PETALING JAYA: Bookings for hotels and other accommodation are already off to a strong start for next year, with industry players seeing encouraging signs ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association national president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel said that although it is still early, the indicators look encouraging despite many tourists typically making reservations closer to their travel dates.
“We estimate that around 25% of rooms have been booked for the first quarter of 2026,” he said.
He added that bookings are expected to reach around 40% for the first half of 2026 by the end of this year.
“These numbers are expected to accelerate once international campaigns for VM2026 gain more visibility and airlines start releasing attractive fares,” said Sri Ganesh, who is also Malaysian Tourism Federation president.
In recent months, he said, the association has noticed a gradual increase in interest and advance bookings from foreign markets, particularly Singapore, Indonesia, China and India.
“Thailand, Australia and several Middle Eastern countries follow suit. This early interest is a positive sign of recovery and renewed confidence in Malaysia’s hospitality sector,” he said.
He hoped, however, that the government would enforce national guidelines for unregulated short-term rental accommodation to protect consumers.
“Many tourists are attracted to these platforms because of their lower prices, but these operators often do not comply with safety, licensing and taxation standards that legitimate hotels must follow,” Sri Ganesh said.
So far, there has also been growth in user bookings through Trip.com, an online travel service provider.
“We’re seeing increased interest in travel to cities across Malaysia, with a greater volume of bookings made for 2026 compared to this time last year,” said Trip.com Malaysia general manager Stephane Thong.
She said that in October, the platform saw higher accommodation bookings by international visitors, with strong month-on-month growth from September.
“Top countries of origin for these guests include Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and the United Kingdom,” Thong added.
Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh said the industry anticipates stronger performance driven by increased international arrivals.
“To prepare for VM2026, many hotels have begun upskilling their workforce. This includes fielding more multilingual staff to better cater to key markets, such as China, the Middle East and Asean countries.
“Several hotels are also developing exclusive promotional packages, cultural-themed experiences and locally inspired food and beverage offerings to appeal to international guests,” she added.
