THE Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) will look seriously look into holding a MATTA Fair for the first time overseas next year.
Penang Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage (PETACH) Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin suggested that MATTA consider going overseas to attract tourists to Malaysia.
“We have to sell our products overseas and it’s my dream that we can have a MATTA Fair overseas,” said Yeoh, who was representing Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in his speech before officiating the MATTA Fair at the SETIA Spice Arena in Bayan Baru today.
“It is vital for Penang to forge strong partnerships with industry stakeholders and tourism associations. By working together, we can pool our ideas and resources to create innovative offerings that can enhance our competitiveness in tourism in the region.
“Countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines are investing heavily in tourism. We have to be innovative and creative in promoting our products.
“I always like to revamp or rejuvenate our industry. We have a consultant working with us on the Penang Tourism Master Plan which we hope can be ready by December. This will be our guide for the next 10 years.”
When Yeoh opened the MATTA Penang Chapter office at Menara BHL in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah on Thursday, he said they were thinking of introducing an incentive programme for travel agents actively promoting inbound tourism.
Also present at the opening ceremony of MATTA Fair were MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang, Tourism and Culture Ministry Penang director Jonathan Freddy Bagang, MATTA Penang Chapter chairman Vergis Mathews, MATTA honorary secretary-general Nigel Wong and Malaysia & Brunei Malaysia Airlines Berhad regional sales manager Melvinder Kaur.
Tan said the MATTA main committee would discuss the matter, including enquiries from an Asean country and a Middle-Eastern country pertaining to having a MATTA Fair abroad.
He added that MATTA had participated in sales mission overseas, but they were on a business to business (B2B) basis.
“Domestic tourism is one of the key anchors in the tourism industry and business-to-consumer (B2C) programmes like the MATTA Fair can further boost the growth of domestic tourism,” Tan said in his speech.
“MATTA will continue to work together with Tourism Malaysia to further enhance our efforts in promoting inbound and domestic tourism through sales missions to China, India, Asean countries and Europe, including collaboration with airlines and hoteliers as added value.”
Tan said the current MATTA Fair in Penang has received an overwhelming response with 99 exhibitors taking up 296 booths, a new record. When the inaugural fair was held in Penang in 2016, there were 48 exhibitors with 112 booths.
On Budget 2020 that was announced by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today, Tan said MATTA is elated as it contains incentives for the tourism industry.
He said they were delighted with the accelerated capital allowance for the purchase of completely knocked down (CKD) tour vehicles for two years and 50% reduction of excise duty for locally assembled vehicles.
“This will allow operators a great window of opportunity to replace their aging vehicles at much reduced cost. Modernising their fleet will provide greater comfort to tourists during Visit Malaysia 2020 and enhance the image of the country,” Tan said.
He added that the RM1.1 billion allocated to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), of which RM90 million has been allocated for promotions, should empower MOTAC to step up enforcement and continuation of incentives, such as the matching grant under Galakan Melancong Malaysia (GAMELAN Malaysia 2019).
“MATTA had long been advocating for a policy that is more welcoming for foreign tourists and it is heartening to note that a new mechanism on e-Visa will be introduced to facilitate their arrivals.
“We are happy with the measures and incentives, including those for theme parks that were announced in Budget 2020. With this incentive of the exemption for statutory income for investment in theme parks, it should be a strong encouragement for the establishment of more theme parks, which will boost tourism in the various states,” Tan concluded.
Yeoh (third from right), together with Tan (second from right) and Mathews (right) posing with (from left) Penang Firefly staff members Naslinda Nasbah, Lisa Wong and Muizz Mahmud.
In the ongoing MATTA Fair, Melvinder said Malaysia Airlines, as the official airline, is offering visitors great deals up to 30% off on business and economy class to all destinations within its network, including Seoul, London, Tokyo, Auckland and Australia while its sister company, Firefly, is offering irresistible deals of 20% off for its destinations.
Muizz Mahmud, the vice-president sales of Firefly, added that they are also offering special packages to Cherating in Kuantan and Phuket during the MATTA Fair which is from today until Sunday (Oct 13).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
