13/11/2026

LYFE FRIDAY | NOV 13, 2026

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Budgets matter to people when travelling.

Culinary and cultural experiences are a big draw for tourists.

Many Asian travellers use AI to plan their trips. – PICS FROM 123RF

WITH its striking natural rock formations, hidden caves and a stone arch known as “Heaven’s Gate”, Mawar Island offers visitors a nature experience unlike the usual island getaway. Located about 28km from Mersing town, the island has an unusual attraction: Visitors can walk to it from Mawar Beach along a sandy and rocky route during low tide, passing through a mangrove area. Mersing District Council president Abdul Karim Bakar said Mawar Island was part of the Mersing Geopark Zone, which showcases the area’s geological features, biodiversity and local cultural heritage. Apart from exploring its rock formations and coastline, visitors can enjoy camping, light hiking, fishing and stargazing, with the island also offering opportunities to photograph the Milky Way. Karim said the area had potential as a nature based tourism destination, but any development must be carefully managed to preserve its natural environment. He said visitor safety and environmental conservation should remain priorities, urging visitors to keep the area clean and avoid damaging its natural habitats. Those planning to hike or stargaze were also advised to engage trained guides, including Forestry Department mountain guides or experienced local guides familiar with the island. One such guide is Mat Razak Awang, 64, better known as Pok Jak, who has been taking visitors around the island since it opened to the public in September 2022. “Malaysians are becoming more deliberate about how they travel, and our findings suggest that 2027 will be a year of balancing aspiration with affordability. With nearly half planning to split their travels equally between domestic and international destinations, it is clear that exploring Malaysia remains just as appealing as venturing abroad. Travellers are also looking to get more value and meaningful experiences out of every trip, while being mindful of their spending,” said Agoda country director for Malaysia and Brunei Fabian Teja. I N Malaysia, nearly half of travellers (47%) expect to travel domestically and internationally equally in 2027, compared with 33% across the region, according to digital travel platform Agoda. It has published its 2027 Asia Travel Pulse , spotlighting five key trends and insights poised to shape the next year of travel in Asia. Agoda’s report also points to the rapid rise of AI in trip planning and growing interest in experiences that reflect travellers’ passions, from food and culture to events and outdoor pursuits. Based on research across more than 3,300 travellers from 11 markets in Asia, the 2027 Agoda Asia Travel Pulse also revealed that travellers are making considered choices about how they spend. Many expect to take fewer but longer trips, while looking for strong value and greater ease across the whole journey.

adventures. In Malaysia, cultural exploration leads at 51%, followed by shopping at 42%. Social media influences 59% of Malaysian respondents’ travel choices, compared with 47% regionally. Meanwhile, 22% expect to visit locations associated with pop culture, placing Malaysia second among the surveyed markets, behind Vietnam. 0 Making each trip count: Travel frequency, smarter spending The most common plan among Asian travellers for next year is to take one to three trips (41%), up from 29% last year. Malaysian travellers show a different pattern – Four to six trips is the most common plan (31%), while 21% expect to take 11 or more trips, compared with 12% regionally. This focus on getting more from each getaway also shows in accommodation budgets: Nearly three in four Asian travellers (73%) plan to spend RM410 or less per night on accommodation. In Malaysia, 48% expect to spend RM205 or less per night. 0 Hidden gems on radar, if price is right More than a third of Asians (36%) say they are likely to visit an emerging destination, small town or less-crowded spot in 2027. Lower travel costs (33%) would most encourage them to choose a hidden gem, followed by better safety and security (23%). In Malaysia, 39% say they are likely to visit a lesser-known destination next year, while lower travel costs are the top motivator at 36%.

Vacation balance o Nearly half of Malaysian travellers plan equal mix of local, overseas trips in 2027

Agoda’s top five trends defining travel in Asia in 2027 0 International travel appetite rebounds After a year of stronger interest in staying closer to home, Asian travellers say they are looking abroad again next year. More than a third (38%) of respondents expect to travel mostly outside their own country in 2027, compared with 24% last year, making international travel the leading plan regionally. In Malaysia, an equal mix of domestic and international travel leads at 47%, followed by mostly domestic trips (32%) and mostly international trips (21%). Cost remains a key consideration: 52% of Malaysian respondents say lower travel costs would most help them travel more. 0 AI becomes trusted travel planner, with

travellers in control More than half of Asian travellers (53%) now use AI to plan their trips, up from 33% last year. In Malaysia, 53% currently use AI for travel planning. Yet travellers still want the final say, with 59% of Malaysian respondents saying they would prefer to book hotels themselves rather than hand the task to an AI agent. In 2027, trust will shape the way forward for AI: Travellers across Asia say real reviews, clear sources of information and access to human support would increase their confidence. 0 Culture and cuisine top menu, served up by social media Culinary experiences and cultural exploration are tied as the leading reasons Asians plan to travel in 2027, followed by shopping and outdoor

Mawar Island’s ‘Heaven’s Gate’ offers unique nature escape in Mersing

The island is a great place for stargazing, camping, hiking and fishing. – PICS FROM INSTAGRAM @PEPPA_IS_DEPRESSED

making the visit memorable. He said the walk to the island, rather than the usual boat ride associated with island visits, added to its appeal, while the hiking experience and Pok Jak’s knowledge of the local flora and fauna made the trip more enjoyable. Mawar Island attracts about 40,000 visitors annually, with entrance tickets priced from RM5 per person. The ticket counter operates from 8am to 5pm. – Bernama The stone arch called Heaven’s Gate is among the island’s many attractions.

easily lose their way, particularly when the tide began to rise, he said. He recalled an incident in which visitors took the wrong route to the rock formation resembling a window and could not find their way back because of the rising tide. Bernama Johor bureau journalist Kamarul Halim M Kamal, 43, said the nearly three-hour journey from Batu Pahat was worth it, with the island’s granite formations and small caves

He said the island had several unusual rock formations resembling a window, a wolf and a baby dinosaur, besides the famous Heaven’s Gate. Pok Jak usually takes about three hours to show visitors around, including stops for photographs, charging from RM10 per person, depending on weather and tidal conditions. A guide was useful as some trails branched off in different directions and visitors could