KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s domestic tourism sector continued its upward trajectory, recording 216 million visitors and RM88.4 billion in expenditure in the first nine months of the year.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the figures highlight the sector’s resilience and its growing contribution to the national economy.
Visitor numbers rose by 11.8 per cent, while spending increased by 13.7 per cent year-on-year, reflecting stronger travel demand and higher tourism-related consumption.
The positive performance was supported by improved indicators across related industries, including a 6.3 per cent rise in automotive fuel retail sales during the third quarter of 2025.
Domestic airport arrivals also increased by 11.4 per cent, pointing to sustained travel activity among Malaysians.
The hotel sector benefited from the surge in domestic travel, with accommodation revenue growing by 14.3 per cent year-on-year.
Three-star hotels recorded the highest occupancy rate at 69.9 per cent, followed by five-star hotels at 68.8 per cent and four-star hotels at 62.8 per cent.
Urban hotel occupancy improved to 64.0 per cent, underscoring the continued importance of cities as tourism and business hubs.
Mohd Uzir said domestic tourism remains a key economic driver and is expected to continue supporting growth across multiple sectors.
He also highlighted Malaysia’s top global ranking in the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) 2024/25 as a milestone in data transparency and accessibility.