MATA President Dato’ Seri Dr. Haji Mohd Khalid Harun and DATA Chairman Mr. Cao Tri Dung during the MOU signing
In a major step towards strengthening regional tourism ties, the Malaysia Tourism Agency Association (MATA) and the Da Nang Tourism Association (DATA) formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 9 April during the ASEAN Connect Conference held in Da Nang, Vietnam.
The signing ceremony, attended by prominent ASEAN dignitaries and delegates, marks a renewed commitment to jointly advance tourism promotion, product innovation, human capital development, and collaborative marketing initiatives. This partnership comes strategically as Malaysia prepares for its highly anticipated Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The MoU was officially signed by MATA President Dato’ Seri Dr. Haji Mohd Khalid Harun and DATA Chairman Mr. Cao Tri Dung during a dedicated session focused on regional tourism cooperation and promotion.
Group photo
“This MoU is a testament to our shared vision for a more connected, resilient, and dynamic ASEAN tourism landscape. As Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026, we are committed to building stronger partnerships within the region, starting with vibrant destinations like Da Nang,” said Dato’ Seri Dr. Khalid Harun.
“With this partnership, we look forward to developing attractive cross-border travel experiences, expanding our market outreach, and fostering deeper collaboration between our tourism communities,” said Mr. Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association.
Distinguished guests including H.E. Dato’ Tan Yang Thai, Ambassador of Malaysia to Vietnam, and H.E. Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Ambassador of the Philippines to Vietnam, also witnessed the signing. They highlighted the vital role of regional cooperation in post-pandemic tourism recovery and sustainable development.
MATA President Dato’ Seri Dr. Haji Mohd Khalid Harun (left) and DATA Chairman Mr. Cao Tri Dung (right) holding the signed MOU
In addition to the MATA agreement, DATA also entered into a separate MoU with the Calabarzon Alliance of Independent Tour Operators (CAITO) from the Philippines—reinforcing Da Nang’s aspiration to become a key tourism nexus in ASEAN.
Held under the theme “Opportunities to Enhance Cooperation between Da Nang and ASEAN Partners,” the ASEAN Connect Conference served as a platform for city-level diplomacy, trade development, and regional tourism collaboration. The event spotlighted the growing importance of tourism associations in advancing ASEAN’s tourism integration and strengthening people-to-people connections.
For more information, please visit https://www.mata.travel/
