03/04/2026

FRIDAY | APR 3, 2026

21

LYFE

KL named second most colourful city in world K UALA Lumpur has been ranked the world’s second most colourful city in a new study by Irish travel patterned tiles lining its historic neighbourhoods and the iconic yellow trams rattling through the narrow streets. The terracotta rooftops are a central part of the local aesthetic, attracting millions of visitors to the vibrant city each year. o Just ahead of Hanoi, Singapore as Portugese city Lisbon snatches crown Europe is also well-represented, with two Portuguese cities in the top three, as well as Dubrovnik and Barcelona ranking highly. Some destinations are renowned for their vivid aesthetics, whether it is the blue streets of Chefchaouen or the electric buzz of New York City, offering striking backdrops for travellers. In an age where travel is increasingly documented on social media, the visual appeal has never been more important.

insurance specialists JustCover, making it the most colourful city in Asia, ahead of Hanoi and Singapore. With a vibrancy score of 94.5/100, Kuala Lumpur has a striking contrast of modern skyscrapers and traditional buildings, including ornate temples and shrines. The city’s Chinatown is a popular destination for tourists seeking the vibrant street life, filled with lively markets and tempting street food. The rainbow-coloured steps of the Batu Caves are frequently associated with the destination, and while not located within the city itself, they are just a short drive away. Lisbon takes first place as world’s most colourful city Lisbon is ranked the world’s most colourful city, with more than 2.6 million unique colours identified in the analysis. The Portuguese capital is known for its pastel-hued buildings, THIS year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays have driven a surge in travel demand, with more Malaysians taking the opportunity to travel abroad during the festive period, which coincided with a long weekend and the March school holidays. Insights from global travel provider Trip.com Group revealed outbound flight bookings by Malaysians grew 49% year-on-year (y-o-y) for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri season, compared with last year. More than half of these bookings were for mid-haul destinations, with

Vibrancy of cities The study analysed images of 78 destinations well-known for their vibrant colours and measured colour variation using pixel-level data. To examine the vibrancy of a destination, representative images for each location were selected to reflect the typical scenery, taken in clear daylight and without heavy filters. A colour analysis tool was then used to identify the number of unique colours in each image, revealing the most vivid destinations overall. Across the top 15, the Americas come out on top – including Guanajuato, Havana, New Orleans, Antigua and New York City. These cities stand out for their vibrant architecture, bustling streets with dazzling signage and neon lighting. short-haul trips being a close second, highlighting a strong preference for regional travel around Asia. On average, Malaysians spent eight days on their trips, with China, Singapore and Indonesia emerging as the top three destinations, maintaining their popularity among Malaysian travellers. Top countries by flight bookings 1. China

“When planning a trip today, a city’s visual appeal can be just as influential as its culture and cuisine. Places like Santorini are often associated with colourful scenery, but when it comes to colour variety, the research highlights which destinations truly stand out as a feast for the eyes. “It’s not just architecture – even busy urban centres like Kuala Lumpur or New York City impress due to dense signage, billboards and neon lighting, which increases the visual variation captured across the cities. “It’s also encouraging to see some Irish cities rank highly too, which may not always be the first destination to come to mind, but highlights the beautiful aesthetics that can be found closer to home too,” JustCover Travel Insurance director Aaron Brennan said.

The brightly coloured staircase at Batu Caves. – 123RFPIC

Rank City

Country

Number of unique colours

Vibrancy score (out of 100)

1 2 3 4 5

Lisbon

Portugal Malaysia Portugal Colombia

2.63 million 2.49 million 2.41 million 2.41 million 2.35 million

100 94.5 91.6 91.4 89.1

Kuala Lumpur

Porto

Cartagena Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Malaysia sees robust inbound, outbound travel growth during Hari Raya

Malaysia’s growing appeal Ongoing momentum from the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign continues to position Malaysia as a preferred destination for international travellers. Its data revealed a 26% y-o-y rise in inbound flight bookings for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, primarily from neighbouring Southeast Asian countries and across the Asia Pacific region. China, Singapore and Indonesia led as source markets. Top arrival countries by flight bookings 1. China More than half of inbound travel bookings made were by solo travellers or couples, with an average trip duration of seven days. Four-star hotels accounted for the majority of bookings, signalling a preference for higher quality, premium options on these trips. “With our rich blend of culture, cuisine, urban attractions and natural landscapes, Malaysia continues to stand out as a popular destination in the region. We continue to see sustained interest from international visitors. Given our strong connectivity and diverse offerings, Malaysia remains well-positioned to welcome even more visitors in the coming months,” added Thong. 2. Singapore 3. Indonesia 4. Thailand

Making travel easy Malaysians are rapidly adopting digital tools to simplify their travel planning and booking process. On Trip.com, features such as Muslim friendly filters have made it easier than ever for users to quickly identify accommodations that meet their needs. This has led to a 63% y-o-y increase in bookings for hotels tagged as “Muslim-friendly” or “halal property”during the Hari Raya season. Data from TripGenie, its AI travel assistant, recorded a 65% month-on-month increase in Hari Raya Aidilfitri-related queries from Malaysian users, with peak activity observed between 12–14 March. Queries were largely centred around halal and Muslim-friendly considerations, alongside demand for budget-friendly travel options during the festive period. This signals a clear shift towards more intentional, needs-based travel planning for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, where travellers are balancing cultural requirements with cost-conscious decision-making. “Malaysians are increasingly seizing the chance to travel during the festive holidays, and whether it’s to local or international destinations, what they want is convenience and peace of mind at every stage of their journey. We are continuously enhancing our platform to make travel planning more intelligent and intuitive, so that travellers can quickly and easily find options that suit their specific needs,” said its Malaysia general manager Stephane Thong.

Top cities by flight bookings 1. Singapore 2. Guangzhou

3. Bangkok 4. Shanghai 5. Hong Kong

Theme park attractions remained a major draw, dominating the top 10 international attractions booked by Malaysians. Jiuzhaigou National Park and Shibuya Sky also featured on the list, reflecting ongoing interest in scenic, immersive and experience driven travel. Top international attractions booked

2. Singapore 3. Indonesia 4. Thailand 5. Vietnam

1. Shanghai Disney Resort 2. Hong Kong Disneyland 3. Universal Studios Japan 4. Jiuzhaigou National Park 5. Universal Beijing Resort

Domestically, while land travel continued to be the primary option for balik kampung journeys, flight bookings also saw a slight y-o-y increase, with top cities mainly within East Malaysia. Compared with Malaysians travelling abroad, those choosing travel within the country are taking shorter trips – averaging four days. Top domestic cities by flight

1. Kuala Lumpur 2. Kota Kinabalu 3. Penang 4. Kuching 5. Johor Bahru

Hari Raya in 2026 has driven a surge in travel demand. – 123RFPIC