Kuala Lumpur, 11 February 2020 – The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is pleased to announce the first ever MATTA Fair Cuti Cuti Malaysia will be held on 4 – 5 April 2020 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. This is one of MATTA’s contribution for the recovery of the local tourism industry after been hit by recent cancellations from the China market due to the Corona Virus.
MATTA President Datuk Tan Kok Liang says “In view of the current consumer sentiment, it is now the best time to hold a new MATTA Fair exclusively for domestic tourism that facilitates Malaysian holidaymakers to enjoy the many attractions and safe havens within the country, and for service providers to switch focus from inbound market to domestic.”
“The biannual Kuala Lumpur MATTA Fair will continue to feature both domestic and overseas travel. The next Fair, normally held in March, has been deferred to 1 – 3 May 2020 with the venue unchanged. As domestic tourism is now on everyone’s lips, the MATTA Fair Cuti Cuti Malaysia will be held earlier to meet consumer demand.”
“As in previous MATTA Fairs, this exclusive domestic tourism fair to be held during the first weekend of April is strongly supported by Tourism Malaysia, airlines, hotels and major attractions, and many are expected to roll out irresistible offers to entice visitors.”
“Inbound and domestic tourism are the twin pillars of the local tourism industry, with the former targeted to earn RM100 billion in foreign exchange this year and the latter just as much from local consumer spending. Any shortfall in inbound market could be replaced by domestic, as services rendered to foreign and local tourists are similar.”
“In 2018, domestic tourism expenditure increased by 11.4 percent to over RM92 billion. Out of 221 million domestic visitors, about 74 million were tourists staying overnight away from home and the rest day-trippers or excursionists.”
“Tourism products and tour packages to be offered at the MATTA Fair Cuti Cuti Malaysia will also appeal greatly to citizens of ASEAN countries, as 69 percent of all foreign tourists to Malaysia are from Southeast Asia. In addition, we have a sizeable number of foreigners from all over the world working or residing in Malaysia and they too would be shopping for domestic offerings.”
“MATTA Fair Cuti Cuti Malaysia will be a great one-stop centre for foreign travel agents organising tours to Malaysia to view what exhibitors are offering and engage with suppliers directly. Many organisations have taken cognisance that Malaysia is a safe and secure destination. We are also rated in the top 10 percent as a peaceful country among 163 nations by the global Institute for Economics & Peace.”
“MATTA Fair Cuti Cuti Malaysia will be offering a great variety of new or interesting products allowing Malaysians with penchant to travel on holidays to discover, explore and enjoy with peace of mind. This is because our country had remained safe from all necessary measures taken by government authorities, which received commendation from the World Health Organsation (WHO).”
“Staging a successful domestic travel fair will serve as the best testament that Malaysia is safe for all visitors and this message should be conveyed to the world by all responsible media and tourism players. Regrettably, those fixated only on the negative have only been successful in spreading doom and gloom, and fear spreads faster than coronavirus,” concluded Tan.
DATUK TAN KOK LIANG
President MATTA