KUCHING: The 19th Sarawak MATTA Travel Fair 2024 from March 8-10 aims to attract 13,000 visitors with targeted sales exceeding RM7 million.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said this would help Sarawak to achieve the target of 4 million visitors by end of this year.
“Having achieved an increase of 72 per cent visitor arrival last year, our target this year is highly achievable with the tourism sector going full speed ahead to its pre-pandemic levels.
“This is made even stronger with the many business events and major events being held here in Sarawak,” he said after officiating at the opening of the 19th Sarawak MATTA Travel Fair 2024 held at The Hills Shopping Mall here today.
He said the MATTA Fair has consistently driven growth and prosperity, both domestically and globally, within the travel and tour industry.
“This event is a high-impact platform for securing investment opportunities for industry players while showcasing the best travel deals to the public.
“Aligned with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, it will provide global exposure and business opportunities for the state in this era of travel innovations and technological advancements,” he added.
Meanwhile, MATTA chairman Oscar Choo said the fair features 71 booths ranging from travel agencies, airlines, and tour operators, is offering promotions for both domestic and international travel packages which will stimulate growth in the travel and local industries.
Choo said the fair will serve as a one-stop platform for consumers to select holiday destinations confidently, benefiting from packages offered by licensed tour operators.
“Our objective is to give consumers a peace of mind knowing that they are in good hands and their money well invested in a holiday handled by experienced tour operators,” he said.
The fair will feature Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) as the official airline, providing flight tickets for the Buyers’ Contest, including prizes such as from Kuching to Beijing, Seoul, and Penang.
SCOOT Airline will also sponsor two return tickets from Kuching to Singapore, along with other sponsors such as Borneo Happy Farm, Hotels and Resorts under Hemisphere, Pullman Kuching, Riverside Majestic, Royal Kuching, and Sarawak River Cruises.
The previous edition of MATTA Fair Sarawak set a sales record of RM6 million over two days.
Also present were Tourism Malaysia Sarawak director Nurul Ain Muhammed Yunus, Business Events Sarawak CEO Amelia Roziman, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC) Sarawak director Debbie Jenggut Nyelang, and MATTA CEO Phua Tai Neng.
