By V. Sivaji
The highly anticipated MATTA Fair Penang 2026 kicked off at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) with eager buyers and holidaymakers waiting to book their next holiday destination.
With more than 320 booths offering local and international holiday destinations The showcase is among the biggest fairs in the Northern region.
Present to launch the opening ceremony was Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai. He was accompanied by Penang MATTA chairperson Ms Carolyn Leong and national MATTA president Nigel Wong
Also present was a host of VIP guests, namely the Consul General of China in Penang, Mr Zhou Youbin, Consul General of Thailand in Penang Mr Psusist Wongsurawat, MOTAC Penang Director Dr Annuar Mohamed, Tourism Malaysia Northern Region Director Abdul Hadi Che Man, MAH Penang Chairman Dato Tony Goh, Penang Global Tourism (PGT) CEO, Ooi Chok Yan, among others.
Buyers who spend a minimum of RM100 stand to win lucky draw prizes worth RM100,000. Among the top prizes include air tickets to Paris, Brisbane, Narita, Chengdu, Incheon,Maldives and Taipei.
In his opening address Wong shared his honour to represent the Penang State Government in extending a warm welcome and sincere greeting to all of you who are present at the “MATTA Fair Penang 2026”.
“As one of the largest and most highly anticipated annual tourism events in the Northern Region, this year’s fair once again takes place in a vibrant and impressive manner. For many years, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has played a pivotal role as a key platform, bringing together tourism players, industry leaders, and travellers from all walks of life under one roof. It serves as a space for exchange and collaboration, promoting a wide range of tourism products while also advancing the spirit of exploration and travel across the world.
“The event has been relocated to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, a venue that is more advanced and fully compliant with international standards.
“Against the backdrop of current global developments, uncertainty in the West Asian region continues to reshape global tourism patterns. Travellers are becoming more cautious in planning long-haul journeys, increasingly preferring destinations that are safer, more stable, and well-connected. In this context, regional and short-haul travel has seen a notable rise and has become an important trend in the tourism industry.
“In view of this, tourism markets in Penang, Southeast Asia, and East Asia are all well-positioned to benefit from these developments,” said Wong.
He also welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to extend the “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” campaign until the end of 2027.
“In terms of air connectivity, Penang has continued to expand its network steadily and strategically. In 2026 alone, several new direct routes to China have been successfully launched, including Qingdao in Shandong and Chongqing in Sichuan. In addition, key routes to Shanghai and Guangzhou have been further strengthened with increased flight frequency. Notably, the charter service between Kunming and Penang, which commenced in late October 2025, has been increased to 3 flights per week as of March 2026, further enhancing Penang’s connectivity with China’s inland regions,” shared Wong.
Meanwhile Leong thanked sponsors and supporters namely Malaysia Aviation Group and RHB Bank for making the fair successful.
“Do take part in the lucky draw to win attraction air ticket prizes when you buy for a minimum of RM100 only. We are also proud to have Muslim-friendly travel providers as well as Chinese and Indian market specialists,” she said.
Wong in turn congratulated MATTA Penang for hosting the event in the new venue.
“Every exhibitor here is licensed, experienced and part of a professional network that is committed to upholding industry standards,” he added.
VIP guests later toured the various booths to take a first hand look at the packages on offer.