Malaysia Tops Singaporeans’ Travel Choices; Spending Growth Highest in Two Regions

(Kuala Lumpur, Feb 6) Data released by global payments technology company Visa shows that Singaporeans continue to travel widely around the region, with Malaysia retaining its position as their most popular destination in December last year.

In a statement, Visa said that during the year-end travel peak, Singaporeans’ credit card spending in Malaysia rose 18% year-on-year, driven by a significant increase in travel-related expenditure. Spending in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru grew 31% and 17% respectively, remaining the top two cities for Singaporean visitors.

Japan ranked second as a year-end travel destination for Singaporeans, though spending growth was modest at just 5% year-on-year. Thailand and South Korea remained key destinations as well, ranking third and fourth respectively.

The data also highlighted strong spending growth in emerging hotspots, including Chiang Mai and Chonburi in Thailand, as well as Busan and Jeju Island in South Korea.

Meanwhile, Visa noted that China’s popularity as a destination for Singaporeans continues to rise, jumping eight places to fifth this year. After recording 86% growth last year, spending in China surged by nearly 80% year-on-year, driven by robust outlays on accommodation, retail goods, and department stores.