SELANGOR recorded the highest total receipts from domestic visitors at RM15.5 billion last year, according to the Domestic Tourism Survey 2019 by State report.

This was followed by Kuala Lumpur with RM12.1 billion, Sarawak (RM8.7 billion), Sabah (RM8.1 billion) and Perak (RM7.8 billion), the report said.

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement today that the five states contributed 50.6% of Malaysia’s total domestic tourism receipts last year.

“In terms of the number of domestic visitor arrivals, Selangor was the highest with a total of 33.6 million visitors, followed by Kuala Lumpur (22.6 million), Sabah (22.0 million), Perak (21.1 million) and Sarawak (19.8 million),” he said.

“In terms of the trend of overnight trips, visiting relatives and friends was the highest main purpose of visit for all states,” he said.

Uzir said Malacca recorded the highest percentage share of trips for holiday purposes, representing 42.8% of total trips, followed by Penang (28.2%), Pahang (26.6%) and Sabah (21.5%).

“On the choice of accommodation, a majority of tourists chose ‘unpaid accommodation’, such as relatives and friends’ houses, except in Malacca, Labuan and Putrajaya.”

Uzir said all states recorded the highest number of domestic visitor arrivals in the 25 to 39 age category.

In terms of household income of domestic visitors, he said Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan posted the highest percentage share of domestic visitors with a household income of RM1,001 to RM3,000 per month.

Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya registered the highest percentage of domestic visitors from households earning RM5,001 to RM10,000 per month, while Malacca was the most visited state by domestic visitors with households earning of RM3,001 to RM5,000 per month, he said. – Bernama, September 30, 2020.