How did you spend your Malaysia Day long weekend? Well, for more than 100,000 Malaysians, the answer was simple: cross the border to Thailand for a holiday.
But here’s the kicker: this sudden wave of Malaysian tourists heading north is expected to take over RM130 million out of the country’s cash flow in just a matter of days.
A trend that’s here to stay
Economic Analyst Professor Emeritus Dr. Barjoyai Bardai told Harian Metro that this holiday season alone has seen a huge surge in outbound travel, with each Malaysian estimated to spend around RM600 per person in Thailand.
This is no small amount. If spent locally, it could have boosted the domestic economy, especially the tourism sector. Instead, it ends up benefiting foreign businesses,” he added.
Barjoyai, who is also the Dean of the Graduate School at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST), added that weaknesses in the local tourism industry, from low wages to less competitive experiences, have pushed Malaysians to look elsewhere for better holiday options.
RM3 billion spending power untapped
If five million Malaysians vacationed locally throughout the year, the total spending could reach RM3 billion. That’s enough to give our tourism sector a massive boost,” he explained.
Unfortunately, without immediate improvements in costs and the overall holiday experience, this trend of Malaysians spending big overseas during public holidays will only continue.
Earlier reports also showed that Malaysia-Thailand border crossings were heavily congested over the long weekend for school breaks and public holidays.
Read more:
