KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2024: The 54th edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ MATTA Fair concluded on 24 March at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur, attracting nearly 150,000 show visitors and forecasted sales turnover exceeding MYR300 million.
The MATTA Fair March 2024 covered 37,000 sqm of space across eight halls and featured 1,343 exhibition booths.
With 278 participating organisations, including 175 travel and tour agencies, 12 National Tourism Organizations, 8 State Tourism Offices, 44 hotels and resorts, nine theme parks, two airlines, and 28 other travel-related service exhibitors, travel fans snatched up holiday bargains and unrivalled airfare bargains.
“MATTA Fair March 2024, well-known for its budget-friendly travel deals, is set to maintain its esteemed status. Visitors can confidently shop with all participating tour and travel exhibitors holding licenses from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. A wide selection of new destinations and tour options provide visitors with abundant options to explore,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong during the opening ceremony on Friday.
Key partners and sponsors
The show spotlighted Perlis, designated Malaysia’s favourite destination as the featured state. Malaysia Aviation Group was named the Official Airline Partner & Premier Sponsor. RHB Bank supported the show as the Exclusive Platinum Sponsor to streamline online payments for travel bargains. Amadeus served as the Official Travel Tech Partner to support flight and holiday bookings at the show. AmLeisure Media was the official Media Partner.
MATTA used the national travel fair to launch its sustainability programme, the Green Circle Initiative, which brings together diverse sectors and government agencies, including Climate Governance Malaysia, MAG, RHB, MDEC, MAH, MACEOS, and others, to raise the industry and public awareness, and actively contributing to policy-making.
A Sustainable Tourism booth in the foyer of the MATTA Fair highlighted the partnership with British wildlife artist Rachel Gray, AmLeisure Group, Tourism Perak, and Tourism Selangor to promote sustainable conservation practices that enhance local community livelihoods.
GEORGE TOWN, Penang 25 March 2024: Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai is on a mission to draw more direct flights to Penang to boost the island’s tourism industry.
Juneyao Airlines will start four weekly direct flights from its home base of Shanghai to Penang starting 31 May. Wong described the news as a breakthrough that would tap the huge potential of outbound tourism markets in northern Chinese cities.
Photo credit: Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau. (Second from left): Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
“Penang’s competitiveness as a travel destination is boosted by better air connectivity, which significantly increases travellers’ interest in exploring Penang,” he said at a press conference last week to launch the new flights. Buletin Mutiara Penang quoted the chairman as saying, “The new service will allow the tourism sector to grow sustainably.”
Steven Goh Juneyao Airlines GM Penang.
In addition to four-weekly direct flights from Shanghai to Penang, Wong remains confident that discussions to introduce direct flights between Penang and Chennai, India, will succeed by the end of the year.
Wong has led business delegations to four cities in India, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kochi (Cochin), as part of his ongoing initiative to encourage India’s airlines to consider adding direct flights to Penang. An Indian airline will likely establish the first direct flights from Chennai to Penang by the end of the year.
Wong said the Federal Government should discuss with China to upgrade the visa-free facility between China and Malaysia to a permanent visa exemption.
Effective 31 May, Juneyao Airlines will schedule four weekly flights departing Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flight time is five hours and 30 minutes using a 180-seat A320.
Flight HO1365 will depart Shang Hai Pu Dong International Airport (PVG) at 1730 and arrive in Penang (PEN) at 2300. Flight HO1365 will depart Penang (PEN) at 0005 and arrive in Shanghai (PVG) at 0525 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday).
During the launch event last week, Juneyao Airlines introduced Steven Andres Goh as its general manager based in Penang.
(SOURCE: Buletin Mutiara Penang plus additional reporting.)
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2024: Malaysia Airlines will resume flights from its home base in Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai and the Maldives and add a new destination, Danang, Vietnam, to its network in the third quarter of this year.
It will also launch a modernised fleet of A330neos with the scheduled delivery starting in Q3 2024.
Photo credit: Malaysia Airlines. MATTA Fair new seat demo.
The airline posted the news on its Facebook page and officially announced details of the new flights on Friday during the opening of the MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur.
The airline unveiled its new A330neo Business and Economy Class seats during the MATTA Fair from 22 to 24 March. The new cabin configuration will feature Collins Aerospace Elevation business class seats with individual privacy doors and wireless charging and Recaro CL3810 economy class seats for enhanced comfort. Delivery of the modernised fleet of A330neos is scheduled to begin in Q3 2024.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines spotlighted discounted fare deals for the three new regional destinations at the three-day national travel fair, which closed on Sunday evening, 24 March 2024.
Malaysia Airlines will return to Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, on 15 August, offering five flights weekly using a Boeing 737-800. The airline closed the route in August 2001
Daily flights will resume to the Maldives on 1 August using the 737-800. It dropped the route in 2015
Danang is a new destination. Daily flights from Kuala Lumpur using a Boeing 737-800 will launch on 24 September.
Kuala Lumpur-Chiang Mai
Five flights weekly Flight MH772 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 0950 and arrive in Chiang Mai at 1140 on Monday, Friday, and Sunday. Flight MH772 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 1150 and arrive in Chiang Mai at 1350. Thursday and Saturday.
Flight MH773 will depart Chiang Mai at 1235 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1635. Monday, Friday and Sunday Flight MH773 will depart Chiang Mai at 1440 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1840. Thursday and Saturday
Kuala Lumpur-Male
Daily Flight MH485 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 1010 and arrive in Male at 1125. Flight MH484 will depart Male at 1230 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 2010.
Kuala Lumpur-Danang
Daily Flight MH748 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 0845 and arrive in Danang at 1025. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Flight MH748 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 1200 and arrive in Danang at 1340. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Flight MH749 will depart from Danang at 1125 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1520. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Flight MH749 will depart Danang at 1440 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1835. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
DUBAI, 22 March 2024: On 24 and 25 March, Emirates will be celebrating the most colourful festival in the world, wishing customers a happy Holi onboard select flights to India with refreshing Thandai drinks and sweet Holi treats.
Holi is a popular and significant Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring. Celebrated on 25 March this year, Holi marks the end of winter and a time to gather together. The festivities, which begin with the Holika Dahan bonfire, promise to put a smile (and splatter of colour!) on everyone’s face.
Emirates’ customers travelling to and from seven destinations in India — Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai — will enjoy the much-loved Indian sweet Kesar Gujiya, alongside their meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The deep-fried dumpling stuffed with solidified milk and dried fruits will be served in a specially designed box, reminiscent of the colourful festival of Holi. First and business-class customers will be warmly welcomed with cold Thandai – a festive drink made from milk and nuts, flavoured with fragrant saffron and rose petals.
Customers can get into the holiday spirit with hundreds of classic Bollywood movies in the world-class ice entertainment library, including up to 260 Indian movies, including new titles, classic Bollywood, and regional Indian movies.
Movies include box office hits like Pathaan, The Great Indian Family, and Gaslight. There is also a special collection of Yash Raj Films, Bollywood’s ‘father of romance.’ Customers can also enjoy music videos from Yash Raj in Indian TV, plus over 30 albums and playlists of Indian music, including a special music video compilation called Holi Hai!
Emirates’ celebration of the Holi Festival underscores the airline’s enduring connection with India, spanning 37 years of shared history and cultural affinity. With 170 weekly flights to nine destinations in India, Emirates connects millions of customers travelling to India from Dubai and across its global network each year.
For more information on flights and to make bookings visit www.emiratres.com
BANGKOK, 22 March 2024: Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, general manager Franceso Pompilio (right), received TravelScapes’ Best Adult-Only Resort in the Maldives and Leading Hospitality Group of Thai Origin (Centara Hotels & Resorts) awards at the Versatile Excellence Travel Awards (VETA) recently held in New Delhi.
These awards, which are a testament to the dedication and exceptional service of the team at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives and Centara Hotels & Resorts as a whole, further solidify the property as a leader in delivering unforgettable guest experiences and world-class hospitality in the Maldives.
VETA is an annual event in the Indian tourism industry calendar. It awards companies and travel destinations that have shown significant growth in tourism development. TravelScapes, a B2B monthly travel trade magazine in India, hosts the awards.
About Centara Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading hotel operator. Its 95 properties span all major Thai destinations plus the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, China, Japan, Oman, Qatar, Cambodia, Turkey and the UAE. Centara’s portfolio comprises six brands – Centara Reserve, Centara Boutique Collection, Centara Grand, Centara, Centara Life and COSI Hotels – ranging from luxury island retreats and upscale family resorts to affordable lifestyle concepts supported by innovative technology. The group’s newest Centara Reserve brand was unveiled in 2020 as an experiential luxury collection, inviting guests to discover a new era of story-driven hospitality, starting with Centara Reserve Samui.
Caption (left) Kanokros Wongvekin and (right) James Thurlby.
BANGKOK, 22 March 2024: Skal International Bangkok has appointed Kanokros Wongvekin, the first female president since the club was founded in 1956.
Following an election during the 12 March annual general meeting at the Hyatt Regency Sukhumvit Bangkok, she officially replaced the outgoing president, James Thurlby, who has been named president of Skal International Thailand.
Kanokros’s travel and public relations expertise spans 29 years. After completing postgraduate studies (MBA marketing), she worked in public relations for various international hotel chains based in Bangkok. Kanokros served as corporate director of marketing communications at Centara Hotels & Resorts for over 10 years and won the ‘Best Public Relations’ award from Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
ABU DHABI, UAE, 22 March 2024: Etihad Airways welcomed more than 1.4 million passengers onboard in February and saw its average load factor reach 89%, according to the airline’s latest traffic statistics.
“In February 2024, we saw a 46% year-on-year growth in customer numbers as we continue our growth strategy,” said Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves.
“Our year-to-date (YTD) passenger figures, at 2.9 million, are 40% higher than in February 2023. February was a busy month; we strengthened our fleet, welcoming three new 787-9s, a move that is aligned with our network expansion strategy of adding new destinations and expanding frequencies into key markets.
“We also announced two new routes that will begin this year: to Antalya, Turkey, and Jaipur, India. The latter represents our 11th nonstop connection between Abu Dhabi and the Indian Subcontinent.”
Meanwhile, AeroRoutes, a timetable and airline schedules specialist channel, confirms in its latest update that Etihad Airways will increase flights on its Abu Dhabi-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi route from mid-June 2024. The airline will add its 18th weekly flight, effective 17 June 2024, operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
TAIPEI, 22 March 2024: AirAsia continues its expansion in Northeast Asia by launching three fifth-freedom routes connecting Taipei and Kaohsiung to destinations in Japan.
AirAsia X (D7) will operate the new route from Taipei to Tokyo (Narita) starting 31 May 2024. Thai AirAsia ( FD) will connect Taipei to Okinawa on 15 June 2024 and Kaohsiung to Tokyo (Narita) on 16 June 2024.
(Third from left) Santisuk Klongchaiya, CEO of Thai AirAsia; Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X; and Kashiwagi Aya, Director of the Economic Division, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office.
AAX will operate the route from Taipei to Tokyo (Narita) using the Airbus A330 family wide-body aircraft ( A330 or A330-300) with a maximum of 377 seats, including 12 Premium Flatbed seats. Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia will fly an A320 aircraft with 180 seats.
The launch of these fifth-freedom routes aligns with the airline’s focus on Taiwan, making it a hub that connects passengers to more destinations across Southeast Asia and the Northeast Asian region through its extensive network of 130 destinations.
According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, the tourism industry in the region has recovered to 80% of pre-pandemic levels, with 25 million foreign visitors to the country last year. Among the visitors, Taiwanese made up 4.2 million visitors, showing Japan remains the top travel destination for Taiwan.
In celebration of the new routes, AirAsia guests can book their flights between Taipei and Tokyo (Narita) from TWD1,888 one-way for the travel period from 31 May 2024 to 26 October 2024. Guest can also buy fares from TWD888 one-way to fly between Taipei and Okinawa for the travel period from 15 June 2024 to 26 October 2024 or fly between Kaohsiung and Tokyo for TWD1,888 one-way from 16 June 2024 to 25 October 2024.
The promotional fares are available until 31 March 2024 on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app, previously known as the ‘airasia Superapp’.
The AirAsia Group currently operates nine routes from Taiwan, including Taipei to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Manila, and Cebu, and Kaohsiung to Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Bangkok. With the launch of these three new routes, AirAsia will offer 12 direct flights from Taiwan.
DUBAI, 22 March 2024: Outbound travel from China will almost double this year compared with 2023, just 22% below the pre-pandemic peak of 155 million tourists in 2019 and a USD250 billion spend.
According to research by Oxford Economics, full recovery should materialise in 2025, with the Middle East being the first region globally to benefit.
Underscoring that prediction, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 6 to 9 May, will welcome double the number of Chinese exhibitors and travel professionals compared with the 2019 show.
China lifted its COVID-related travel restrictions on 8 January 2023, allowing Chinese tourists to travel abroad without quarantine upon their return. Bookings for overseas travel during the Chinese New Year soared by 540% compared with the same period in 2022, according to data from the Chinese travel site Trip.com.
Arabian Travel Market exhibition director ME, Danielle Curtis commented, “Last year, some analysts predicted that the Chinese outbound market would recover to around 6 million per month by the summer of 2023, driven partly by the pent-up demand, especially from young, affluent Chinese.
“However, that rebound wasn’t as great as many tourism professionals had expected. Analysts are confident that this year, Chinese visitor numbers could double year-on-year, with major destinations in the Middle East recovering quicker than any other internationally, especially for luxury travel.
“That sentiment has also been borne out by the latest 2024 Chinese New Year spending data. According to Chinese payment platform Alipay, Chinese overseas transactions were 7% higher than recorded in 2019.
“The most popular Middle East destinations include Dubai, Saudi’s AlUla, Egypt and Jordan — Dubai alone welcomed more than 1 million Chinese visitors in 2019,” said Curtis.
Chinese participation at ATM 2024 is expected to more than double compared with ATM 2019, with new exhibitors that include private sector companies such as Heytrip International, Jiangsu Intelligence Equipment Co, Flightroutes24 Travel Company Ltd, Feeyo Technology and anticipated destination representation from Macao Government Tourism Office, China Cultural Centre in the UAE and the Hongkong Tourism Board.
ATM is also organising a dedicated conference session on this key market in its Global Stage, entitled ‘Capitalising on China’s Predicted Tourism Surge’, in association with Huawei. This session, which takes place on Monday, 6 May, from 1510 to 1550, will explore the changing trends, cultural preferences and the role of mobile marketing and tourism predictions in the Chinese tourism market.
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 March 2024: MATTA Fair March 2024 unveils its Sustainable Tourism booth on the foyer Level 1 at MITEC Kuala Lumpur, highlighting innovative initiatives fostering sustainable practices in the tourism industry.
Central to this endeavour is the launch of the Green Circle Initiative, a collaborative effort involving key stakeholders from various sectors, including Climate Governance Malaysia, MAG, RHB, MDEC, government agencies at both federal and state levels, MAH, MACEOS, and MATTA members. This initiative aims to empower local tourism stakeholders with the necessary tools and resources to advance sustainability goals, raise awareness among industry stakeholders and the public, contribute to policy-making, and support the industry through various CSR programs.
From left to right standing:Lau Ching Fong – Acting Director of Perak State Parks Corporation, Cik Nurmalis – CEO of Tourism Perak, Nigel Wong – MATTA President, Datuk Ada Poon – Group MD of Amleisure Group, Pn Khuzaimah Binti Jamaluddin – Promotion Manager of Tourism Selangor, Asst Prof Norzalifa – Founder of Jungle School Gombak.
In addition to the Green Circle initiative, MATTA collaborates with British wildlife artist Rachel Gray, AmLeisure Group, Tourism Perak, and Tourism Selangor to implement projects geared towards conserving natural assets and enhancing local community livelihoods. Through these partnerships, MATTA is committed to developing more sustainable ways of conserving our natural environment while improving local communities’ well-being.
“We are thrilled to showcase our Sustainable Tourism initiatives at MATTA Fair March 2024,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong. “By collaborating with industry partners and stakeholders, we aim to drive positive change within the tourism sector and contribute to a more sustainable future for our nation.”
In Perak, MATTA is working with Perak State Parks Corporation at Royal Belum State Park. It is the second largest Protected Area in Peninsular Malaysia and a biodiversity hotspot with many iconic wildlife, including the Malayan tiger.
“The critically endangered Malayan tiger is the focus species in our conservation efforts, a commitment demonstrated through the achievement of Conservation Assured—Tiger Standards accreditation last year. About 1,000 Jahai indigenous people live in the park. Apart from research and protection, local community and tourism are integral components in conserving tigers holistically. Through cooperation with MATTA, we hope to bridge local community, tourism, and conservation in protecting our natural heritage,” said Lau Ching Fong, the Acting Director of Perak State Parks Corporation.
“Tourism Selangor is committed to sustainable tourism at MATTA Fair 2024. Join us to learn about initiatives like the Jungle School Gombak, which are empowering Indigenous communities and promoting rainforest sustainability. Discover our community-based tourism efforts at MATTA Fair 2024, including the Selangor Community Hosts Programme. With 22 hosts appointed across nine districts since 2018, we’re boosting local engagement and economic growth,” said Tourism Selangor promotion manager Khuzaimah Jamaluddin
She added: “Tourism Selangor aims for UNESCO recognition by 2027 as the Gombak Hulu Langat Geopark’s management body. With 31 geoparks listed, we’re dedicated to preserving natural heritage and promoting sustainable tourism. Also, Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam, known for their agrotourism segmentation and luscious paddy fields, will also be the main attractions at the MATTA Fair this time.”
Visitors to the Sustainable Tourism booth can expect to learn about the various projects and initiatives spearheaded by MATTA and its partners and engage in interactive activities and discussions to promote sustainability within the tourism industry.
They will also get to purchase limited edition tee shirts with Rachel’s artwork, which will go towards funding sustainable tourism initiatives in the states of Perak and Selangor.
The MATTA Fair offers free admission and is open from 1000 to 2100 for three days, from Friday, 22 March 2024, to Sunday, 24 March 2024. MATTA provides a complimentary roundtrip shuttle to MITEC from KL Sentral and Sunway Putra Mall.
At this MATTA Fair, MATTA, together with MITEC, prioritises the convenience of Muslim visitors and exhibitors by offering dedicated F&B facilities and services for “berbuka puasa” at various locations throughout the venue and dedicated prayer halls in Hall 5. Muslim visitors to the Fair can rest assured that their needs are met during Ramadhan.
For the latest information updates, visit the MATTA Fair’s website and social media platforms on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or subscribe to the new Telegram channels @MATTA_Fair.
