With movement restrictions slowly beginning to show signs of relaxation following Malaysia’s promising immunisation efforts, Agoda’s Return to Travel Survey reveals activities that Malaysians are most looking forward to getting back to doing. Among these include seeing family and friends, not wearing a mask, and unsurprisingly, travelling.
Travel is on the agenda for 34% of folks (18% most looking forward to international holidays, and 16% domestic), with almost half of Malaysians (48%) citing plans to travel by early 2022 (within four months of restrictions lifting). It seems men are even more eager to travel with 30% planning to do so within a month compared to 24% of women, as well as a bigger proportion planning trips within 2-4 months (24% versus 16%).
While those 18-24 and 35-44 were more inclined to choose domestic over international holidays (16% and 19% vs 12% and 17% respectively), those aged 45 to 54 and 55 and above had a strong desire to get out of the country with both groups citing international holidays as the second thing they most look forward to when the pandemic ends, following seeing family and friends.
Family Bonds Remain Strong As Travel Measures Ease
After months of separation, more than two-thirds of Malaysians will take their first trip with their immediate family or family and friends as lockdown measures ease.
These include 41% of respondents who indicated that they would travel with their immediate family, consisting of their partners and children within the same household, and 23% indicated that they would travel with family and friends. Another 10% indicated that they look forward to travelling with their extended family, multi-generational, or household members.
- 18-24 year olds are the most likely to travel with family and friends on their first trip (33%), compared to just 10% of 35-44 age group.
- Only 6% will plan a solo trip, with those in the 35-44 least likely to do so (4%).
- Millennials lead the charge in being the first to travel with 49% indicating they will embark on a holiday within a month after the lifting of restrictions in Malaysia
- Baby Boomer are the least likely to travel within a month of the announcement (2%) – indicating a heightened sense of caution toward travel among this generation
- The survey also found that women seemed to be slightly more cautious than men, as 54% of men indicated that they would travel domestically within four months of the MCO being lifted, compared to 41% of women. Women were also seemingly more likely than men to be unsure of when they intend to travel domestically next (15% vs 9%).
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Feature Photo Credit: Skitterphoto
