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KUALA LUMPUR – Ms Melati Hashim allocates around RM20,000 (S $ 6,550) a year for vacations abroad, but travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have seen her squander that budget in other ways.
The 31-year-old insurance agent said she now buys things she had never considered before, such as comfort from not being able to travel.
“I use the money to buy things that I normally consider a ‘waste’. The most ridiculous thing I have bought so far is a hairdresser, which costs RM 2,100, and some makeup,” he told The Straits Times.
“I also thought about buying a new car, since mine is very old, but that would mean having to commit to a five or seven year installment loan. The amount would definitely take away a large part of my travel fund.
“So, I decided to dine at some of the restaurants I had always wanted to try, and I also bought a new iPhone 11 Pro Max to replace my seven-year-old phone,” he said.
Malaysians’ love of travel has meant that both domestic and foreign tourism have grown steadily in recent years. In 2019, residents here spent RM 44.8 billion on vacations abroad, compared to RM 31.1 billion in 2015.
Domestic tourism spending was even higher, at RM92.6 billion last year.
Malaysia remains in the recovery phase of its Movement Control Order (MCO) until December 31, during which time social and economic activities have mostly been allowed to resume with compliance with secure measures.
Although interstate travel in Malaysia has been allowed since June 10, many tourists remain cautious when traveling amid a pandemic.
The country’s borders have been closed to international travelers since March, and those who are allowed to fly into the country must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on September 15 that Malaysia will not rush to reopen its borders as the nation tries to curb the transmission of the coronavirus.
Unable to scratch the urge to travel, would-be tourists have turned to their travel funds to indulge various whims, as their movements were limited during the blockade imposed on March 18.
People The Straits Times spoke with shared that they have invested in their travel funds to buy anything from portable pools and picnic tarps for outdoor activities with the kids, to jeweled face masks and quirky details like a gold clip. Tiffany & Co. bookmark fit.
Freelance writer and avid traveler Hajar Hakim said she splurged on entertainment in addition to local vacations.
“I bought things during MCO that I would not have bought otherwise. I bought a Nintendo Switch for the kids and I just bought an Android projector for my son because I don’t want him to watch Netflix or YouTube on the phone, tablet or television, as I heard , the projector is better for the eyes, “said the 42-year-old mother of two.
“I also bought a freezer, a pressure cooker, and a steam grill,” he said.
A spike in domestic spending has helped smooth a Covid-induced retail slide.
Retail sales plunged 30.5 percent in April, but soared 30.5 percent in May when the economy reopened.
While trade has been trending up on a monthly basis, even the 7.1 percent improvement in July from June sales represents a 3.8 percent year-on-year decline, according to data from the Department of Statistics of Malaysia.
The April-June quarter was described as a “bloodbath” for retailers and the worst quarterly result in Malaysian history by Retail Group Malaysia in an industry report released in September.
However, there are bright spots.
According to Malaysia’s central bank, Malaysians spent RM10.2 billion domestically via credit card in July this year, almost double the RM5.3 billion three months earlier in April. This also shows that the level of spending on credit cards has returned to almost the same level seen before Covid-19 last year.
A survey by global market research platform Ipsos found that nearly half of Malaysians have increased online shopping during the pandemic, especially for food.
Auto sales also saw positive growth, growing 1.7 percent year-on-year in July, showing a rebound from the 4.5 percent decline in June.
Perodua reported 23,203 cars were sold in July, triple May’s sales, while Proton’s July sales figure was the highest in eight years. The two local brands are the most popular in Malaysia.
When asked if she sees herself re-channeling her travel expenses, Ms Melati said: “I would actually rather splurge on vacation than go shopping, but as there are no signs that Covid-19 is going away anytime soon. , maybe I’ll just continue to indulge I like this. “
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