By V. Sivaji
All is set to go for this year’s edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair to be held at the Setia SPICE Arena here from May 24 to 25, 2025
A final press conference was held at the St Giles Wembley Hotel earlier today to announce the final details of the event.
Present was State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai accompanied by MATTA national president Nigel Wong, MATTA Penang Chapter chairman Ms Carolyn Leong, organising chairman Datuk Hamzah Rahmat among others.
This year, more than 270 booths will offer packages for more local destinations in view of the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Buyers of the local or foreign travel packages also stand a chance to win lucky draw prizes too.
Among them are destinations like Paris, Sydney, Seoul, Trivandrum and others destinations.
“This year we are also promoting sports tourism via the Matta Malaysia Pickleball Grand Slam to be held in Kuching offering RM100,000 worth of prizes. We are laying the groundwork to welcome the world to our shores,” said Nigel Wong.
Meanwhile, Wong Hon Wai said that It gives him great pleasure to be present as we gear up for one of Malaysia’s most anticipated travel and tourism showcases — the MATTA Fair Penang 2025.
“As of this year, Penang International Airport records 320 weekly international flights, surpassing the 284 flights recorded in February 2019, just before the pandemic began. If we look further back to February 2016, when there were only 208 international flights per week, the
growth is an astounding 54%, a testament to Penang’s rising connectivity and international appeal.
“According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), in 2024, Penang International Airport will become the second busiest airport in Malaysia, just behind KLIA. This milestone speaks volumes about Penang’s resilience, strategic planning, and increasing importance in the national tourism landscape,” he said.