KUALA LUMPUR, 14 March 2025: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) designates Kedah as “Malaysia’s Favourite Destination” at the upcoming MATTA Fair, taking place from 18 to 20 April 2025, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.

Kedah is famed for the emerald-green paddy fields of Kampung Sungai Pau, the breathtaking peaks of Gunung Jerai, and the holiday island of Langkawi. These attractions and many more will be in the spotlight at the 56th edition of the MATTA Fair.

With an expected footfall of over 210,000 visitors, the MATTA Fair in April 2025 provides a highly powerful promotional platform for Kedah to highlight its distinctive products and attract both domestic and international travellers. 

Whether visitors plan a nostalgic ‘balik kampung’ trip or explore Kedah during the holidays, they can look forward to amazing travel deals at this MATTA Fair in April 2025. 

“MATTA Fair continues to grow as Malaysia’s Largest International Travel Fair, providing great opportunities for the industry and our MATTA members,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong.

It is crucial to highlight destinations like Kedah, which hold immense tourism potential. Recognising Kedah as our Favourite Destination reflects MATTA’s commitment to supporting our Kedah members and other tourism industry stakeholders and ensuring that both industry players and visitors benefit from meaningful connection and experiences at MATTA Fair April 2025.” 

“This recognition honours the state of Kedah’s tourism endeavours as we dive into the “Visit Kedah 2025” campaign. We have successfully scheduled 170 events throughout the year, including 45 major events across the state, through its theme “Experience Kedah”, Wong explained. 

MATTA efforts are showing positive results, with Kedah recording a steady increase in tourist arrivals. Langkawi alone welcomed 300,000 visitors in January 2025, compared to 250,000 in the same period last year. 

Hotel bookings have also improved significantly, with occupancy rates at MAH-registered hotels in Langkawi rising from 58.1% in January 2024 to 68.3% in January this year,” said Dato’ Haji Mohd Salleh Saidin, Chairman of Kedah State Tourism Culture and Entrepreneurship.

Additionally, MATTA is excited to announce its new outbound business-to-business (B2B) event, MATTA Connect. This event provides sellers from many countries a good opportunity to connect with local buyers/travel agents to explore new international destinations and establish new business partnerships. MATTA Connect will convene on 17 April 2025 at MITEC, the day before the MATTA Fair opens.

To ensure a smooth visitor experience, MATTA Fair offers free admission and is open from 1000  to 2100 from Friday to Sunday. 

For latest updates, visit MATTA Fair website and socials — Facebook, X and Tik Tok, or subscribe to MATTA’s new Instagram page @mattafair.official and Telegram channel @MATTA_Fair.

PENANG, Malaysia, 13 March 2025: Business events in Penang boosted the state’s economy by a record MYR1.29 billion, the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) confirmed in a presentation of the Business Events Penang 2024 Annual Review held in George Town on Tuesday. 

The event was presided over by the Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Chow Kon Yeow, the Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy (PETACE), YB Wong Hon Wai, and the Chief Executive Officer of PCEB, Ashwin Gunasekeran. Together, they provided insights into Penang’s thriving Business Events landscape and the state’s progress during 2024 to an audience of travel and hospitality executives.

The Business Events Penang 2024 Annual Review showcased a year of “exceptional growth”, reinforcing Penang’s position as a leading destination for business events. In 2024, the state successfully hosted 2,059 events, representing a substantial 240.9% increase compared to the previous year. These events attracted 305,259 delegates, marking an 87.3% rise, while the room nights generated reached 558,543, reflecting a steady 3.6% increase.

Most notably, the estimated economic impact (EEI) soared to MYR1.29 billion, a remarkable 24.8% increase from 2023. These achievements underscore the strength of Penang’s infrastructure, strategic initiatives, and PCEB’s continuous efforts to position the state as a premier destination for conferences, exhibitions, and corporate gatherings.

At the annual review presentation, YAB Chow Kon Yeow commended the industry’s outstanding performance and highlighted its economic significance. 

“The Business Events sector has demonstrated resilience and played a crucial role in driving Penang’s economic growth. The MYR1.29 billion impact underscores the vast opportunities that business events bring, contributing significantly to tourism, trade, and investment,” he stated.

YB Wong Hon Wai emphasised the role of strategic partnerships and government support in facilitating this remarkable progress. “These achievements reaffirm Penang’s reputation as a premier Business Events destination in Asia. As we look ahead, we will continue to strengthen our offerings, attract high-impact events, and expand our industry collaborations to enhance Penang’s appeal further”.

PCEB CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran outlined the bureau’s vision to exceed the 2024 benchmarks by focusing on deeper industry engagement, targeted promotional efforts, and enhanced incentives. 

“Our goal is to sustain and accelerate this growth by leveraging our extensive industry network, embracing digital advancements,

and continuously elevating the quality of events hosted in Penang. The rising number of business events has led to greater economic opportunities, increased employment, and a strengthened global presence for Penang,” he remarked.