The 2023 MATTA FAIR at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will make its grand debut from March 17 to 19 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

Taiwan has been designated as the only “Asia Featured Destination” by MATTA, and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau will team up with tourism ambassador, a Muslim female celebrity, Ayda Jebat, to promote Taiwan’s beautiful scenery, delicious cuisine, and friendly people to the Malaysian public.

Globe Traveler, a US-based travel magazine, honored Taiwan with the “Best Leisure Travel Destination in Asia” for the fifth time at the 2022 Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

Booking.com, a popular travel accommodation platform, announced the world’s top travel destinations for 2022, and Taiwan made it to the list. The Director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau Chou Shih Pi said, “Although Taiwan only opened its borders in October 2022, the total number of Malaysian visitors to Taiwan in 2022 had reached a total of 60,742 people, making Malaysia the most significant source of visitors to Taiwan in Southeast Asia. In order to attract more Malaysian tourists to Taiwan, the Taiwan Tourism Promotion Delegation consisting a total of 34 units and 64 members from various tourism-related industries, including county and city authorities, public associations, travel agencies, hotel industry, theme parks, and souvenir shops, has come to promote Taiwan’s latest tourism resources.”

After the pandemic, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, in collaboration with the trend of low-carbon travel, encouraged Malaysian tourists to experience the charm of Taiwan’s railway tourism. Besides the high-speed rail from Taipei to Kaohsiung, Taiwan Railways has further launched sightseeing trains such as Future Express, Future Express Kitchen, and Breezy Blue. Furthermore, there are diverse-themed tourist branch lines such as the Pingxi Line, Neiwan Line, Jiji Line, and the Alishan Line, which allow visitors to experience local life from different perspectives, making it ideal for Malaysian friends to explore the local area in depth. Moreover, there are many well-known large-scale festival activities to be recommended to Malaysians, including the “Taiwan International Balloon Festival” and the “Taiwan Cycling Festival”, which are held from June to August and June to December every year respectively. The flower-viewing festivals that showcase Taiwan’s floral beauty throughout the year are equally worth participating in.

As the Muslim tourism market continues to grow, Taiwan is stepping up efforts to improve its environment for Muslim travelers. According to the Mastercard CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2022, Taiwan maintained its second-place position among non-OIC destinations, just after Singapore! According to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), Taiwan is known for its exceptional performance in several areas, such as transportation, social security, and religious freedom. Additionally, the country is praised for its welcoming and respectful treatment of Muslim tourism resources. As a result, Taiwan is recognized as the “Inclusive Destination of The Year (non-OIC)” at the “Halal in Travel Awards 2022”. To attract more Muslim travelers to experience the beauty of Taiwan, Taiwan has continuously been improving its Muslim-friendly reception environment during the pandemic. Major transportation hubs and 13

national scenic areas have been equipped with facilities that cater to Muslim travelers’ needs. Additionally, more than 342 restaurants and hotels have obtained halal certification. A special halal zone will be set up at the Taiwan Pavilion, and 10 Muslim travel agencies will be invited to sell Taiwan’s halal travel packages within this zone, with the aim to increase the Muslim travelers’ confidence in Taiwan’s travel industry.

Furthermore, Taiwan’s tourism ambassador, a Muslim female celebrity, Ayda Jebat, will make an appearance at the Taiwan Pavilion on the afternoon of March 18, to share interesting stories about her recent trip to Taiwan with her husband!

During the travel fair, the Taiwan Pavilion (booth number: 2G01-2H16) will offer a variety of exciting activities and events, including: “FunTo Art” that combines traditional Taiwanese dance with modern elements to create a new form of artistic expression.

Visitors can also experience a variety of DIY activities, such as making citrus essential oil cleaners and decorating cookie dough with the shape of Taiwan. While having fun, they can also enjoy Taiwan-style fancy cotton candy in a variety of shapes and flavors.

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau cordially invites exhibition visitors to the Taiwan Pavilion to learn about the latest tourism products and experience the unique activities offered.

Visitors who purchase Taiwan tourism products at the travel fair can redeem limited-edition exquisite gifts at the Taiwan Pavilion.