Kuala Lumpur emerged as Malaysia’s top domestic tourism market by receipts in 2025, generating RM16.9 billion, followed by Selangor at RM15.8 billion and Pahang at RM9.8 billion, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Malaysia recorded 290.1 million domestic visitors in 2025, up 11.5% from a year earlier, while total domestic tourism expenditure increased 13.6% to RM121.3 billion.
Based on tourism receipts, the top three states and territories were:
- Kuala Lumpur – RM16.9 billion
- Selangor – RM15.8 billion
- Pahang – RM9.8 billion
Shopping remained the biggest spending component nationwide, contributing RM44.8 billion. Kuala Lumpur led shopping receipts at RM7.9 billion, followed by Selangor at RM6.7 billion and Sarawak at RM3.6 billion.
Food and beverage expenditure totalled RM19.5 billion nationally, with Selangor recording the highest receipts at RM2.5 billion, ahead of Kuala Lumpur at RM2.3 billion and Perak at RM1.6 billion.
Fuel purchases were the third-largest expenditure component at RM16.4 billion. Selangor again ranked first with RM2.2 billion, followed by Kuala Lumpur at RM1.6 billion and Pahang at RM1.4 billion.
DOSM said visiting relatives and friends remained the main purpose of domestic trips in most states. However, shopping was the main travel purpose in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur.
The national average length of stay increased to 2.56 nights in 2025 from 2.49 nights in 2024.
Sabah recorded the longest average stay at 3.15 nights, followed by Sarawak at 3.10 nights and Kelantan at 2.98 nights. Kedah recorded 2.82 nights, Terengganu 2.76 nights, Johor 2.68 nights and Penang 2.65 nights, all above the national average.
DOSM also found that domestic visitor profiles differed across states.
Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya received the largest share of visitors from households earning between RM5,001 and RM10,000 a month.
Sabah drew the highest proportion of visitors from households earning RM3,001 to RM5,000, while Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis recorded the highest shares from households earning between RM1,001 and RM3,000.
The latest data points to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor remaining the strongest domestic tourism spending centres, while Pahang’s position among the top three reflects the continued strength of leisure and shopping-driven travel outside the Klang Valley.
