KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s domestic tourists rose 33.7 per cent year-on-year to 48.6 million visitors in the first quarter of 2023, official data showed Monday.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that for quarter-on-quarter comparison, the domestic visitors increased 3.9 per cent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, said Xinhua.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism expenditure for the first quarter stood at 19.2 billion ringgit (US$4.1 billion), jumped 47 per cent year-on-year, and rose 4.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

DOSM data also showed that the domestic tourism performance in Malaysia experienced a notable recovery in 2022, with a total spending of RM64.1 billiont, soaring 248.1 per cent from RM18.4 billion in 2021.

The number of domestic visitors in 2022 also surged 160.1 per cent to reach 171.6 million compared to the 66 million recorded in 2021.

“After enduring nearly two years of the devastating COVID-19, the resumption of domestic tourism brings a sense of relief to the people of Malaysia and its economy,” said DOSM. – Bernama-Xinhua / pic Muhd Amin Naharul