Malaysia, 01 December 2021 – Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, today revealed that close to seven in ten (65%) of Malaysians are looking forward to travel locally, according to the Visa Voice of the Consumer research (the “Study”). In addition, almost half (40%) are looking to travel internationally for leisure by the middle of 2022.
The study also found that the top three considerations for Malaysian travelers to fuel their wanderlust include having received a vaccination (66%), stability of the COVID situation at their travel destination (66%), and a reduction of global cases of COVID infections (56%).
Ng Kong Boon, Country Manager for Visa Malaysia said: “Even as state and country borders open for travel, personal safety remains a priority for consumers. Businesses, be it hotels, restaurants, transportation, or recreation, must continue to be nimble in managing restrictions and preventing future infection waves. One of the activities all travelers do regardless of destination is making payments. That is why digital payments will play a crucial role in both stimulating business recovery as well as limiting physical contact and the spread of infection.”
Travelers throughout Asia Pacific are also approaching their travels differently compared to pre-pandemic days. Two in five (42%) of the respondents are planning to avoid crowded tourist spots, while 44 percent plan to carry more cards, or use their mobile phones for payments, to avoid going to money changers and touching cash in general. Over half (53%) will make the extra effort to book accommodation that is safe and quality assured.
When it comes to the top overseas travel destinations, the majority of Malaysian travelers are keen to visit China, Australia, and Japan followed by neighboring countries - Thailand, and Singapore.
When asked about their appetite for travel, only three in ten Malaysians said they were not interested in travel bubbles. More than half (54%) expressed interest in travelling within a bubble, but not in the immediate future, while 16 percent are eager to travel as soon as possible, once a travel bubble is available.
"During the pandemic contactless payment has seen significant growth due to its speed, convenience, and safety. We believe that cashless payment habits will continue to be the norm in a post pandemic era as contactless remains the first choice for face-to-face transactions. It will be important for businesses to continue meeting consumer expectations as the tourism industry recovers,” added Kong Boon.
