Domestic travel gains momentum this Merdeka-Malaysia Day

This Merdeka and Malaysia Day, Malaysians are finding there is still plenty of home left to discover, with Airbnb hosts helping them experience different parts of the country through the places, businesses and local favourites they know best.

New Airbnb data reveals Malaysians are casting their travel net wider, with Kuala Terengganu recording a search increase of more than 40% among Malaysian guests this Merdeka-Malaysia Day period, while searches for Port Dickson and Ulu Langat grew by more than 40% and 30% respectively.¹

Malaysians using Airbnb for the first time are also exploring a broader mix of local destinations. Notably, Port Dickson, Kluang, Ulu Langat and Gombak were among the destinations recording the strongest growth in first-time Airbnb bookers.²

The growing interest across destinations comes as domestic travel continues to gain momentum. Searches by Malaysian guests for domestic Airbnb stays during this period increased by nearly 20% year-on-year.¹

Demand is extending beyond major cities. Nights booked in non-urban destinations grew by close to 25% year-on-year during the same period, highlighting the growing appeal of destinations outside Malaysia's urban centres.¹

For many guests, host recommendations are part of the travel experience

Beyond providing a place to stay, hosts also play a role in helping guests discover the communities around them. According to Airbnb's Beyond the Beaten Track: Unlocking Tourism Growth Across Asia Pacific report, approximately 83% of Malaysian guests surveyed received recommendations from their hosts, with nearly all saying these influenced where they chose to spend locally.⁴

This can also be seen through Airbnb Guidebooks, a feature where hosts curate their recommendations for guests, conveniently accessible in-app. This is also where more than 2,000 Malaysian hosts have shared their favourite places with guests.⁵ Food leads the way, with restaurants and food spots making up the largest category of recommendations, followed by shopping, nature and parks, and cafés and bakeries.⁵ Together, these recommendations help guests experience more of a destination while directing attention towards local businesses and services.

This is particularly relevant as domestic tourism continues to contribute to local spending. According to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), domestic tourism expenditure reached RM34.0 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 15.8% year-on-year.⁶ Shopping accounted for the largest share of domestic tourism expenditure in 2025, while food and beverages were also among the major areas of visitor spending.⁶

Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb's Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, said: "Merdeka and Malaysia Day are an invitation for Malaysians to rediscover the diversity of destinations we have at home, and it's encouraging to see travellers looking beyond familiar city centres. Hosts are the ones who make that possible, not just by providing a place to stay, but by sharing the local recommendations that help guests experience a community properly. This means more locals reap the benefit of tourism as domestic tourism grows, as Airbnb continues to play an integral role.

Growing travel creates opportunities for Malaysian hosts and local communities 

Airbnb’s community of hosts in Malaysia continues to mature with nearly one in five active Malaysian hosts now Superhosts.³

As Malaysians travel more across the country, tourism is also creating opportunities for everyday Malaysians to participate in the tourism economy. For Airbnb host Lis, hosting provides both an additional source of income and an opportunity to introduce travelers to Langkawi through the places that locals themselves know and love. 

“For me, hosting is not just about opening up my home to guests. It has also given me a way to earn additional income, while sharing the place I live in and love with people from different parts of Malaysia and around the world. When guests come to stay, they usually want to know where to eat, what they can do and which places are worth visiting. I enjoy pointing them towards the smaller local businesses and places that I personally like. It is nice to see guests discover these places, and it also means more people in the area have a chance to benefit when visitors come. Some destinations may not be as well known, but they have their own charm. Hosting gives us an opportunity to show guests what makes our community special, while helping more people discover and support the area.” said Lis.