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Airbnb Commentary on Malaysia National Budget 2023 

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Attributed to Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan

Airbnb welcomes the new tourism-related commitments and incentives announced today as part of the National Budget 2023. We believe that these robust initiatives will contribute to building a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable tourism industry in this critical time of recovery. 

We commend the government’s provision of RM1.5 billion dedicated to tourism financing, and a further RM200 million to tourism rejuvenation efforts. In particular, we believe that the allocations of RM90 million to promote tourism programmes and RM25 million in discounts, vouchers and rebates of up to RM100 will encourage domestic tourism spend and further drive tourism recovery. We continue to urge the government to extend these ongoing initiatives and new incentives to the short-term rental accommodation (STRA) industry, which is a key contributor to the tourism economy. 

We also applaud the allocation of RM10 million to spur Malaysia’s ecotourism – which includes upgrades in Gua Kelam, Perlis; sustainable solid waste management efforts in Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu; and investment in ecotourism activities in Taman Pertanian Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah, Pahang. In line with our MOU partnership with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), we are committed to supporting the country’s green growth agenda and helping to rebuild tourism more sustainably, including educating and empowering more Airbnb Hosts to adopt green practices.

The ongoing resurgence of domestic and inbound travel is creating new economic opportunities for communities in emerging and off-the-beaten destinations*. Notably, the typical earnings for non-urban Airbnb Hosts in Malaysia increased by approximately a third in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the same pre-pandemic period in 2019*. 

Globally, long-term stays of over 28 days continue to comprise Airbnb’s fastest-growing category by trip length, more than doubling from 2019. We believe that the government’s goal to develop six new digital nomad-friendly hotspots and certify 2,000 short term rental accommodation stays as DE Rantau hubs under the DE Rantau programme, will help drive longer stays and position Malaysia as an ideal global destination for remote workers. 

As a partner to the Malaysian Government, Airbnb remains committed to working hand in hand with the government, our local Host community, and our partners in the public and private sectors to drive economic growth and resilience in the post-pandemic era and beyond. 

*New Airbnb data shows how tourism has dispersed post-pandemic

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities.

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