GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s largest MATTA Fair at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) awaits visitors seeking travel deals and prize giveaways this weekend.
The two-day fair on April 25 and 26 is expected to be among the largest editions yet, with about 350 booths offering a wide range of domestic and international travel packages.
Penang MATTA chapter chairman Carolyn Leong said the fair is targeting about 50,000 visitors, up from about 45,000 last year.
"This is set to be one of our biggest fairs to date, and it continues to play a crucial role in stimulating travel demand by encouraging people to explore and reconnect with destinations both locally and abroad.
"This year’s edition will feature a Buyers’ Contest with prizes worth up to RM100,000.
"With a minimum spend of just RM100, visitors will be eligible to participate, making it accessible for everyone to join and win.
"Among the top prizes are business class return tickets from Penang to Paris, Brisbane and Tokyo Narita sponsored by Malaysia Airlines, along with additional flight prizes to destinations such as Chengdu, Incheon, the Maldives and Hanoi, as well as tickets to any destination served by Firefly.
"Other prizes include flight tickets to Qingdao sponsored by Qingdao Airlines, to Taipei by China Airlines, and economy class tickets by Flydubai, alongside hotel stays and dining vouchers from establishments such as Lone Pine, Marriott, Angsana and G Hotel," she said during the press conference in PWCC on Thursday (Apr 23).
Amid geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts in parts of the world, she said travellers are expected to gravitate towards safer destinations, adding that operators would work to secure competitive prices.
“We expect stronger demand for Southeast Asia and North Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, with between 45% and 55% of promotional packages at the fair focused on the domestic market.
“Despite the positive outlook, rising costs remain a key challenge for tour operators, especially for outbound travel, particularly due to higher airline fuel charges.
“Rest assured, those who purchase packages through official airlines during the fair will have their prices secured and will not increase.
“Some airlines, particularly premium carriers, can maintain fares once committed due to stronger pricing structures.
“However, for some airlines, especially on Asian routes, fares have increased by about RM200 per passenger, while long-haul routes have seen increases of up to RM1,000 per passenger,” she said.
Tourism Malaysia's northern region director, Abdul Hadi Che Man, said domestic tourism is expected to see increased demand under current conditions.
“We anticipate demand for domestic tourism to increase, and we will be featuring about 20 booths highlighting local attractions across the country, many of which are family-oriented,” he said.
Penang Tourism Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the MATTA Fair provides a good platform for travellers to secure value-for-money deals through reputable airlines and tour agencies.
“Visitors can compare packages and make informed choices, ensuring better protection and value when booking their trips.
“At the same time, the MATTA Fair is not just about selling tour packages, but about the love, bonds and happiness that can be obtained through travel,” he said.
On costs, Wong said airlines typically hedge fuel prices but may still introduce additional fuel surcharges.
“They could be implementing additional fuel charges as they have anticipated cost increases since February, and consumers should be aware of this,” he said.
Also present were Penang Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) director Dr Annuar Mohamed; Penang Global Tourism (PGT) chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan; RHB Group retail distribution regional director Joe Tien; and KinMalaysia Management Sdn Bhd (PWCC venue operator) chief executive officer Dominic Oh.
The fair is open from 10am to 9pm. Admission is free.
