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A stronger ringgit has led to more Malaysians travelling abroad during long holiday weekends, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
He explained that while the strengthening ringgit is a positive economic indicator, it also has drawbacks, with more Malaysians opting to holiday in countries like Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia.
"As the ringgit strengthens while the rupiah and baht remain weaker, this naturally encourages more Malaysians to vacation abroad," he said during the Prime Minister's Question Time in parliament on Tuesday, 14 October.
Anwar was responding to a query from Jimmy Puah (PH-Tebrau) regarding reports that about 200,000 Malaysians crossed the border into Thailand over the recent Malaysia Day long weekend
It was reported that Malaysians spent almost RM50 million on shopping and leisure activities in Hat Yai and its surrounding provinces.
To date, the ringgit has strengthened by 5.8%, making it the top-performing currency in ASEAN this year.
To encourage domestic tourism, Anwar said the government has introduced measures such as an RM1,000 tax relief for spending on local holidays under Belanjawan 2026
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, reminded tourism operators, particularly in popular spots like Langkawi, to maintain reasonable prices.
He noted that concerns have been raised about the high cost of food and services on the island, which could deter tourists despite its beauty.
"Langkawi remains more scenic and pristine than many other destinations but high costs have become a key concern. Both the second finance minister and the Kedah menteri besar have been asked to explore ways to bring prices down," Anwar said.
