GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair 2025 kicked off on Saturday (May 24) at Setia SPICE Arena.
Featuring 258 booths from 90 organizations, the two-day event includes various offers and packages from industries in the tourism sector.
Among the participants are 60 tour and travel agencies, the Uganda Tourism Board, 11 hotels and resorts, a theme park, and one airline company. Tourism offices from Selangor, Melaka, Pahang, and Sabah also participated.
This year's Penang edition is unique as it focuses on local destinations in support of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Besides local destinations, international travel packages are also available.
MATTA Penang chapter chairman Carolyn Leong said the first day of the event was positive, with visitors lining up at the entrance from as early as 10am.
"We expect some 45,000 visitors to attend the two-day event," she said.
Leong mentioned that visitors can look forward to various packages for domestic tourist destinations, such as Sabah and Sarawak, with direct flights from Penang through Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
Regarding international travel packages, China is expected to be a major market, driven by the recent implementation of visa-free policies. Industry observers anticipate a surge in outbound travel to China.
"Australia is also projected to attract a significant number of travelers, while European destinations, particularly Paris, are gaining momentum following the launch of direct flights. Additionally, Hong Kong remains a strong destination, supported by the availability of direct air connections," she said.
Leong said MATTA expects to see sales of RM45mil during the two-day event, open from 10am to 9pm.
State tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai officiated the event.
