26th June 2026 - 2 min read
Domestic tourism in Malaysia continued to grow in the first quarter of 2026, with both visitor numbers and spending climbing, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Local travellers spent RM34.0 billion over the quarter, a 15.8% rise from the same period last year.
Malaysia recorded 74.7 million domestic visitors in the first quarter of 2026, a 7.2% increase compared to the same period last year. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, visitor numbers rose 0.9%. Domestic tourists, meaning those who stayed overnight or travelled beyond their usual area, reached 27.4 million for the quarter, an 8.8% increase from 25.2 million a year earlier.
Spending climbed from RM29.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, and came in 4.5% higher than the final quarter of 2025. Shopping was the largest category across 2025, making up 36.9% of the total, followed by food and beverages at 16.1% and fuel at 13.5%.
Selangor drew the most domestic visitors in 2025 at 36.4 million, followed by Kuala Lumpur at 35.1 million and Perak at 23.6 million. Kuala Lumpur saw the sharpest jump, with tourist arrivals climbing 62.1% to 10.1 million from 6.2 million in 2024.
For anyone planning to travel within the country this year, there is a reason to keep your receipts. Budget 2026 introduced a tax relief of up to RM1,000 for domestic tourism spending during Visit Malaysia Year 2026, covering entrance fees to local attractions and cultural performances.
With that much spent in a single quarter, plenty of Malaysians are choosing to holiday closer to home, and the relief means a trip this year could trim your tax bill when you file in 2027.
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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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