Shanghai topped the list of international destinations that Malaysians are travelling to. — Unsplash
Positive growth in the travel industry during this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday season indicates that the rising cost of living is no deterrent for Malaysians to continue travelling, whether locally or beyond the borders.
A 111% growth is seen in international travel bookings made by Malaysians during Hari Raya (March 29-April 6), according to Trip.com. This is in comparison to the previous year’s (April 6-14, 2024) numbers.
Meanwhile, domestic travel bookings have doubled (+103%) this year.
The online travel service provider based its findings on its website’s booking data for international flights, hotels and attractions, for the aforementioned March-April 2025 (and April 2024) travel periods.
Theme parks prove to be Malaysian travellers’ favourite when it comes to family-friendly experiences, as five of the highest-booked attractions during Hari Raya were Universal Studios Japan, Shanghai Disney Resort (China), Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, Hong Kong Disneyland and Sunway Lagoon Theme Park.
Theme parks, like Genting Skyworlds, are favourites among Malaysians travelling during the Hari Raya season. — Handout
Stephane Thong, general manager of Trip.com Malaysia, says in a press statement: “We’re seeing that this festive season is also becoming a moment for travel discovery, where many are choosing to explore new places while reconnecting with family and friends.”
The rise in bookings for secondary cities and long-haul destinations illustrates this, with cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu – all secondary cities in China – securing top spots in the top 10 list of international destinations (cities) for Malaysian travellers.
Shanghai places first, while Guangzhou places third (after Singapore and before Bangkok, Thailand), and Chengdu places fifth, ahead of Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul (South Korea) and Taipei.
Two of the Chinese secondary cities are also listed among the international destinations with the biggest growth in travel demand – 261% for Chengdu and 241% for Guangzhou.
Malaysians are also travelling to farther destinations, like New York (United States). There is additionally a 300% increase in bookings for travel to places like Spain, Italy, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and the Maldives, in comparison to the previous year.
Overall, spending on international flights and hotels sees an increase of 14.5%, indicative of Malaysians’ eagerness to explore more international destinations.
Not only that, Malaysian travellers are also making their bookings further in advance. The average booking window has increased to 48.10 days in 2025, compared to 42.63 in 2024.
