MATTA teams up with India-based Tourism Malaysia offices

The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) is collaborating with Tourism Malaysia offices in Delhi and Chennai to jointly organise a roadshow to Kathmandu, Delhi and Colombo.

To be held from June 12-17, 2017, this is an attempt to boost visitor numbers from the business events and medical segments from South Asia.

MATTA vice president inbound & domestic, KL Tan said: “This is the third time we are collaborating with Tourism Malaysia and conducting a roadshow to these three cities, as revenue from the business events and medical segments is three times more than the average leisure segment.”

“Kathmandu and Nepal are new markets for business events but we believe it has the potential. Delhi is more mature, and we’re also looking at other Indian cities to hold similar roadshows next year,” added MATTA’s exco member for India, Ganneesh Ramaa.

He pointed out that it was time to promote Malaysia as the government had recently introduced an e-visa facility and waived the visa fee of 1,000 rupees (US$16), and reduced the visa processing fee from 5,500 to 1,600 rupees.

Richard Vuilleumier, managing director at Panorama Holidays Malaysia, said his company was participating in the roadshow as he wanted a bigger share of the South Asian leisure and business events segments.

He elaborated: “We have a representative in Jalandhar to help us build the leisure and MICE markets in India. However, Kathmandu and Colombo are both new markets which we want to tap.”

The roadshow will involve 22 suppliers from Malaysia including 17 DMCS, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, and key attractions such as Resorts World Genting and Perak’s Movie Animation Parks Studio.

-TTG Asia.