting for close to two-thirds of outbound flight bookings. China, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Japan ranked among the most popular international destinations for Malaysian travellers during H1 2026.
Much of this demand is being driven by working-age travellers. Those aged 25 to 34 form the largest booking demographic, followed closely by travellers aged 35 to 44, with the two groups accounting for almost half of all bookings on the platform.
Experiences Are Becoming a Bigger Part of the Holiday
Flights and accommodation are only part of the story.
Attraction bookings by Malaysians have nearly quadrupled year-on-year, while cruise and train bookings have more than doubled. Almost half of overseas hotel bookings are also now for four- and five-star properties.
Travellers are also paying more attention to how they get around once they arrive. Trip.com’s car rental business recorded consistent double-digit monthly growth during H1, with Malaysians among its most active bookers.
Airport transfers have similarly experienced strong growth, with the service now available across Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, Tawau, Johor Bahru and, as of July, Kuching.
Together, these trends point towards travellers increasingly building complete experiences rather than simply booking a flight and somewhere to sleep.
Malaysia Is Attracting More International Travellers Too
Malaysia’s appeal as a destination is also growing among overseas visitors.
China remains the largest source of inbound flight arrivals on Trip.com’s platform, alongside regional markets including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile, travellers from France, the UK and Australiarecorded some of the strongest increases in accommodation spending.
Kuala Lumpur remains the country’s main tourism hub, with Penang and Kota Kinabalu continuing to attract visitors. Johor Bahru is gaining momentum as another gateway, while Miri and Sibu are emerging as fast-growing destinations among international travellers.
Concerts and F1 Are Becoming Travel Motivators
Perhaps one of the clearest examples of experience-driven travel comes from major events.
During the BTS Kuala Lumpur concert presale on 4 June, Trip.com recorded a surge of more than 640% in activated users, alongside over 24,000 new members and more than 12,000 concert ticket sales. More than half of travellers booking during the concert period were first-time platform members.
The return of Formula 1 to Sepang created an even more dramatic shift. Within days of the announcement, international flight bookings to Kuala Lumpur more than doubled year-on-year, while Sepang hotel bookings increased by over 1,600%. Sepang also entered Trip.com’s five most-searched hotel destinations globally.
Beyond concerts and motorsports, fitness-related trips or “sportcations” are also gaining traction, suggesting that events and activities are increasingly becoming the reason for travelling rather than simply something to do after arriving.
Where Are Malaysians Heading Next?
The appetite for travel doesn’t appear to be slowing down for the remainder of 2026.
Among trips booked more than 90 days in advance, Guangzhou, Tokyo, Shanghai, Osaka and Seoul currently rank as the most-booked destinations for Malaysian travellers.
Technology is also playing a larger role in planning these trips. Malaysian travellers ranked among the five most active markets globally for Trip.com’s AI-powered TripGenie assistant in 2025, while food and dining remain the most common requests made through Trip.Planner. Halal dining searches rank particularly highly among Malaysian users.
Ultimately, the numbers point towards a Malaysian traveller who isn’t simply taking more holidays, but putting more thought into the entire journey — from where they stay and what they eat to the events, attractions and experiences that make the trip worthwhile.