Are Malaysians Spending Too Much On Eco-Tourism To Unplug From Burnout?
How often do you pay real money to unplug from the busy urban city life?
Suddenly, your “jom pergi healing” turned into booking a few nights’ stay in the jungle that costs more than RM800 per night. You don’t seek Wi-Fi. No air conditioning, no problem. It’s just you, the crickets and the fresh air surrounded by nature.
But somehow, it still feels worth it. That’s how eco-tourism is for many Malaysians now.
When home is where the heart is, and Malaysia is already home, that’s where Malaysians find some of the most beautiful nature experiences in the world. Whether it is the stunning limestone caves in Sarawak, the clear-water islands in Sabah, the cooling highlands in Pahang, or the lush greenery across the country, it’s no wonder locals and tourists are spoilt for eco-tourism choices in Malaysia.
If you’re like me, a working adult living in the city, either in Klang Valley or Penang, you can’t escape the loudness of everyday life. Non-stop traffic, unending work notifications and deadlines, and back-to-back hustling. After a while, your brain yearns for peace and quiet.
Based on the Domestic Tourism Survey conducted in 2024, Malaysia’s domestic tourism sector increased to 260,126 visitors, up from 213,744 the previous year.
Which makes me wonder, are Malaysians travelling more due to burnout? Perhaps yes. Because much like you, when a getaway into nature promises this “pause”, confirm tak fikir dua tiga kali. Terus book.
And this isn’t really about travelling. It’s about how burnout affects your personal finances.
When you’re burned out, your brain can’t make decisions like a financially responsible adult.
You will stop survey sana sini. Tiba-tiba tak ingat about ‘budget’. Because all you want now is instant relief.
“I need to recharge my mental health.”
“I deserve this break.”
“Tak apa, duit boleh dicari lagi bah ni.”
RM1,000 sekali setahun? That’s fine. It’s not reckless, it’s justified for your own “self-care”.
RM1,000 every month? Now, you definitely need to rethink your finances, because that’s how burnout spending works.
The problem isn’t the once-a-year getaway; it’s when the once-a-month getaway keeps repeating every month just for you to feel alive and human again.
Without realising it, you added another monthly subscription to your budget.
So, are there different price tags for peace?
As a kampung boy who grew up in Sarawak, I only realised this difference after moving to KL.
Back at home, when my family and I wanted a break from city life, a nature getaway wasn’t something we had to book online. It was available for free. We just need to merajinkan diri to balik kampung for the weekend, or during school holidays.
If we wanted to go for a picnic, we were lucky to just walk a short distance to the nearest sungai belakang rumah inik. (inik means grandma in Bahasa Iban).
However, when I relocated to KL for my first full-time job, the situation was very, very, very different. Where I’m staying in Puchong, I can’t just randomly find a nearby sungai and jump in, or I’d end up getting viral online for 1001 speculations, but I do have access to my apartment’s swimming pool. So, I fully get it when my friends say, “Peace of mind isn’t really accessible in KL”.
That’s why eco-tourism becomes the solution for us living in the busy concrete jungle. We don’t mind spending on Instagrammable glamping sites, aesthetic retreats or healing activities because that’s how we disconnect, even if it’s temporary.
When this kind of healing slowly turns into our lifestyle, this is where we need to learn to pause
But here’s the truth that everyone needs to know and hear, including myself.
You don’t realise that every booking confirmation and receipt sent to your email burns a hole in your wallet, and distracts you from saving for your future, because it’s labelled as “I need this to rest”.
But at some point, you need to ask yourself, “Am I actually resting on this trip, or am I paying just to survive the next working quarter?”.
And with that, perhaps it’s time to tell yourself, “Maybe a trip doesn’t need to cost THAT much”
I’m not asking you to stop travelling. If it helps you unwind, you can still travel, but you can also be a bit more intentional about it. And one thing I’ve learnt after moving to KL, I can still pergi berhealing without spending a four-figure budget every month.
Here’s what I’ve started doing that you can also consider:
- Planning for quarterly trips in Malaysia during off-peak holiday seasons.
- Staying at a simple homestay instead of a fancy check-in place.
- Taking the train or bus to travel out of KL to avoid the physical and mental exhaustion from driving.
- Going on a jalan-jalan cari makan daytrip.
At the end of the day, you don’t actually need to pay for a five-star eco-tourism retreat. You’re paying to slow down, without draining your bank account.
It’s okay to want peace of mind, as burnout is real, and rest is necessary.
However, it might be time to pause and rethink how we rest, especially when we keep spending our way out of exhaustion.
The good news? With Visit Malaysia 2026 underway, Budget 2026 offers up to RM1,000 in tax relief for entrance fees to local tourism attractions and cultural programmes, helping you plan meaningful local breaks.
Cause let’s be real, peace of mind is a need, but it shouldn’t feel like another monthly commitment to add to your credit.
It’s not about spending more to make yourself feel more human again. It’s about resting well, and being kinder to yourself… And your wallet, of course!
