KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Malaysians and their love for food is well known and according to Agoda’s latest Travel and Tech Study, this love spills over when it comes to domesic travel planning as well.
The latest study revealed that Malaysian millennials seek out the country’s rich and diverse cuisine with 77 per cent of travellers identifying food and dining as a preferred holiday experience.
No prizes for guessing that Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca — all known for their famous local cuisine — were ranked as the top three destinations for Malaysian travellers.
Penang laksa and Malacca chicken rice balls aside, the second important factor in making their holiday decisions boiled down to location with 73 per cent of travellers focusing on scenic getaways.
The top destinations based on agoda’s booking data from January through August this year included Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca, Johor and Kota Kinabalu. Rounding up the top 10 were Bangkok, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Kuching and Langkawi.
“The growth of domestic travel shows that Malaysian millennials are re-discovering their own national heritage. Anyone who has eaten in Malaysia knows how great the food is but what stands out is the fact that they are getting off the beaten track to experience their country’s scenery and local cultures — this is what separates millennials from older travellers,” said agoda’s global director for brand and communications Andrew Edwards.
Also ranking highly was the wish of 67 per cent of travellers to explore the diverse culture and lifestyle offered in Malaysia.
The quantitative online survey was commissioned by agoda, taking into count responses from 1,024 Malaysian respondents aged between 18 to 64.
