Travel fair to ride tourism wave

 

Connecting people and places: (From third left) Hamzah, Fazil, Wong, Dersenish, Syazwan and Tan with MAS and Firefly cabin crew posing for a photograph after the MATTA press conference in a hotel at KLIA. ­ — SAMUEL ONG/The Star

SEPANG: The Malaysian Asso­cia­tion of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) expects the 57th National MATTA Fair to generate over RM250mil in sales following rising regional travel demand and the government’s push for Visit Malaysia 2026. 

MATTA president Nigel Wong said the fair, the country’s largest consumer travel showcase, is now fully subscribed, as it expects to draw up to 150,000 visitors. 

“We are more optimistic this year because of the government’s push for Visit Malaysia 2026 and a renewed interest in Asean travel,” he said at a press conference for the travel fair here yesterday, where the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) was named as Official Airline Partner. 

“Visitors will also notice many new products and attractions being introduced at this edition,” Wong said of the event that will take place from Sept 5 to 7 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur. 

The fair’s 2,040 booths will take up a combined floor area of 3,800sqm, making it one of the largest editions to date. 

Following the launch of the MATTA Eco and Sustainable Tou­rism Initiative (Mesti) in April, the September edition will feature the largest-ever Mesti Pavilion to promote responsible tourism, environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. 

“Travel is about connecting people and places. With the support of the Malaysia Aviation Group as our premier sponsor, we have a partner that understands the importance of safeguarding these connections for future generations,” said Wong.

MAG chief commercial officer of airlines Dersenish Aresandiran said the partnership will help strengthen the group’s share of both outbound and inbound markets while supporting the country’s broader tourism agenda. 

“Outbound travel continues to show strong double-digit growth, and inbound demand is also ­rising. 

“There will be future-forward products and interactive showcases featuring Malaysia Airlines and Firefly’s extensive networks. 

“Visitors can also experience a first-of-its-kind AI-powered travel showcase, giving a glimpse into how technology can redefine the way we plan our trips,” he said. 

Dersenish added that MAG would continue its tradition of engaging football fans with meet-and-greet sessions featuring Man­chester United legends. 

“This year’s line-up will include players from their championship-­winning era, and fans from abroad have even travelled to Kuala Lumpur just for this experience,” he said. 

In addition, Malaysia Airlines will offer up to 30% off fares across its global network for both economy and business class, while Firefly will introduce all-in return fares starting from RM59. 

Ancillary products such as extra baggage, seat selection and lounge access will also be dis­coun­ted by 20%. 

Enrich loyalty programme members will enjoy additional privileges, including early access to sales, a further 5% discount and bonus points. 

Instant rewards and redemption gifts will also be offered for bookings made during the fair, alongside buyers’ contest prizes such as business and eco­nomy class tickets to Paris, Tokyo, Auckland, Perth, London and South Korea. 

Dersenish added that MAG’s booths will showcase a futuristic travel concept, reflecting its ambition to be among the world’s top 10 airlines by 2030. 

“This fair is about more than discounts. It is about sharing our vision for a digital, AI-powered and sustainable travel expe­ri­ence, while supporting the Visit Malaysia 2026 target,” he said at the event that was also attended by MATTA exco for special functions Datuk Hamzah Rahmat, MATTA vice-president of air trans­portation Dr Fazil Khan, MAG head of airlines global sales Syazwan Ahmad Sabri and MAG head of airlines global marketing Emily Tan. 

To ensure smooth access, MATTA has arranged 24 free shuttle buses running between KL Sentral, Sunway Putra Mall and MITEC at intervals of five to 10 minutes. 

Admission to the MATTA Fair is free, with opening hours from 10am to 9pm daily, with more information at mattafair.org.my or on MATTA’s official social media channels.

-thestar online.