KOTA KINABALU: After the resounding success of the first 2023 edition of Sabah MATTA Fair in May this year, organisers have scheduled a second edition of the fair to be held in October.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel (MATTA) Sabah chairman Christina Wahida Kong said there was a request from its members for a second edition to be held this year as international borders are rapidly opening with more flights to Sabah.
She said MATTA Sabah Chapter received many calls to organise the fair again for the benefit of members and outbound travellers as it is rated as the biggest consumer travel fair.
"With the rapid opening of borders and more direct flights coming into Sabah, MATTA Sabah members want to work again with the state tourism ministry to develop a balanced flow of tourists in and out of the state.
"As it is, airlines also need outgoing tourists to sustain their operations. Our members are eager to create packages to fill up the seats. The best platform to sell tour and travel packages to overseas destinations will be MATTA Fair as it generates instant investments into Sabah," Kong, the newly elected chairman of Sabah MATTA, said during a courtesy call on state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Liew said the state government fully supported MATTA's second edition fair as it augured well for Sabah tourism as well as there was a popular demand for such travel fairs among the public.
Liew advised Kong and her new committee to work with Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and airline companies in organising the second MATTA Sabah Fair.
"It's a good idea and the right time. Go for it to grow your business. We (ministry) will give you full support within our capacity.
"Get as many tour and travel agents (including non-members of MATTA Sabah Chapter) as well as those from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak to participate for maximum returns," she said.
Liew agreed that there was a need to strike a balance between inbound and outbound tourism to avoid a situation of half-full return flights.
She suggested cheaper or discounted airfares as an incentive to potential travellers from Sabah who may plan to visit China, for example.
"You will do well if you cash in on the school vacation and year-end holidays (until the New Year) by offering incentives," she told the delegation.
The fair will be held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here from Oct 13 -15 and Liew will launch it on Oct 14.
Outgoing Sabah MATTA chairman Lawrence Chin said the motivation to organise the second edition was the resounding success in its first edition of the MATTA Sabah Fair in May this year.
"We achieved a sales turnover of over RM25mil. The event attracted more than 15,000 visitors over three days," he said.
