KUALA LUMPUR: The 59th edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair is targeting up to 180,000 visitors, buoyed by growing interest in domestic tourism and a wider selection of international destinations.
MATTA president Nigel Wong said the fair would feature more destinations this year, including greater participation from Central Asian countries.
“A turnout of between 150,000 and 180,000 visitors are expected to throng the venue.
“We also received an overwhelming response for domestic tourism this year.
“So holidaymakers who are interested in more local experiences will find that there are plenty more choices available for this edition,” he said at a press conference to announce details of the fair and its official bank partnership yesterday.
The September 2026 edition of the MATTA Fair is expected to occupy more than 40,820sq m across 10 exhibition halls, featuring more than 2,026 booths from 285 participating companies.
The country’s biggest travel showcase will take place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 4 to 6.
Wong said that among the highlights are a wider variety of destinations, including popular choices such as Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, alongside newcomers such as Uzbekistan and Almaty in Kazakhstan.
He added that there would also be strong representation from China, as well as countries including Guam, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Tanzania, Turkiye and the Philippines.
“We are completely booked up at the domestic hall and we have a huge waiting list. So that says something,” he said.
Wong said the fair would continue to emphasise trust and security, particularly amid concerns over travel scams involving unlicensed sellers.
He urged consumers to purchase travel packages from fully licensed travel agencies and established tourism businesses participating in the fair.
“We also provide a trusted platform where visitors can engage directly with fully licensed travel agencies and established travel and tourism businesses.
“This is very important because we have a lot of issues with scams which are done online and people who tout travel packages at different events as well.
“Unless you are fully licensed by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, travellers who purchase from these unlicensed individuals risk having their holiday plans disrupted.
“You may not even be able to recover any of the money you have paid should something goes wrong,” he said.
Meanwhile, RHB Bank head of consumer finance Sien Vee Loc said the bank’s partnership with MATTA had entered its fourth year and eighth edition.
He said RHB aimed to support travellers throughout their journey from planning and booking trips to spending overseas while providing greater convenience, flexibility and value.
“We believe in making travel more rewarding. It is not just about the financial solutions we provide, it’s also about giving Malaysians more value as they plan and enjoy their travels.
“This includes the RHB Multi Currency Debit Card/-i, which makes overseas spending simpler by providing access to 34 currencies on a single card.
“Customers can spend directly from their selected foreign currency balance without conversion fees while earning reward points on eligible overseas transactions.
“RHB also offers flexible instalment plans with 0% interest, allowing customers to spread larger purchases into manageable monthly payments,” he added.
