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MATTA Fair March sales up 2.4percent

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Published on Friday, 23 March 2018 16:13
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The Malaysian Reserve, Malaysia

The recently concluded Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair 2018 recorded a n estimated total sales transaction of RM210 million, a 2.4% increase compared to RM205 million generated in the previous edition last September.

In a statement yesterday, MATTA president Dato Tan Kok Liang said the event, which was held from March 16 to 18, saw an increase in visitors from 104,000 last year to 110,000 this year. He said u p to 1,353 booths were taken up by 254 organisations in the event. Tan said 175 booths were taken by travel and tour agencies, 14 by national tourism offices, 14 from State Tourism Boards and 20 booths from hotels and resorts.  

"Visitors turnouts were very good with the highest number in the history of MATTA Fair since 1991, despite campaigns by a certain industry player aimed to customers to skip the long queues and to purchase online," he said.

Based on its visitor numbers track record, he said consumers prefer to buy holiday package at the fair instead of doing it online.

"This is due to the uniqueness of MATTA Fair as consumers will have the very best bargains with physical customer services by travel consultants.

" This year, the event also partnered the country's national carrier, Malaysia Airlines Bhd, which resulted to provide better holiday packages for domestic destinations. 

"It has allowed us to provide consumers wit h attractive value-for money holiday packages with 246 booths promoting exciting domestic tourism destinations throughout Malaysia," he added.  

One of the sub-events were held during the fair was MATTA Fair Buyers Contest. Based on the summary report of the contest, Tan said it showed that the most popular local destinations chosen were Negri Sembilan followed by Selangor, Johor, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur.

For international destinations, were Japan, China , South Korea, the UK and Turkey," Tan said. The fair's Umrah Pavilion section recorded the largest participation's since it was first introduced in 2015.