By V. Sivaji
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Penang Chapter will hold its travel fair at the PWCC from April 25 to 26, 2026.
Present to announce details of the annual gathering was Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai along with MATTA Penang chapter chairman Ms Carolyn Leong and her committee.
Lending support was Dr Annuar Mohamed MOTAC Penang Director, Penang Global Tourism (PGT) CEO, Ooi Chok Yan, David Ooi, RHB Reg Sales Head, Deposits, Pn Zuraidah Abu Bakar, Tourism Malaysia, Deputy Director, Mr Dominic Oh, KinMalaysia Management Sdn Bhd, (Venue Operator of Penang Waterfront Convention Centre), Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director among other industry players.
In his opening address, Wong said that The MATTA Fair has long been a cornerstone of Malaysia’s travel industry, connecting consumers, industry players, and global partners. In 2026, this platform takes on an even greater role — not just as a travel fair, but as a national catalyst for tourism growth, economic recovery, and international engagement.
“This year marks a defining chapter for Malaysia’s tourism sector. Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is more than a campaign — it is a strategic national effort to increase international arrivals, strengthen domestic tourism, and showcase Malaysia’s rich diversity, culture, and experiences to the world. Penang plays a critical role in this vision, added Wong.
He also said that tourism today is no longer just about destinations, it is about experiences.
“We are witnessing strong growth in areas such as sports tourism, culinary tourism, eco-tourism, and medical tourism. These segments not only attract new visitor profiles but also encourage longer stays and higher spending,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leong shared that the fair has been sold out with 320 booths made up of local and international players.
“Among the supporters this year are LADA, Johor Tourism, Taiwan Tourism among others. There are attractive lucky draws offering a total of RM100,000 in prizes. We expect some 50,000 visitors from the Northern Region and expect a total sales turnover of RM30 million,” added Leong. adding that the official airlines of the fair are Malaysia Airlines and Firefly..
She also urged everyone to come support the fair as there are ample car park bays and dining facilities at the PWCC.
