{"id":69453,"date":"2026-02-01T10:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T02:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=69453"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:02:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T06:02:34","slug":"eco-tourism-spending-burnout-malaysia-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/eco-tourism-spending-burnout-malaysia-2","title":{"rendered":"Are Malaysians Spending Too Much On Eco-Tourism To Unplug From Burnout?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How often do you pay real money to unplug from the busy urban city life?<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, your \u201cjom pergi healing\u201d turned into booking a few nights’ stay in the jungle that costs more than RM800 per night. You don\u2019t seek Wi-Fi. No air conditioning, no problem. It\u2019s just you, the crickets and the fresh air surrounded by nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

But somehow, it still feels worth it. That\u2019s how eco-tourism is for many Malaysians now.<\/span><\/p>\n

When home is where the heart is, and Malaysia is already home, that\u2019s 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\u2019s no wonder locals and tourists are spoilt for eco-tourism choices in Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re like me, a working adult living in the city, either in Klang Valley or Penang, you can\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on the <\/span>Domestic Tourism Survey<\/span><\/a> conducted in 2024, Malaysia\u2019s domestic tourism sector increased to 260,126 visitors, up from 213,744 the previous year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which makes me wonder, are Malaysians travelling more due to burnout? Perhaps yes. Because much like you, when a getaway into nature promises this \u201cpause\u201d, confirm tak fikir dua tiga kali. Terus book.<\/span><\/p>\n

And this isn\u2019t really about travelling. <\/span>It\u2019s about how burnout affects your personal finances.<\/b><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re burned out, your brain can\u2019t make decisions like a financially responsible adult.<\/b><\/h3>\n

You will stop survey sana sini. Tiba-tiba tak ingat about \u2018budget\u2019. Because all you want now is instant relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI need to recharge my mental health.\u201d<\/span>
\n\u201cI deserve this break.\u201d<\/span>
\n\u201cTak apa, duit boleh dicari lagi bah ni.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RM1,000 sekali setahun? That\u2019s fine. It\u2019s not reckless, it\u2019s justified for your own \u201cself-care\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

RM1,000 every month? Now, you definitely need to rethink your finances, because that\u2019s how burnout spending works.<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem isn\u2019t the once-a-year getaway; it\u2019s when the once-a-month getaway keeps repeating every month just for you to feel alive and human again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without realising it, you added another monthly subscription to your budget.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, are there different price tags for peace?<\/b><\/h3>\n

As a kampung boy who grew up in Sarawak, I only realised this difference after moving to KL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back at home, when my family and I wanted a break from city life, a nature getaway wasn\u2019t something we had to book online. It was available for free. We just need to merajinkan diri to <\/span>balik kampung<\/span><\/i> for the weekend, or during school holidays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If we wanted to go for a picnic, we were lucky to just walk a short distance to the nearest sungai belakang rumah <\/span>inik<\/span><\/i>. (inik means grandma in Bahasa Iban).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, when I relocated to KL for my first full-time job, the situation was very, very, very different. Where I\u2019m staying in Puchong, I can\u2019t just randomly find a nearby sungai and jump in, or I\u2019d end up getting viral online for 1001 speculations, but I do have access to my apartment\u2019s swimming pool. So, I fully get it when my friends say, \u201cPeace of mind isn\u2019t really accessible in KL\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why eco-tourism becomes the solution for us living in the busy concrete jungle. We don\u2019t mind spending on Instagrammable glamping sites, aesthetic retreats or healing activities because that\u2019s how we disconnect, even if it\u2019s temporary.<\/span><\/p>\n

When this kind of healing slowly turns into our lifestyle, this is where we need to learn to pause<\/b><\/h3>\n

But here\u2019s the truth that everyone needs to know and hear, including myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t 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\u2019s labelled as \u201cI need this to rest\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

But at some point, you need to ask yourself, \u201cAm I actually resting on this trip, or am I paying just to survive the next working quarter?\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

And with that, perhaps it\u2019s time to tell yourself, \u201cMaybe a trip doesn\u2019t need to cost THAT much\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m 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\u2019ve learnt after moving to KL, I can still pergi berhealing without spending a four-figure budget every month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve started doing that you can also consider:<\/span><\/p>\n