SINGAPORE, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has revealed that value is emerging as an important factor in how Malaysians travel in 2026, influencing everything from accommodation choices to destination planning. According to Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report, 63% of travelers are willing to consider lesser-known destinations if it means lower costs, signaling a shift toward more intentional and cost-conscious travel behavior.

Agoda’s findings also highlight how this value-driven mindset is reflected in both spending habits and destination choices. Malaysian travelers are showing a clear preference for travel that delivers value without losing sight of the overall experience. Nearly two-thirds (64%) expect to spend US$50 or less per night on accommodation in 2026, while 59% say price is the single most important factor when choosing where to stay. This reinforces how value is not only influencing openness to discover alternative destinations but also shaping spending decisions.

Beyond spending considerations, Agoda’s findings also point to a shift in how Malaysians are planning their trips and what they prioritize when they travel.

Local and frequent travel remain part of the picture
Malaysian travelers are also adjusting how often and how far they travel, as value-driven decisions make shorter, more frequent, and closer-to-home trips more appealing. 47% expect most of their trips in 2026 to be domestic, while 37% plan to take four to six trips over the year. The most common trip length is four to seven days (42%), reflecting a shift toward travel that is more manageable, cost-conscious, and easier to fit into everyday life.

Relaxation, family and food continue to shape travel plans
Even with affordability front of mind, Malaysians are still prioritizing the experiences they value most. Relaxation is the top reason Malaysians expect to travel in 2026, cited by 69% of respondents. Culinary experiences follow at 33%, highlighting the continued role food plays in destination appeal. Travel also remains deeply social, with 59% saying they plan to travel with family, while 28% expect to travel with their spouse or partner.

Fabian Teja, Country Director, Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda, said: “Malaysian travelers are planning more carefully and placing greater emphasis on value. Agoda’s latest findings show that cost matters, but so does making each trip count. Travelers are looking for options that help them manage their budgets while still enjoying the experiences that matter most, whether that is rest, time with loved ones, or discovering good food. Agoda brings these elements together by making it easier to book flights, accommodation and activities in one place with great value deals.”

With over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda enables travelers to plan and combine every part of their journey in one place at affordable prices. The platform supports different travel styles and preferences, making it easier to plan trips that fit individual pace and priorities. Discover more on Agoda’s mobile app or at Agoda.com.

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SOURCE Agoda

HONG KONG, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Forthright Securities Company Limited and Forthright Capital Company Limited, subsidiaries of JF SmartInvest Holdings Ltd (9636.HK), have officially received approval from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC) to add virtual asset-related business capabilities to their existing Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities), and Type 9 (Asset Management) regulated activities.

According to public records, this marks the  one of few fintech licensed brokerages in Hong Kong has simultaneously obtained virtual asset business qualifications across Type 1, Type 4, and Type 9 licences. This means Forthright now possesses the full regulatory qualification to offer clients a complete suite of virtual asset services encompassing “trade execution + investment advisory + asset management” within a compliant framework.

One Account, One Service, Full Asset Coverage

The current licensed virtual asset ecosystem in Hong Kong is primarily composed of two types of institutions: one category consists of virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs) holding dedicated VATP licences, with order matching as their core function; the other comprises licensed institutions that have obtained VA business qualifications on top of their traditional securities licences, enabling them to integrate virtual assets into broader investment services and asset management frameworks.

Industry observers note that for investors, mere trading access is no longer a scarce resource. The real pain point lies in how to incorporate virtual assets into overall asset allocation while receiving professional advisory and portfolio management services. With all three qualifications now in place, Forthright has become one of the few licensed institutions in the market capable of simultaneously addressing “how to buy, what to buy, and how to manage.”

Upon completion of the licence upgrade, Forthright’s clients will be able to manage Hong Kong and US equities alongside virtual assets within a single platform and unified account system, with access to professional investment advisory and asset management services covering both asset classes. In terms of service delivery, Forthright is leveraging the Group’s long-standing capabilities in AI and investment research technology to build a next-generation service system driven by “AI + Advisory,” deeply applying artificial intelligence to investment research, client services, and allocation recommendations, delivering personalised cross-asset allocation solutions tailored to clients with varying risk appetites.

A spokesperson for Forthright Securities stated: “Virtual assets are evolving from a standalone trading category into an integral component of global asset allocation. The market’s next growth driver does not lie in the number of platforms, but in the ability to truly embed virtual assets within a professional investment service ecosystem. This is precisely where Forthright’s differentiation lies, and the direction in which we continue to invest.”

Forthright will strictly comply with the SFC’s latest regulatory requirements for virtual asset businesses in its compliance deployment, ensuring that clients participating in virtual asset investments enjoy the same level of investor protection as in traditional securities services.

Internet Brokerages Accelerate Expansion into Virtual Assets

From an industry perspective, since the SFC established its clear licensing regime for virtual assets in 2023, multiple internet brokerages and traditional financial institutions have successively applied for or obtained relevant business qualifications. Forthright’s approval is viewed by the market as another landmark event in internet brokerages’ deepening expansion into the virtual asset space. Unlike most institutions that have only obtained trading qualifications, Forthright’s simultaneous approval across trading, advisory, and asset management signifies that it now possesses complete infrastructure spanning product capability to regulatory qualification, and is well-positioned to drive Hong Kong’s virtual asset market evolution from single-transaction scenarios toward professional allocation services.

As a Hong Kong-listed investment research and technology group, JF SmartInvest Holdings Ltd (9636.HK) has been steadily advancing its overseas business expansion in recent years. Forthright, as the Group’s licensed brokerage platform, is positioned as a next-generation internet brokerage driven by “AI + Advisory.” The successful landing of all three virtual asset business qualifications is regarded as a pivotal step in the Group’s expansion of its financial services footprint in Hong Kong, and provides substantive licensing support for its strategic positioning as a “full asset allocation platform.”

Analysts suggest that as the global regulatory framework for virtual assets becomes increasingly clear, the competitive focus in the Hong Kong market is shifting from “who can obtain a licence” to “who can provide more comprehensive services.” Under this logic, institutions simultaneously holding trading, advisory, and asset management qualifications may gain a first-mover advantage in the next phase of client acquisition within fintech brokerage business sector.

About Forthright Securities

Forthright Securities Company Limited (“Forthright Securities”) is a licensed brokerage under JF SmartInvest Holdings Ltd (9636.HK), holding SFC Type 1, 2, 4, and 5 licences along with virtual asset business qualifications. Driven by “AI + Advisory,” it is rooted in Hong Kong with a global investment outlook, and is committed to becoming a next-generation internet brokerage that better understands clients, delivers faster service, and provides stronger investment research in the AI era.

Forthright Securities (CE No.: BGP713) holds SFC licences for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 2 (Dealing in Futures Contracts), Type 4 (Advising on Securities), and Type 5 (Advising on Futures Contracts) regulated activities. Forthright Capital Management Limited (“Forthright Capital”) (CE No.: BEL626) holds SFC licences for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities), and Type 9 (Asset Management) regulated activities. In May 2026, Forthright Securities and Forthright Capital simultaneously completed their licence condition upgrades, adding virtual asset-related business qualifications to their existing Type 1, Type 4, and Type 9 regulated activities. Forthright Wealth Management Limited holds general insurance and long-term insurance licences issued by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority (Insurance Intermediary Licence No.: FB1459).

For more information, please visit Forthright Securities’ official website at www.forthright-sec.com

This information is provided for your general reference only and does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, or specific needs of any individual. It does not constitute an offer, solicitation, invitation, promotion, inducement, representation, or warranty of any kind or form, nor does it constitute any opinion or recommendation to buy or sell any securities, financial products, or instruments described herein. You should seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions or purchasing any investment products. Investments in virtual assets are high-risk and may result in the loss of your entire investment.

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SOURCE Forthright Securities

Kong Continues Strong Momentum in Singapore as Demand for AI Connectivity Rises

SINGAPORE, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kong Inc., a leading developer of API and AI connectivity technologies, today announced two major expansions in Singapore: the availability of Dedicated Cloud Gateways and the regional hosting of the Kong Konnect control plane. Organizations across Singapore are showing growing interest in modern platforms to safely and reliably connect AI to data and applications, reflecting confidence in the city-state as a global hub for innovation and digital growth. Kong also continues to expand its investment in Singapore as a strategic hub for Asia Pacific operations.

The company is growing its regional go-to-market and site reliability engineering teams, while strengthening local leadership with senior technical roles based in Singapore, to best support enterprise customers, technology partners, and developers across the region. By combining local expertise with regional infrastructure, Kong aims to provide faster response times, deeper customer engagement, and stronger alignment with the evolving needs of organizations building AI-driven platforms.

“Singapore has established itself as one of the most important technology and innovation hubs in Asia Pacific, with both Enterprise and Government sectors leading the adoption of cloud and AI-first platforms,” said David Carless, Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan, Kong. “We continue to see strong demand in the region for unified platforms like Kong Konnect that can provide secure, high performance connectivity across APIs, AI services, and events while meeting security, regulatory, and data governance requirements.”

Kong Konnect, the unified API and AI platform, is already adopted by many top enterprises across Singapore. These technologies are used by leading organizations including Seaco, a global provider of intermodal container leasing and asset management services, that implemented Kong Konnect to unify governance and streamline communications with partners worldwide.

Dedicated Cloud Gateway and Konnect In Singapore

With Dedicated Cloud Gateways now available in Singapore, organizations can deploy Kong Gateway and Kong AI Gateway on single tenant infrastructure while Kong manages the control plane, infrastructure lifecycle, and ongoing operations. Available on Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, this fully managed approach delivers low latency performance, high availability, and in-region data residency while keeping sensitive API and AI traffic within Singapore to meet local compliance requirements.

In addition, Kong Konnect now supports regional control plane deployment in Singapore, allowing organizations to manage configuration, policy, and governance for their API and AI infrastructure from within the region. By hosting the Konnect control plane locally, enterprises can align with regional data residency and compliance expectations while reducing operational latency for teams operating across Asia Pacific. This capability complements Dedicated Cloud Gateways by enabling both management and traffic layers to operate within the same regional environment.

Long-Standing IMDA-Accredited status

This regional availability builds on Kong’s established presence in Singapore, including being accredited by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore. The IMDA Accreditation recognizes Kong as a trusted enterprise technology provider and validates the company’s ability to meet stringent technical, security, and operational requirements. Being accredited helps streamline procurement for public sector and regulated organizations, reinforcing Kong’s role of having a secure and compliant unified API and AI platform for enterprises operating in Singapore.

“Kong’s ongoing investment in local infrastructure and talent is helping organisations build advanced digital and AI-driven services, while simultaneously enabling best-in-class governance and compliance adherence,” said Mr. Edwin Low, Director, Enterprise & Ecosystem Development, IMDA. “Maintaining Singapore’s position as a global digital hub depends on strong collaboration with technology providers that demonstrate robust security, reliability, and compliance standards.”

For more information about Kong Konnect and Dedicated Cloud Gateways, please visit: https://konghq.com/products/kong-konnect/features/dedicated-cloud-gateways.

About Kong

Kong Inc., a leading developer of API and AI connectivity technologies, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.

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SOURCE Kong Inc.