Kuala Lampur:Domestic tourism expenditure in Malaysia rose by 12.3 percent to RM32.8 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up from RM29.2 billion in the same period last year, indicating a strong demand for domestic travel.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported that the domestic tourism sector sustained its growth momentum, with the total number of domestic visitors increasing by 4.3 percent to 76.9 million, compared to 73.8 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

In the second quarter of 2026, the number of domestic tourists, defined as visitors who travel and stay for at least one night, rose to 29.6 million from 27.4 million in the same quarter of the previous year, marking a year-on-year growth of 7.9 percent. Compared with the first quarter of 2026, there was a 7.8 percent increase in the number of domestic tourists, indicating a robust demand for overnight travel among Malaysians.

The DOSM highlighted that the primary purpose of domestic travel was visiting relatives and friends, which accounted for 44.1 percent of the travels. This was followed by shopping at 21.6 percent and holidays at 13.0 percent.

Overall, the DOSM concluded that the performance in the second quarter of 2026 demonstrated that domestic tourism demand remained resilient, bolstered by ongoing growth in the number of visitors and tourists.