Redion’s 2026 Holiday Barometer finds Malaysians using AI and travel protection while keeping control of key holiday decisions. (Image by Ketut Subiyanto)
Malaysians remain enthusiastic about travel despite rising costs, geopolitical tensions, and safety concerns, according to Redion’s 2026 Holiday Barometer, conducted with Ipsos. At the same time, they are turning to AI and greater travel protection to plan and navigate their holidays, while keeping human judgement at the centre of important decisions.
How Malaysians are leveraging AI for travel
Malaysians are increasingly turning to AI to make holiday planning easier. According to the report, 54% have used AI to plan or book a holiday, the highest adoption rate in East Asia. AI is mainly being used to research destinations, build itineraries, and discover things to do.
Its role also extends beyond pre-trip planning. 89% use AI for help or guidance when problems arise during a trip, while 87% use it to communicate or translate information.
But Malaysians are not quite ready to hand over the reins. While 54% would delegate a booking to AI if they could review and approve it, only 15% are comfortable letting AI handle their entire trip. More than half, or 55%, still prefer to make booking decisions themselves.
Concerns around privacy, payments, accuracy, and security remain key barriers. 42% do not trust AI with payment or personal data, while 38% worry about mistakes or incorrect bookings and 37% have data privacy and security concerns.
Risk awareness continues to drive travel choices
The survey also shows that Malaysians are becoming more risk-conscious. 81% cite inflation and high prices as concerns affecting their travel budgets, while 80% are concerned about armed conflicts and 79% about health risks.
Safety is increasingly influencing destination choices, with 64% concerned about terrorist attacks, 58% about armed conflict, and 55% about personal attacks. Four in 10 also say they choose destinations based on safety.
At the same time, 74% travel with some form of travel insurance or protection, suggesting that greater preparation is becoming part of the holiday equation. The risks travellers feel most exposed to include transportation accidents, health issues, lost belongings, natural disasters, and personal attacks.
There is also growing openness to using AI in this area, with 37% already using it to compare travel insurance policies and 57% saying they would consider purchasing coverage through AI tools or agents.
Budget pressures aren’t stopping getaways
Despite these concerns, Malaysians are still keen to get away. 88% travel at least once a year, with one in four travelling three or more times annually. The average holiday budget stands at RM6,409.52 (US$1,555), despite inflation and high prices being the biggest concern affecting travel enthusiasm.
The report also found that planned trips are fairly evenly split between international and domestic travel, at 46% and 43%, respectively.
The findings, based on 1,000 Malaysian adults surveyed between 27 February and 7 April 2026 as part of a wider 26-country study, point to travellers adapting rather than retreating.
Balancing tech efficiency with human oversight
For Malaysians, the future of travel appears to be a balance between technology, preparation, and human judgement. AI can help research the destination, build the itinerary, translate information, and even provide guidance when things go wrong. But when it comes to spending money or handing over important decisions, travellers still want control.
The same applies to risk. Safety concerns and uncertainty are clearly influencing how Malaysians plan their holidays, but they aren’t enough to dampen the desire to explore.
The report suggests that Malaysians aren’t becoming more hesitant travellers. Instead, they’re adapting to uncertainty by using technology to make travel easier, preparing for potential risks, and staying in control of the decisions that matter.
For the full findings, read Redion’s 2026 Holiday Barometer report here.
