The largest travel consumer fair in Kuala Malaysia offers hopes for tourism recovery in Malaysia and beyond. Photo Credit: MITEC
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) organized the 52nd MATTA Fair which took place 17 to 19 March 2023 was launched by Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing at its new home in Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.
It featured 1,420 exhibition booths occupying nine halls across 37,000 square meters. Consumers had a choice to pick deals and offers from107 participating travel and tour agencies, 19 national tourism organizations (NTOs), 13 state tourism offices, 37 hotels and resorts, seven theme parks, two cruise lines, six airlines, and 31 other travel-related services exhibitors.
“MATTA is defining a new standard of travel fair paving the way for the MATTA Fair to realize its full potential as a truly holistic consumer travel fair in the years to come,” said MATTA president YBhg Datuk Tan Kok Liang. “The decision to move our famous MATTA Fair to this new venue has the potential to result in the expansion and improvement of the MATTA Fair to the very highest level.”
MATTA Fair 2023 was officially launched by Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing (centre). Photo Credit: MATTA
At the opening ceremony, YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing announced his ministry’s support for MATTA members to extend the validity period of licenses for tour operators and tour guides from three to five years.
True to its promise of offering a fanfare environment, themed cafes were located on each floor including Michelin-selected restaurants, Qureshi and Limapulo. There were also daily talk shows and a variety of multicultural performances from STOs and NTOs including crafts and fashion shows. An estimated 250,000 visitors turned up over the three-day affair.
