Milestones in MATTA’s 50-year journey

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 MAY 2025: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) celebrates its 50 golden years as an Association this year. 

In 1975, when Malaysia was still a young and rapidly developing nation, a small but determined group of Malaysian travel professionals came together with a shared purpose — to form a unified voice for the travel and tour industry in Malaysia. Through this ambition, MATTA was born and has since grown into a national force that shaped the Malaysian tourism landscape for half a century.

With a mission to unite the industry, MATTA brought tour and travel agents together under a single banner. It continues to advocate and stand at the forefront of policy engagement and industry empowerment. 

From its earliest days, MATTA has backed grassroots travel agents, becoming their voice and ensuring their interests are heard. The Association has evolved as it navigates global evolution and economic challenges.

In 1991, MATTA pioneered the first MATTA Fair, originally known as the Malaysia International Travel Fair (MITF) – held in Kuala Lumpur. 

The goal was simple yet impactful: to connect Malaysians with travel agents and travel opportunities under one roof. This became the go-to travel hub for locals seeking new adventures, and rather quickly, the fair cemented its popularity. By the year 2001, the  MATTA Fair transitioned into a bi-annual fair. Over time, MATTA has expanded across the country and established MATTA Chapters nationwide.

Today, the renowned Fair is recognised as Malaysia’s largest international travel fair, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and generating millions in sales. It remains a point of pride for MATTA – a testament to achieving astonishing milestones through shared vision, collaboration, and commitment to industry excellence.

In 2011, MATTA stepped into a new era by opening its own headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. A significant milestone that marked the Association’s growth and maturity. The headquarters became more than just a one-stop centre, symbolising MATTA’s permanence, leadership, and long-term commitment to the Malaysian travel industry.

Throughout this remarkable journey, MATTA has been guided by a dedicated line of Presidents – each of whom brought vision, integrity, and leadership to their term of service:

1975–1976: Loh Yit Lock
1977–1979: Fahmy Mubarak
1980–1982: Kamalruzaman Bahadun
1983–1988: YM Tunku Dato’ Seri (Dr) Iskandar Tunku Abdullah
1989–1992: Mokhti Abas
1993–1998: Ahmad Kamil Abdullah
1998–2005: YM Tunku Dato’ Seri (Dr) Iskandar Tunku Abdullah (second term)
2005–2009: Dato’ Ngiam Foon
2010–2013: Dato’ Mohd Khalid Harun
2013–2017: Datuk Haji Hamzah Rahmat
2017–2023: Datuk Tan Kok Liang
2023–2026: Nigel Wong (Current)

Each of these leaders has left a lasting mark on MATTA’s legacy, from expanding membership to modernising and digitalising operations, strengthening strategic partnerships, and continuously driving the inbound and outbound sectors.

“We have faced challenges together, including the devastating impact of the pandemic, but we have recovered and emerged stronger, more united and more prepared to face what lies ahead. We’ve embraced new verticals in tourism, including digitalisation, sustainability, sports tourism, and educational travel, all with a people-first, community-centric approach. The MATTA’s Eco & Sustainable Tourism Initiative (MESTI) exemplifies our continued commitment towards building a sustainable and long-lasting tourism business,” said  MATTA president Nigel Wong, 

As MATTA marks its Golden Jubilee, the Association looks back with pride on its journey. It extends its heartfelt gratitude to the members, partners, stakeholders and secretariats who have contributed to its success. Each of them – founding members, national tourism organisations and strategic partners – played an essential role in the evolution of a united travel and tour industry. The story of MATTA continues to unfold, driven by those who believe in the power of tourism and its ability to connect, uplift, and transform as the Association looks ahead to the next 50 years of excellence.