Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment fully supports the second Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair Sabah as proposed by Matta Sabah Chapter due to popular demand, says Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Matta Sabah Chapter’s newly-elected Chairman Christina Wahida Kong briefed the Minister on the second edition of Matta Fair Sabah to be held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) from Oct 13 to 15 during a courtesy call on Friday.
She extended the Sabah Chapter’s invitation to Liew to officiate at the Matta Fair Sabah on Oct 14.
Kong said the Sabah Chapter received many calls to organise the Fair again for the benefit of members and outbound travellers as it is rated as the biggest consumer travel fair.
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“As it is, airlines also need outgoing tourists to sustain their operations. Our members are eager to create packages to fill up the seats. The best platform to sell tour and travel packages to overseas destinations will be Matta Fair as it generates instant investments into Sabah,” the new Chairman said.
Matta Sabah Chapter’s Immediate Past Chairman Lawrence Chin said the motivation to organise the second edition stemmed from the chapter’s resounding success in its first edition of the Matta Sabah Fair in May this year.
“We achieved a sales turnover of over RM25 million. The event attracted more than 15,000 visitors over three days,” he told the Minister.
Liew advised the new executive committee to continue engagement with STB and airline companies in organising the second Matta Sabah Fair.
“It’s a good idea, and the right time. Go for it to grow your business. We (Ministry) will give you full support within our capacity. “Get as many tour and travel agents (including non-members of Matta Sabah Chapter) as well as those from the Peninsula and Sarawak to participate for maximum returns,” she said.
The Minister emphasised the need to strike a balance between inbound and outbound tourism to avoid a situation of half full return flights, while suggesting cheaper or discounted airfares as an incentive to potential travellers from Sabah who may plan to visit China, for example.
“You will do well if you cash in on the school vacation and year-end holidays (until the New Year) by offering incentives,” she told the delegation.
Meanwhile, Kong introduced Sabah Chapter’s new line-up for 2023-2025, and enlightened Liew on her vision and mission, which includes promotional roadshows (Business-to-Business or B2B and Business-to-Consumer or B2C) for international tourism targeting countries like Australia, Middle East, Central Asia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei, and for domestic tourism targeted at Kedah/Langkawi, Johor, Penang, Sarawak and Labuan.
“Right now, Matta Sabah is facilitating members’ participation in the National Matta Fair in Kuala Lumpur from September 1-3. We appeal to the Minister to consider providing direct assistance to members to bring in more tourists to Sabah,” Kong added.
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