MITA wants to double attendance at coming travel fair

A hundred buyers were in attendance at MITA Travel Fair 2017, 200 targeted for next year

For the third edition of its travel fair next year, the Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association (MITA) is hoping to double the number of attendees from this year’s event.

A departure from this year’s MITA Travel Fair, where only 100 buyers from ASEAN were invited in conjunction with Visit ASEAN Year, international buyers will be invited from North America, the Middle East, China, Australia, ASEAN member countries as well as Europe to next year’s event.

MITA president, Uzaidi Udanis, said: “Invitations have been sent to individual buyers who have been supportive of Malaysia in the past. We are also working with Tourism Malaysia overseas offices as well as with tourism associations overseas to identify and invite more buyers.

“We are also looking at 1,000 exhibitor booths comprising hotels, attractions, state tourism boards and product owners from around the country.”

Also new to the show next year are conference sessions designed for buyers and local tour operators revolving around themes like eco- and agro-tourism, in addition to homestays and rail tourism, all in a bid by MITA to highlight rural tourism in Malaysia.

MITA is hoping for its event to fill the gap in Malaysia for a B2B travel trade event concentrating on the inbound and domestic segments.

The third MITA travel fair takes place in Kuala Lumpur from January 19 to 21, 2018.

-TTG Asia.