MATTA
41st MATTA Fair achieves record visitor numbers with more “surprises” to come in September
41st MATTA fair ends with a bang
(April 19th) While markets may clamour about
instability of emerging market currencies and
crude oil prices, the climate of travel looks to
have taken up the brightest spot as the 41st
MATTA Fair draws to a close.
The Malaysian Association of Tours and
Travel Agents (MATTA) announced its highest
ever visitor figures totalling 113,121 would-be
tourists, representing a 23% increase from its
40th fair held in September 2015.
This is the first time the association had
achieved such figures since the fairs begun
in 1991.
In terms of sales drawn in, the fair
generated its biggest sales turnover ever to
reach the RM200 million mark.
In terms of tourism destination choices,
Malaysia bagged the pole position in terms
of popularity as a tourist destination followed
closely by China, Japan, Indonesia and
Thailand.
Data from Tourism Malaysia revealed
that the most popular tourism destination
in Malaysia by state was Kedah, followed
by Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor and Kuala
Lumpur.
MATTA President Datuk Hj Haji Hamzah
Rahmat told reporters at a recent press
conference that while affordability remains
a key factor for tourists in deciding where
to travel, the government’s push towards
domestic tourism should see the countryachieving its target of 66 million tourists for
2016.
“We should be able to achieve the target
of 66 million tourists set by the government.
As we begin to prioritise domestic tourism,
we see a lot of participation from local chief
ministers YAB Malacca Chief Minister, Sabah
and then followed by Johor.”
“We also see interest from Terengganu and
Perak who have already started knocking at our
door for the September MATTA Fair,” he said.
Hamzah acknowledged the contributions
of the local chief ministers in promoting their
respective states and said that these moves
would certainly enhance the visibility of
their states.
When asked about what would-be travellers
can look forward to during the next MATTA
Fair, Hamzah remained tight-lipped but
promised “surprises” for future visitors.
“As always we would provide surprises to
our participants but you would have to be
there to find out what.”
The upcoming MATTA Fair will be held on
from the 2nd to the 4th of September 2016.
The fun for travellers this year did not end
there alone as a total of 56 lucky winners also
won exclusive prizes courtesy of MATTA Fair’s
Buyer’s contest.
This was inclusive of 6 grand prizes tickets
which featured business class trips to various
international locations.The 56 prize winners were chosen out of a
pool of 4,136 participants.
The 6 grand prize tickets were 4 roundtrip
business-class tickets to Perth, Hong Kong,
Bombay and Colombo sponsored by Malaysian
Airlines; a roundtrip premium economy class
ticket to Frankfurt from Singapore sponsored by
Lufthansa German Airlines; and one round trip
economy class tickets to Abu Dhabi sponsored
by Etihad Airways.
Visitors who purchased a minimum of RM 300
of travel and holiday packages at the fair were
eligible to enter the contest.
Airlines sponsors for the prizes included
Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Egypt Airways,
Thai Airways, Air India, Cathay Pacific, Royal
Brunei Airlines, Firefly, Oman Air, Malindo Air,
KLM and Air Asia.
The MATTA Fair is Malaysia’s largest and most
anticipated travel event which is held twice a
year at the Putra World Trade Centre.
A total of 205 organizations participated in
the 41st MATTA Fair held from 11th March –
13th March 2016 with the largest foreign tourist
office represented being the Ministry of Tourism
Republic of Indonesia.
The largest tour and travel agents represented
during this fair was Apple Vacations &
Conventions Sdn Bhd.
The noted Indonesian singer Cakra Khan
was also present at the 41st MATTA Fair which
stunned audiences with his enthralling vocal talents.LEFT (Left to Right) Madam
Chong Yoke Har, Deputy
Director General (Strategic
& Domestic) of Tourism
Malaysia, Datuk Hj Hamzah
Rahmat, President of MATTA,
Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, Johor
State Exco, YBhg. Datuk
Rashidi bin Hasbullah, Deputy
Secretary General (Tourism),
Rizki Handayani, Indonesia -
Director Ministry of Tourism
Republic of Indonesia