MATTA helps promote VM2020

KUALA LUMPUR: Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) stickers can now be spotted adorning tour buses, excursion vans and travel offices, thanks to the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).

Some 4,000 vibrant stickers were printed and distributed to MATTA members as part of the association’s effort to promote VM2020.

Speaking at the vehicle stickers launch event held at Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) here yesterday, MATTA president, Datuk Tan Kok Liang, said MATTA has always worked closely with the government to ensure the campaign’s success.

“While the private tourism sector direct benefits from the success of VM2020, its economic impact ripples across all industries.

“As such, all of us have crucial roles to play in boosting the tourism industry and making Malaysia a destination of choice for tourists.

“The VM2020 vehicle sticker launch is more than symbolic; it is part of MATTA’s initiative to support the campaign, and we hope to see more tourists come to our shores, be it by air, land or sea,” said Tan.

To help increase tourist arrivals, Tan also shared that MATTA has engaged in activities ranging from travel fairs and meetings with various industry stakeholders as well as conferences and sales missions to new and high potential markets.

“Potential markets include – but are not limited to – Asean countries, India, China, and Europe,especially from the Balkans, Poland and Hungary, whose residents make up a new wave of European travellers.

“MATTA and the Tourism Ministry of Malaysia have come a long way since then to make Malaysia’s presence felt at global trade shows such as the Internationale Tourismus- Börse (ITB) Berlin and World Travel Market (WTM) London.

“MATTA also has extensive affiliations with Asean tourism associations such as the Asean Tourism Association and the Federation of Asean Travel Associations. MATTA is also the only Asian member of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations,” he shared.

Also, present at the event was Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister, Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who launched the stickers followed by a sticker placement ceremony within the compound of MaTiC.

Mohamaddin lauded MATTA for supporting the ministry’s efforts to help boost the tourism sector.

“Everyone has a role to play in VM2020’s success, where the government will ensure that it will be the catalyst to drive the tourism industry further and achieve the vision outlined in the Malaysian Tourism Transformation Plan.

“We are confident of achieving 30 million tourist arrivals and RM100bil in tourism receipts, as well as placing Malaysia in the list of top 10 popular tourist destinations in the world,” he said, adding that RM90mil was allocated for the VM2020 campaign.