Let’s travel: Scores of people flocked to the MATTA Fair at Mitec, Kuala Lumpur. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
Visitors snap up last-minute travel deals and bargains
KUALA LUMPUR: The closing day of the MATTA Fair here proved how much Malaysians want to get back to their travelling best.
By mid-morning yesterday, the parking lot at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) was already at full capacity.
Scores of visitors resorted to parking along the roadside, with others going as far as the Kuala Lumpur High Court to find a spot, which was a testament to the fair’s immense draw.
Youth and senior citizens walked in with their families in tow, undeterred by the heavy traffic or the long walk from their vehicles to the venue under the morning sun.
Once inside the hall, all attention was on the wide mix of travel deals, promotional booths and even the aroma of street food from food trucks.
A large number of visitors were seen enjoying meals as they compared travel packages, soaking in the sights and sounds amid a carnival atmosphere.
The last day of the three-day fair seemed the perfect opportunity to seal the deal by grabbing the last-minute bargains on offer.
Malaysia Airlines customer support assistant Hazman Aiman Arif said the airline’s Visa Prepaid card was its most popular product of the day.
“The prepaid card can be used overseas to buy digital currency or even withdraw cash via the ATM. Plus, you can use it to buy flight tickets and automatically earn miles,” he said.
Ridzuan Abu Hanipah, a marketing executive at KL Bird Park, was equally enthusiastic about the response.
He said big discounts were offered on entrance fees, with adult tickets down from RM45 to RM30, and children’s halved from RM20 to RM10.
“These MATTA deals are valid until the end of July and are open to foreigners working here too,” he said.
For many, the event was a culmination of weeks of planning.
Elaine Wong, who works at an insurance company, was excitedly queuing at the Malaysia Airlines booth.
“I’m buying tickets to Penang for a holiday with friends. I’ve got all our food itineraries sorted for the whole week – morning, noon, night, snacks and even supper,” she added.
“It sounds like a lot, but that’s the case when one is in Penang!”
Accountant R. Darshwini came again with her mother after their initial visit on Friday to confirm their travel destination.
“Originally, we planned to go to Turkiye before switching to Dubai. Now it’s a family trip to Da Nang in Vietnam next month.
“I got about 25% off on flights and 50% off on baggage. We also explored accommodation options and created our own itinerary. Having all these options in one place really helped,” she said.
Others were still on the hunt for the best bargains before the fair closed its doors.
“My friends and I are looking for tickets to Brisbane and maybe Melbourne if there’s a good deal,” said communications executive Hana Naz Harun.
“We are planning to travel for at least five days in September, so we are here to look for cheap flights.”
The MATTA Fair, which opened on Friday, featured a record 1,754 booths across eight halls, surpassing the 1,590 booths recorded last September.
