KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) — From lush green hideaways to quiet cultural corners, Malaysians are increasingly turning inward by rediscovering the rich diversity of their homeland through travel.
In a statement today, Airbnb revealed that Malaysia was the most visited country by its guests in 2024, reflecting a strong return for local experiences and the undiscovered treasures right in their own backyard.
While major cities remain popular, offbeat spots like Hulu Langat, Selangor and Kinta, Perak, emerged among Airbnb’s top 10 most visited cities by local travellers in 2024, reflecting a favouring trend for nature-rich, off-the-grid escapes.
Airbnb’s data also showed that Malaysians preferred to travel closer to their home gateways, while Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia were the top outbound countries for Malaysian Airbnb guests last year.
Globally, Kuala Lumpur ranked among Southeast Asia’s top three most-booked cities by global Airbnb travellers in 2024, alongside popular destinations such as Bangkok, demonstrating Malaysia’s reputation as a key tourism player in the region.
“It’s encouraging to see Malaysians continuing to explore and celebrate the richness of their own country,” Airbnb’s Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, Amanpreet Bajaj said.
He also noted that the millennial generation continues to lead the domestic travel trend.
“With Kuala Lumpur ranking among the top three Southeast Asian cities booked by international guests, Malaysia is poised to capture even greater tourism momentum ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026,” he added.
Top source countries for international Airbnb guests to Malaysia included Singapore, China, Indonesia, the United States, and South Korea. Popular local destinations for these travellers were Johor Bahru, Penang, Petaling Jaya, Melaka, Langkawi, and Kuching.
According to the statement, millennials aged 30 to 39 accounted for the largest group of local Airbnb bookers in 2024.
It said long-term stays in Malaysia grew 17 per cent year-on-year, indicating a shift towards slower, more intentional travel, while solo travel increased by 31 per cent, underscoring a growing trend of personal discovery and self-led adventure in 2024.
— BERNAMA