Malaysians staying closer to home
KUALA LUMPUR – Buyers at the recent Travel Fair organised by the Malaysian Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) from 7-9 September in Kuala Lumpur were making a beeline for the ASEAN and domestic destinations booths. There were strong interest in European destinations but actual buying of the products was in small numbers.
China, Hong Kong and ASEAN destinations, specifically Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Myanmar sold very well.
Agents that TravelMole Asia talked to put their money on China remaining an “evergreen destinations” in the years to come.
Said Jiun Kiew, executive director of Marco Polo Holidays: “Despite new emerging destinations demand for China will remain strong as it is a hugely unexplored destination. New places, like Jiuzhaigou and Zhangjiajie, are drawing in the crowds while the much-visited cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, are still popular. It is this diversity that makes it possible for travellers to keep going back to China and seeing a place that is totally different from their last visit. Tibet and Inner Mongolia are attracting the seasoned travellers who want to do something different.’
Explaining the current travel trend President of MATTA, Ngiam Foon, said Malaysian travellers are driven by costs and that accounts for the choice of destinations at the Travel Fair.
“While Europe is an attractive destination the costs of going there for a family can be prohibitive. An average package costs around RM6,000. For a family of four the cost of the packages alone come to RM24,000. Europe is happening, but the numbers are small.”
Costs and the idea of having short holiday breaks are behind the current trend for holidaying in ASEAN and within Malaysia. “Travelling has become a lifestyle among Malaysians and it’s so affordable going to these places.”
Additionally, Malaysians are now more open to travelling within the country and discovering what destinations such as Sabah, Sarawak, the east cost of the peninsula and Langkawi have to offer. Previously they tend to turn their nose up at holidaying at home, preferring foreign lands for their holidays.
Australia, Ngiam noted, was not as “hot” as before. “The exchange rate of the Ringgit vis-a-vis the Australian dollar make Australia comparatively a more expensive destination. With the new flights mounted by low-cost carriers travel to Australia could be more affordable and traffic might just pick up.”
The MATTA chief does not see any major shift in the travel trend, which has remained the same since the last Travel Fair in March.
“That is until low-cost carriers start servicing more destinations from Kuala Lumpur and the value of the Ringgit becomes more competitive against foreign currencies, specifically the US dollar, pound sterling, the Euro and the Australian dollar.”
Corinne Wan
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports