KUALA LUMPUR, June 2026 – Malaysia’s slate of back-to-back festive holidays and long weekends have helped sustain a strong appetite for travel in the first half of 2026. Data from Trip.com Group’s summer trends report found that Malaysians ranked among the most avid flyers worldwide, recording the highest average number of outbound flights per person globally.
This momentum carried into June, fuelled by the school holiday season and more extended weekend breaks. Hotel bookings by Malaysian families with children aged 12 and below increased 11% year-on-year (YoY), reflecting strong demand for family getaways. Overseas destinations were a top choice, with outbound flight bookings rising 18% YoY while domestic travel demand remained resilient.
“Whether it’s visiting their favourite cities or new destinations across Asia, our data shows that Malaysians are making travel a bigger priority this year. On average, Malaysian travellers took 1.7 outbound flights and 2.5 domestic flights in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, average spend for both flights and daily travel have increased this June compared to last year’s summer holiday season,” said Stephane Thong, General Manager, Trip.com Malaysia.
She added,
“As a one-stop travel service provider, our goal is to simplify the travel journey so that our users can enjoy their holidays with peace of mind. Through our AI-powered travel tools, we’re making it even easier for Malaysians to explore the world in 2026 and beyond.”
Rise of Long Weekend Travel
Quick escapes featured in many Malaysians’ June travel itineraries – flight bookings for trips of four days or less increased 34% YoY. On average, these trips lasted 3.4 days, highlighting a growing preference for short, yet meaningful breaks. This incline is expected to grow further into the second half of 2026, as travellers increasingly maximise long weekends for more frequent holidays.
East Asia Emerges as a Favourite
While long-haul flights saw healthy YoY growth this June, mid- and short-haul routes dominated overall demand, indicating that Malaysians still overwhelmingly favoured regional cities for their getaways.
Close-to-home destinations like Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta remained top hotspots, underscoring the appeal of familiar city breaks within shorter travel windows. At the same time, destinations across East Asia are surging in popularity, with Tokyo (+66% YoY) and Guangzhou (+60% YoY) gaining the most momentum compared to last year.
Travel Made Easy with AI Planning
Malaysians planned their June trips much sooner than they did last year, with average booking windows extending to 57 days in advance, from 49 days in 2025. This suggests a growing confidence in locking in travel decisions early, as travellers look to secure better deals for their holidays.
AI is increasingly playing a role in this shift. With AI-powered travel tools such as TripGenie and Trip.Planner readily available, travellers can get customised itineraries and assistance in a matter of seconds. According to Trip.com Group data, TripGenie‘s AI-assisted order volume on Trip.com increased by around 400% YoY, indicating a deeper reliance on AI for inspiration and bookings.
Beyond pre-trip planning, travellers also see AI as a useful companion during their trip. The use of core TripGenie tools, such as hotel comparison, menu assistance, and live translation, increased by around 300% YoY.
Malaysians notably tend to interact with TripGenie more often per trip for in-destination inspiration and attraction guides, signalling a growing shift towards the use of AI as an integral part of travel planning and the travel journey.
Malaysia Continues to Attract Regional Travellers
Malaysia is also seeing stronger inbound momentum this summer, with inbound flight bookings rising 19% YoY. Strong regional connectivity and proximity continue to drive Malaysia’s appeal, with Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam ranking in the top 5 inbound source markets, alongside Mainland China. Vietnam was also the fastest-growing source market for inbound visitors this June (+39% YoY), followed by Indonesia (+34% YoY), and Mainland China (+28% YoY).
Family-friendly experiences also helped shape booking demand. In Southeast Asia, three of the top five most-booked attractions this summer were located in Malaysia – Desaru Water Adventure Park, Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, and SplashMania Water Park – underscoring Malaysia’s appeal as a destination for immersive, family-oriented experiences.
“Malaysia has an incredible range of offerings, from our rich cultural heritage and natural landscapes, to our diverse cuisine, attractions, and more. We’re proud to help showcase these to travellers from around the world via our platform. With Trip.Best recommendations, powered by AI and curated by human experts, we’re helping visitors discover the very best of Malaysia,” concluded Thong.