MATTA, the Country’s largest travel fair, has fuelled Malaysia’s Wanderlust for more than a decade now.
Every year millions of Malaysians travel locally and abroad, satisfying their need for a new adventure while contributing significantly to the aviation and tourism industry.
According to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM), Malaysia recorded 99.1 million international and domestic aviation passengers in 2017, with the 100 million mark expected to be surpassed this year.
Besides enjoying visa-free visits to 164 countries worldwide with the Malaysian passport, excellent travel packages, valuable flight promotions and good interconnectivity have also made travelling more affordable and hassle-free.
The biannual Malaysian Association of Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair has supported the growth in the travel industry over the last three decades since it launched.
Starting out as just a small showcase for a highly niche urban market in 1991, the travel fair, now in its 46th iteration, has become the largest travel event in the country.
Last year, it attracted over 120,000 visitors and generated over RM220 million in sales revenue.
This year’s MATTA Fair was the biggest yet. It featured 450 tourism-related companies across 1,356 booths in seven halls at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.
Driving Local Love
With the tagline ‘Buy Smart, Travel Great at MATTA Fair’, the aim is not only to appeal to travel enthusiasts with the best tour packages, but also help boost Malaysia’s rating as a tourist destination.
This sentiment is exemplified by Pugazhenthi, a 33-year-old IT engineer from India who now resides in Malaysia.
“As someone who has only been living in Malaysia for a few years, I am still excited to explore what Malaysia has to offer. I managed to get some excellent deals for family activities in Sunway Lagoon and Legoland at today’s MATTA Fair and I can’t wait to bring my children to both.”
MATTA’s increasing focus on domestic travel is also contributing to growing interest in local destinations.
According to MATTA President, Datuk Tan Kok Liang, “In 2015, a total of 235.2 million trips were made by Malaysians around the country. This increased by eight per cent to 253.9 million trips last year. At the last MATTA Fair, domestic destinations, including Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Johor, had the highest sales revenue due to their tourist attractions."
