Matta fair to attract 19,000 visitors

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) is expecting about 19,000 visitors during its three-day fair from Oct 13.
Matta Honorary Secretary General Nigel Wong said the association targets RM18 million in sales with its value for money domestic and international packages.
He said among the highlights of the fair would be an igloo house designed and contributed by one of the exhibitors.
"The exhibitor wants the public to be able to experience what it is like to be in an igloo house in Norway," he told a press conference at the Straits Quay Convention Centre today.
The annual fair this time will be held from Oct 13 to 15 at the Straits Quay Convention Centre, and the admission is free and open to the public from 10am to 9pm.
A total of 133 companies and travel agencies will participate in the event with more than 100 booths.
Meanwhile, Matta CEO Phua Tai Neng said visitors during the event stand the chance to win prizes worth more than RM20,000 from air tickets, hotel vouchers, theme park entrance tickets, and MPay Matta Debit Mastercards pre-loaded with RM1,000.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry remains a big revenue earner for Johor, said Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association Johor Chapter chairman Kelvin Ang Kwee Loy.
"Some 15 travel agencies in Johor secured travel package sales of RM13 million at the MITM Travel Fair 2017 (Malaysia International Travel Mart) which was held from Aug 25-27 at Sutera Mall in Skudai, near here," Ang said during the fair's lucky draw ceremony today.
Some 106,000 visitors thronged the 20 over stalls at the event, including government travel agencies from China, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, and Singapore.
Europe was the top destination for local tourists, followed by China, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
On another issue, Ang cautioned consumers against extraordinary cheap prices of overseas travel packages offered on the internet.
He said customers can go to Tourism Malaysia or Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association websites to check the status of these companies.