The domestic tourism sector continued its strong recovery momentum in the first quarter of 2026, recording 74.7 million domestic visitors, according to the latest Domestic Tourism Survey (DTS) by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
The figure marked a 7.2 per cent increase year-on-year compared with the same period in 2025, reflecting sustained demand for domestic travel among Malaysians. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the number of domestic visitors also grew by 0.9 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2025.
The increase in visitor numbers was accompanied by stronger tourism spending, with total domestic tourism expenditure reaching RM34.0 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
DOSM said the expenditure figure represented a 15.8 per cent growth compared with the corresponding quarter last year, while also recording a 4.5 per cent increase from the previous quarter.
The latest performance highlights the continued resilience of Malaysia’s domestic tourism industry, supported by increased mobility, leisure activities and spending on travel-related services.
Domestic tourism remains an important contributor to the economy, benefiting various sectors including accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, retail and local attractions.
The DTS bulletin provides statistics on key domestic tourism indicators, including the number of domestic visitors, domestic tourists and total expenditure, offering insights into travel trends among Malaysians.
DOSM noted that the detailed information and technical notes are based on the methodology outlined in the Domestic Tourism Survey 2025 publication.
