Mastercard Survey Finds Malaysians Continue To Be Avid Travellers

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- According to the MasterCard Consumer Purchasing Priorities survey, leisure travel remains a steady sector in the Malaysian market as showcased by Malaysians' travel behaviour. "More than nine in 10 people were found to have undertaken domestic travel while two-thirds opted for an international holiday in the past year," it said in a statement Wednesday. It said Malaysians' outlook for future travel also shows optimism, with 47 per cent saying they intend to travel more to international destinations while 50 per cent intend to do so to domestic destinations. "Hence, data suggests that travel is an important component for the Malaysian consumer," it said. The top three destinations Malaysians intend to visit in the next 12 months are Singapore, followed by Australia and Japan, while domestic destinations that take up Malaysians' interest are Kota Kinabalu (in east Malaysian state of Sabah) followed by Melaka state and George Town (in Malaysia's northern state of Penang). MasterCard Worldwide Malaysia and Brunei Country Head Safdar Khan said this is an exciting time for travel in Malaysia with consumers showing keen interest and looking to spend leisure time both domestically and internationally. "On a local level, this will enhance interest in tourism offerings and help boost tourism spend, ultimately contributing to the country's economic vitality and with the increased demand, the travel sector is set for further dynamic growth and will be a key focus area to look out for," he added. --BERNAMA