Travel demand in Malaysia is rising during festive seasons, and Airbnb is seeing strong growth in bookings. At the same time, the platform has introduced a new Reserve Now, Pay Later feature to give Malaysian travelers more flexibility when planning their trips.
The latest data shows that Malaysians are increasingly combining festive celebrations with travel, while also looking for easier payment options when booking accommodation.
Festive Travel Searches Continue to Rise
Airbnb reported a major increase in travel searches from Malaysian users during festive periods. In 2025, searches for stays during Ramadan increased by more than 200% year-on-year. Searches for trips during Hari Raya also grew by nearly 50%.
With major celebrations like Chinese New Year, Ramadan, and Hari Raya happening close together in early 2026, many Malaysians are planning trips to reunite with family and friends.
The data highlights how travel has become an important part of festive celebrations, whether it is returning home or organizing holiday gatherings.
Popular Destinations Across Malaysia
Domestic travel remains strong during festive seasons. Popular destinations searched by Malaysian travelers include:
- Kuala Lumpur
- Johor Bahru
- Ipoh
- Malacca
However, interest is also growing in other regions. States such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Perak are seeing increased searches during Hari Raya as people follow the balik kampung tradition.
Travel during Chinese New Year also spread to East Malaysia, with destinations like Kuching and Kota Kinabalu gaining attention.
International travel remains popular as well, with Tokyo, Osaka, and Perth among the top destinations searched by Malaysian travelers.
Group Travel Leads Festive Bookings
Travel patterns during festive seasons show that Malaysians prefer traveling together. According to Airbnb data, more than 80% of searches during festive periods involve group or family stays.
Many travelers are choosing entire homes, which allow families and larger groups to stay together comfortably. Searches for entire homes grew by about 95% during festive periods.
The most commonly searched amenities include:
- Swimming pools
- Washing machines
- Wi-Fi
- Parking spaces
- Air conditioning
These features are especially important for longer stays during festive holidays.
Airbnb Introduces Reserve Now Pay Later in Malaysia
To make booking easier, Airbnb has launched Reserve Now, Pay Later for Malaysian travelers.
This new feature allows guests to reserve eligible listings without paying anything at the time of booking. Instead, payment is required closer to the end of the listing’s free cancellation period.
The option is available for listings with flexible or moderate cancellation policies worldwide.
The feature was first introduced in the United States and helped increase Airbnb bookings in late 2025.
Flexible Payments Help Travelers Plan Better
Flexible payment options are becoming increasingly important for travelers. A survey of Malaysian travelers found that:
- 68% say flexible payment options are important when booking a trip
- 67% already use flexible payment methods
- 88% plan to use flexible payments for their next trip
- 46% missed their preferred accommodation because they needed time to coordinate payments with travel companions
Reserve Now, Pay Later helps travelers secure their preferred accommodation early while organizing travel plans with friends or family.
