Malaysia had 71,101 holiday homes operating in 2025, earning an estimated RM2.2 billion in revenue, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s first Bulletin of Holiday Homes Statistics. The figures come from preliminary Economic Census 2026 findings and mark the first official count of holiday homes by state and district.

Selangor Leads With 19,095 Units

Selangor recorded 19,095 holiday homes, accounting for more than a quarter of the national total. Kuala Lumpur followed with 8,207 units and Johor with 7,274, while Pahang (5,393) and Perak (4,447) rounded out the top five. At the other end of the list were Sarawak (1,945), Perlis (478) and Labuan (54).

At district level, Petaling recorded the highest number of holiday homes with 5,502 units, followed by Ulu Langat (4,067), Johor Bahru (3,186), Melaka Tengah (2,863) and Sepang (2,505). 

Airbnb Listings Grew 25% In 2025

Many of the holiday homes counted by DOSM are existing condominiums and apartments that owners list on Airbnb, rather than purpose-built holiday properties. According to analytics firm Airbtics, these listings grew 24.83% nationwide in 2025, with Kuala Lumpur adding the most at 4,676, followed by Johor Bahru (985) and Melaka (698).

Condo and apartment owners considering listing their unit should first check whether their building’s bylaws permit short-term rentals, as a management corporation or joint management body can restrict them even where local councils allow it.

Growing Demand Brings New Rules

The demand for holiday homes comes as domestic travel continues to grow. Malaysians and other domestic visitors spent RM34 billion in the first three months of 2026, up 15.8% from a year earlier, with 27.4 million domestic tourists recorded during the quarter.

As the sector expands, the government is moving to formalise it through a proposed framework for short-term rentals that would require operators to obtain a business operating licence and place enforcement under local councils. DOSM’s bulletin provides the government’s first district-level data on where these properties are, which is likely to inform how the framework is implemented. 

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Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

About THE AUTHOR

Iman Aminuddin

Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

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