THE number of accommodation days booked in Malaysia through Airbnb doubled last year as compared to 2020, driven by domestic tourism and lifted pandemic-related restrictions, according to the company’s latest report.
The data shows that Malaysians prefer domestic tourism, with Kuala Lumpur taking the top spot, followed by Penang, Kota Baru, Petaling and Langkawi as the most booked domestic destinations by Malaysians.
Malaysians are also expanding their tourism destinations to explore various destinations whether near or far.
“Asia Pacific stands out as the most booked overseas destination by Malaysians – while the United Kingdom takes the number 1 spot, followed by Australia, Thailand, Korea, and Indonesia which all contribute to the top five.
"In addition, the most booked overseas cities by Malaysians last year were London, Bangkok, Melbourne, Paris and Jakarta," according to the Airbnb report.
The new Airbnb data also found tourists from five countries planning vacations through Airbnb to Malaysia in 2022, namely Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Indonesia.
Airbnb says that in 2022, group travel will be the most common type of booking in Malaysia, with an average group size of four guests. According to the data, group tourism on Airbnb increased by 180% in 2022. Traveling continues to be a way for people to bond with loved ones, especially for long vacations, and data indicates more families are taking vacations.
Tourism during the coming Aidilfitri also reflects the same pattern as many families start planning their trips. Airbnb has recorded an almost 600% growth in searches for check-ins in Malaysia for the month of Ramadan. The top five cities most searched include Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Johor Baru, Johor; Georgetown, Penang; Kuching, Sarawak and Alor Star, Kedah.
Airbnb data also revealed increasing momentum in solo travel in Malaysia, with solo travel bookings doubling year-on-year in 2022. On a macro scale, solo travelers accounted for nearly a quarter of all nights booked globally last year. Recognising this trend, Airbnb recently launched a Solo Traveler Safety feature. This service feature, which is available in English, Malay and Chinese, is provided to help and facilitate solo travelers to travel safely in Malaysia.
Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager of Airbnb for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said he is excited to see the recovery of the tourism sector across the country and the benefits it brings to local communities.
"The enthusiasm of Malaysians to explore their own hometown, as well as the increasing interest of international visitors to experience the beauty of Malaysia's landscape and the richness of its cultural heritage is a very encouraging phenomenon.
"This means more income from tourism will flow into Malaysian communities, thus supporting local businesses and jobs. We are committed to working closely with the government and stakeholders in the industry to support and accelerate the ongoing tourism recovery," he added. – The Vibes, March 22, 2023
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