MATTA Fair 2018 treads untouched waters for both local and overseas vacations

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Published on Tuesday, 20 March 2018 09:50

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The Malaysian Reserve 

 

WHILE a recent study by travel booking site Expedia claimed that Malaysians are the third-most vacation deprived population globally and ranked second in the Asia Pacific, the MATTA Fair 2018 that was held over last weekend might have painted a different picture. 

The 45th edition of the biennial travel expo, which ended on March 18, received more than 110,000 visitors with a total sales transaction of some RM210 million.

Regarded as the largest travel fair in Malaysia by the number of participants, the travel fair hosted 1,353 exhibition booths occupying seven halls in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur, consisting of 175 travel agencies, 14 national tou-rism organisations and 14 state boards

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) CEO Phua Tai Neng said that despite the tendencies among Malaysians to choose international destinations as their vacation spots, domestic travel is still strong on the agenda among exhibitors.

"On average, the purchas e for domestic travels make up 35% of the total transactions as each visitor would usually come with an ideal destination in mind," he said.

Since Malaysians like to go to cold climate countries for a different experience,Japan and Korea are still the top two destinations amongholiday-goers.

Phua said exhibitors of domestic travel market are enjoying equal attention even if their statistics are not as good.

Travel business is also doing good generally in the country as Malaysians enjoy 18 days of public holidays (in addition to an average of another 18 days of annual leave).

The high frequency of flights operated by local airlines has also enabled domestic travellers to go for shorter vacations.

This year, the MATTA Fair allocated two main halls for tour agents and local hotels and resorts to attract Malaysians vacationing in the country.

For instance, the Borneo pavilion included packages and tours for "Maldives-like beaches" in Semporna and "New Zealand's scenery" in Kundasang, which are both in Sabah.

The agencies from this state offered tours to the lesser-known islands, yet blessed with white-sandy beaches.

New locations like Mantabuan Island, Sibuan Island and Kapalai Island were offered at as low as RM150 per person.

Sabah was also "sold" as a scuba diving haven with its world-standard coral reefs for a lower fee.

Visitor Mohd Azlee Mohd Nor, 31, said the scuba diving courses available in Sabah are generally 30% less expensive than courses in Peninsular Malaysia.

"You can get certified in Sabah waters at much cheaper prices, but with the same training s we have in, say, Tioman or Redang Island," he said. Meanwhile, retreat choices such as Mangala Resort and Spa in Pahang, the Berjaya Hotels and Resorts chain and The Haven Resort Hotel in Perak have been the domestic anchor tenants at the MATTA, attracting droves of prospective customers.

The Haven, a secluded resort surrounded by the greens and woods in Ipoh, Perak, offered a package that was as low as RM160 per person for a two-day stay at its lake-view family suite.

Berjaya also offered rooms and packages ranged between RM150 and RM600 for its chain of hotels in six locations around Malaysia.

Sticking to Asian Destinations

While the domestic halls were occupied by individual hotels and theme parks, the international booths were taken up by travel agencies that were promoting the participating countries, with Japan and Korea being the main two attractions.

According to Phua, Japan was also named "Asia's Favourite Destination" during MATTA Fair 2018.

Apart from promoting tourist attractions in Tokyo and the cherry blossom spots in Kyoto, Japan National Tourism Organisation regional office  Chiemi Maruyama said Japan is promoting its lesser known locations such as the Wakayama and Okinawa prefectures.

"The are many prefectures that are equally interesting than what Japan is known for. Malaysians can learn more about the culture and heritage by going to the travel destinations that are untouched by tourists.

"One of the favourite destinations for summe r vacation is Okinawa Island. Many people will be surprised by the temperate climate that it offers," she said.

Travel agency Apple Vacations & Conventions Sdn Bhd senior operations officer Vincci Choong said Hokkaido, the northern most region in Japan, seemed to be the preferred getaway for the Land of the Rising Sun in summer and winter.

"We'd receive most requests for the Hokkaido trips and have been chartering the entire Malaysia Airlines Bhd's flights to Hokkaido in December, which are around five flights, consisting of 280 people per trip," she said.

Choong said the lavender season in Hokkaido is between late June and July and attracts visitors for summer Vacation.

"The lavender fields stay blossomed for more than a month, unlike the cherry blossom season that lasts less than a week at several spots," she said. 

Meanwhile, the phenomenal influx of Korean culture in Malaysia has placed South Korea as one of the golden destinations for Malaysians.

A South Korean graduate himself, Amma r Shahrin, the COO for Arba Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, said that destinations such as Seoul and Jeju have been gaining tractions as holiday destinations since the agency started in 2014.

"Our departure s to Seoul have reached 120 trips per year and the city has been our most traveled city.

That mirrors the gaining interest in our customer base for South Korea's travels," he said.

He said the direct flight connectivity by low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd also helps the local agency to provide more packages to South Korea.