Splendid deals: Wong (sixth from left) officiating the MATTA Fair alongside Abdul Karim, Liew, and MATTA Fair organising chairman Datuk Tan Kok Liang on his left at the opening ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Promotions, travel rebates and more await visitors
KUALA LUMPUR: The much-anticipated annual Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair has hit a new high this year by being awarded the Malaysia Book of Records title for the “Largest International Travel Fair” for the second time in a row.
For its 55th edition this year, the fair features 1,590 booths across eight halls at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here, according to MATTA president Nigel Wong.He said this surpasses its previous record of 1,416 booths set in 2023, adding that it is important to highlight sustainable tourism.
“As times change rapidly, so too must we (the industry). To ensure our tourism industry remains competitive, robust and sustainable, we must focus on the bigger picture and nurture long-term strategies that will help us reclaim our position as a global tourism powerhouse.
“Recently, MATTA signed a virtual memorandum of understanding with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).“Through this partnership, we aim to encourage our members to adopt the GSTC Criteria and pursue accreditation certification to support sustainable tourism practices,” he said in his speech during the MATTA Fair opening ceremony yesterday.
This year’s fair highlights Sabah and Sarawak as featured destinations under the “Discover Borneo: Malaysia’s Favourite Destination” theme.
Sabah’s Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew expressed pride in Borneo being showcased.
“During this MATTA Fair, visitors to the Sabah booths can enjoy special promotions, including travel rebates of up to RM150 on a single receipt, when they purchase any Sabah tour package.
“These incentives are designed to make it easier for travellers to plan their next adventure to Sabah and experience all that we have to offer,” she said in her speech.
Sarawak’s Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state had hit a few tourism milestones this year, including the Unesco recognition of the Niah Caves.
“To put our efforts into perspective, for 2024, Sarawak has set a target of four million visitors – two million foreign and two million domestic visitors.
“By July, we had welcomed 2.84 million visitors, comprising 1.76 million foreign and 1.07 million domestic visitors.
“These numbers reflect the growing demand for Borneo as a top tourist destination and the success of our ongoing campaigns.
“In the long run, we aim to achieve our goal of welcoming 12.7 million visitors and generating RM50bil in economic returns by 2035, all while championing sustainable and responsible tourism to protect our rainforests,” Abdul Karim said in his speech.
Among the visitors, retired couple Grace, 67, and Raymond Joseph, 69, expressed excitement about planning their 43rd-anniversary trip to Sarawak.
“This is our first time visiting MATTA Fair.
“We’ve made bookings for two destinations in Sarawak and are now looking for flight tickets,” Raymond said, while Grace added, with a smile: “I still think we should’ve bought the flight tickets first.”
Solo traveller Hameezan Jamal, 28, is exploring affordable flight options around Asia.
“I had travelled to several European countries after I finished my studies and now I am looking forward to exploring Asian countries.
“I’m eyeing Japan and South Korea, but Taiwan has caught my attention with its affordable packages,” he said when met here.
The MATTA Fair, which began on Friday, ends today.
