GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair in Penang this weekend will be the largest here, offering a wide variety of choices.
The fair tomorrow and on Sunday will feature 350 booths offering a range of domestic and international travel packages.
Penang MATTA chapter chairman Carolyn Leong said a highlight in this year’s edition at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) would be a Buyers’ Contest, with prizes worth up to RM100,000.
“Visitors will be eligible to join and win with a minimum spend of RM100.
“Top prizes include business class return tickets from Penang to Paris, Brisbane and Tokyo sponsored by Malaysia Airlines, flights to destinations such as Chengdu, Incheon, the Maldives and Hanoi, as well as to any destination served by Firefly.
“There are also flight tickets to Qingdao sponsored by Qingdao Airlines, to Taipei by China Airlines, and economy class tickets by Flydubai, hotel stays and dining vouchers from Lone Pine, Marriott, Angsana and G Hotel,” she told a press conference yesterday.
Leong said the fair was targeting about 50,000 visitors, up from the 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,” she said.
Amid geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts in parts of the world, she said travellers were expected to prefer safer destinations, adding that operators would work to secure competitive prices.
Leong said stronger demand was expected for South-East Asia and North Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, adding that between 45% and 55% of promotional packages will focus on the domestic market.
“Despite the positive outlook, rising costs remain a key challenge for tour operators, mainly for outbound travel due to higher airline fuel charges.
“Those who buy packages through official airlines during the fair will have their prices secured with no increase.
“Some airlines 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 each,” she said.
Tourism Malaysia northern region director Abdul Hadi Che Man said domestic tourism was expected to see increased demand under current conditions.
“We will feature about 20 booths highlighting local attractions across the country, many being family-oriented,” he said.
Penang tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said 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 trips,” he said.
On costs, Wong said airlines typically hedge fuel prices but may still introduce additional fuel surcharges.
“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 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 will be open from 10am to 9pm. Admission is free.
