Domestic tourism expenditure increased 12pct YoY in Q2 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: Domestic tourism expenditure rose 12.3 per cent in the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 from a year ago, to RM32.8 billion, as the number of domestic tourists increased by 7.9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 29.6 million.

Nevertheless, expenditure decreased by 3.6 per cent from the first quarter of the year when the number stood at RM34 billion, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in a statement.

A tourist is defined as visitors who travelled and stayed for at least one night, according to DOSM.

Meanwhile, the number of domestic visitors increased 4.3 per cent in Q2 2026 from the corresponding quarter in 2025 to 73.8 million, according to DOSM.

Visiting relatives and friends remained the predominant reason for domestic travel, accounting for 44.1 per cent of total domestic visitors, the department stated. This was followed by shopping (21.6 per cent) and holidays (13 per cent).

"Overall, the second quarter performance indicates that Malaysia's domestic tourism remained resilient, supported by continued growth in both visitor and tourist numbers," stated DOSM.

The department noted that the 12.3 per cent growth in expenditure outpaced the 4.3 per cent increase in domestic visitors number, signalling stronger tourism spending.