Travel platform Trip.com welcomed Malaysia’s proposed Budget 2027 measures, including RM935 million for tourism and culture alongside matching grants for new flight routes.

Flight and hotel spend in Malaysia achieved triple-digit year-on-year growth in the first half of 2026, leading Southeast Asia on Trip.com. Inbound interest is expanding beyond Kuala Lumpur to gateway destinations such as Johor Bahru, Miri, and Sibu.

Budget 2027 proposes matching grants for new direct flights from China, India, Central Asia, and Europe, alongside airport infrastructure improvements. China leads flight bookings to Malaysia, while Tourism Malaysia reported 28.8 million international visitor arrivals between January and August 2026.

Malaysians booked travel over a month in advance on average in the first half of 2026. They were among the top five global users of AI assistant TripGenie in 2025.

Budget 2027 proposes rebates for organisers of major international events at large venues. Malaysia will host the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games in 2027.