Players in the tourist sector explain why local travel is more expensive these days, even though there are methods to save costs and get better value for your money.

According to Mint Leong, president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), inflation is mostly to blame for the increased cost of goods like meals and lodging.

"A dish of noodles, for instance, used to cost RM10, but due to rising raw material costs, it now costs RM12.

She noted, "Human behavior is another factor," adding that this is the reason why companies raise their prices in an attempt to make up for the years of losses they suffered during the pandemic.

She said, though, that it's possible that service and quality did not increase in line with the price increase, which caused travelers to migrate to places like Thailand where they could receive more affordable services.

This is not to say that Thailand is inexpensive. Both Langkawi and Hatyai offer hotel rooms at RM97, however the location and service in Thailand might be superior.

"That's why people feel it's better to go there," she stated, pointing out that Malaysians made up the largest group of Thailand's over 28 million visitors in 2023 with 4.5 million visits last year.

Leong continued, "Thailand, in addition to being known for having a wide range of options to suit any travel budget, has been successful in promoting new tourist attractions outside Hatyai, such as Pratalung, Songkla, and Trang, as well as promoting Muslim-friendly tourism in southern Thailand."

Leong pointed out that more economical methods of organizing domestic vacations exist.

Her top five recommendations are to book ahead of time, go in the off-peak months, choose less-traveled locations, ask travel agents or consultants for exclusive deals, and be an astute traveler.

"The key to tourism is preparation," she remarked.

According to Uzaidi Udanis, head of the Consortium Inbound Tourism Alliance (CInTA), rising expenses are a global phenomenon that affects the travel industry. They are not limited to Malaysia.

"We admit that it has been difficult for us to keep up with rising labor and parking expenses, which have all had an indirect impact on our rates.

But even with our weak currency, Malaysia can still lure foreign visitors with amazing deals. "Transportation costs can still be controlled because of our petrol subsidy," he stated.

In addition, he mentioned that Thailand's inflation rate was lower than Malaysia's, which might be the reason more travelers choose to go there.

advance and steer clear of public and school holidays when costs are likely to be higher.

"Hotels are now using dynamic pricing, which works similarly to airlines in that when demand is high, the system will automatically raise prices.

"We advise making your plans well in advance and avoiding the holidays," he stated.

Additionally, Uzaidi gave travel industry participants advice on how to tailor their trip packages to the evolving needs of post-pandemic tourists.

"Tours operators now have to meet the need for experience tourism, as it's very important," he stated.

The president of the Melaka Tourism Association (MTA), Madelina Kuah, stated that the demand for skilled labor, the use of technology, the needs of Muslim tourists, and personnel shortages are the reasons behind the rising cost of local tourism.

She suggested that travelers use financial planning, travel on low-cost airlines, take buses whenever feasible, go during the week, and take the boat to reach the islands to save money.