Hotels expect 70% rise in stays
Malaysian hotels expect a 70% occupancy rate during the upcoming National Day and school holiday period as domestic travel surges. Industry experts suggest that rising international airfares and a renewed interest in local tourism are driving this trend.
Why it matters
The shift toward domestic tourism provides a significant economic boost to the local hospitality sector and reflects changing consumer travel behaviors due to global economic factors.
PETALING JAYA: Nationwide hotel occupancy is expected to average about 70% during the National Day and school holiday period as more Malaysians opt to spend their break locally.
Domestic travel is expected to remain firm between Aug 28 and Sept 7.
“In fact, Negri Sembilan is showing more than 80% occupancy, while most states record around 70%.
“However, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak are below 60%,” said Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) vice-president CS Lim when contacted.
Lim said bookings for resort hotels in Port Dickson were stronger, mainly driven by families looking for leisurely breaks.
A recent promotion by MAH, supported by Tourism Malaysia and an online travel agency (OTA), had also produced encouraging results for hotels in Port Dickson, he said.
“Bookings are very destination-specific, mainly driven by leisure and family travel. We also expect more late bookings.”
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