KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s domestic visitors spent RM121.3 billion in 2025, up 13.6 per cent from a year earlier, underscoring the travel market express bus operators are seeking to tap as the Government tightens control over ticket sales.
The Statistics Department recorded 290.1 million domestic visitors, an increase of 11.5 per cent, with visits to relatives and friends accounting for 35.6 per cent of trips.
Growth continued in the second quarter of 2026, with domestic visitors rising 4.3 per cent year-on-year to 76.9 million and expenditure increasing 12.3 per cent to RM32.8 billion.
Although the figures cover all modes of domestic travel, they highlight the wider demand for connectivity that express bus operators hope to capture under a Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) directive channelling express-bus ticket sales through licensed terminals and registered operators’ online sales platforms.
The rule, originally due to take effect on Nov 1, will now be implemented in phases, and passengers can continue buying tickets through existing platforms until further notice, APAD said in a statement on Nov 5.
MARA Liner chief executive officer Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said the industry’s priority should be making bus travel more accessible and attractive to passengers.
“I would start with a very simple question: how do we make it easier for more people to travel by bus?” he said, adding that passengers needed reliable, affordable and accessible services.
Operators currently use a mix of company websites, online travel platforms, agents and terminal counters to reach customers, with MARA Liner listing six online booking channels, including redBus, Easybook, GoHub, BusOnlineTicket, its own website and eTicketing.
Its booking options also include counters at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), Hentian Duta, Penang Sentral and Shahab Perdana, alongside authorised agents in Kedah, Melaka and Terengganu.
Wan Agyl said the different channels catered to passengers with varying booking preferences, while online platforms also helped operators advertise services, increase route visibility and facilitate comparisons.
Other operators adopt similar arrangements, with Konsortium E-Mutiara listing four online booking partners, while Johor-based Sin Yong Express offers bookings through WhatsApp, online platforms and company counters.
The examples illustrate the industry’s reliance on multiple customer access points, although published booking guides do not disclose the proportion of ticket sales or revenue generated by individual channels.
Consumer concerns have also emerged over whether familiar platforms will remain available, with Lowyat.NET forum users on Oct 20 questioning the future of Easybook and redBus, although the comments do not represent a wider passenger survey.
APAD has since said existing booking platforms can continue to be used during the transition period.
The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA), in a statement dated Oct 29, said consumers should retain the ability to compare fares, promotions, schedules and services across different operators.
“Regulation does not necessarily require exclusive rights,” said its chief executive officer, Dr Saravanan Thambirajah, who said licensing and monitoring could strengthen consumer protection while allowing platforms to compete fairly.
Accessible booking channels also matter to tourism, as visitors increasingly expect to compare transport options and arrange journeys before arriving in Malaysia, a consideration highlighted by Wan Agyl.
“Imagine someone planning a trip to Malaysia. They want to check where they can go, compare bus services and book their journey before they even arrive. We should make that experience as convenient as possible,” he said.
The Statistics Department recorded RM323 billion in tourism value added in 2025, equivalent to 15.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), although the figure covers the wider tourism economy rather than bus operators alone.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 21 that operators with their own websites could integrate booking systems with terminal systems, while the government wanted terminal fees and commissions to be lower than those charged by online agents.
Terminal Management and Services Sdn Bhd, which operates TBS, said the policy would strengthen ticket-price monitoring and compliance with approved fares, while industry groups have raised concerns over implementation, consultation and competition.
MARA Liner had earlier called for implementation to be deferred pending further engagement with stakeholders, while Persatuan Pengusaha Bas Ekspres Malaysia urged that restrictions be suspended until all terminals were ready.
Wan Agyl said MARA Liner had no objection to terminal operators selling tickets if the arrangements improved services and attracted more passengers, but stressed that the industry should focus on expanding ridership rather than restricting sales channels.