Airbnb and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on MDEC’s DE Rantau initiative. The goal is to position Malaysia as a leading destination for digital nomads in Southeast Asia and encourage longer, more dispersed travel throughout the country.
This partnership follows an increase in remote work and flexible travel after the pandemic. Data from an upcoming Oxford Economics study commissioned by Airbnb shows that long-term stays—defined as 28 nights or more—on Airbnb in the Asia Pacific region rose from 7.7% of total guest nights in 2019 to 11.6% in 2023. In Malaysia, international guests booking long-term stays grew from 11.6% to 18.6% between 2019 and 2022, with Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Johor Bahru being the top destinations for such stays.
Under this collaboration, Airbnb and MDEC will identify and promote over 600 digital nomad-friendly DE Rantau Hub listings on Airbnb, with plans for more properties to be certified by MDEC soon. These certified listings are located in key tourist areas like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, and Langkawi. They offer amenities suitable for long-term guests such as dedicated workspaces, WiFi, kitchens, and laundry facilities.
To further attract digital nomads to Malaysia, Airbnb has launched a dedicated landing page at airbnb.com/liveandworkinmalaysia featuring all MDEC-certified DE Rantau Hub listings that support remote work. This page also highlights the benefits of MDEC’s DE Rantau Pass.
Additionally, Airbnb has introduced a global guide for hosts on making their spaces more appealing for long-term guests and will conduct workshops for Malaysian hosts about the DE Rantau program and trends among digital nomad travelers.
Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of MDEC said, “We are thrilled to join forces with Airbnb for the inaugural DE Rantau initiative, solidifying Malaysia’s position as the preferred Digital Nomad Hub in ASEAN. This collaboration exemplifies our unwavering commitment to driving digital transformation and enriching the digital economy. Through Airbnb’s global platform, offering diverse accommodation options to suit digital nomads’ preferences, we are poised to unlock boundless opportunities for remote workers and propel Malaysia as a leading hub for the region. Together, with the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative and its PEMANGKIN programmes, we aim to generate significant economic spill-over and foster exceptional growth, reshaping the way we work and live in Malaysia.”
Steven Liew, Airbnb’s Asia Pacific Director of Public Policy said: “The rise of remote work presents economies with immense new potential, and contributes to inclusive travel that empowers more local destinations and communities. We are excited to partner with MDEC on this digital-first initiative, and welcome our Host community to the growing national ecosystem supporting digital nomads and remote workers across Malaysia.”
“MDEC’s DE Rantau initiative will help encourage greater digital adoption and professional mobility while driving tourism recovery in the long term. We will continue working hand in hand with the government to ensure that travelers continue to enjoy a variety of unique stays at different price points – be it for a digital nomad traveling solo for a month or a family enjoying a weekend getaway,” he added.
A recent survey conducted by ClearPath Strategies on behalf of Airbnb found that most Malaysians support these efforts: three-quarters believe Airbnb benefits remote workers seeking long-term stays; six out of ten think short-term rentals boost suburban economies through increased tourism revenue.
In line with its pledge toward responsible hosting practices worldwide—including https://news.airbnb.com/enhanced-reservation-screening/ enhanced reservation screening technology—Airbnb is introducing new tools aimed at reducing disruptive incidents globally along with clear ground rules for guests using its platform everywhere it operates including Malaysia where it plans soon also https://news.airbnb.com/new-strata-building-toolkit-malaysia/ launching resources specifically designed for strata building hosts promoting responsible operations within those environments.