MATTA eyeing RM30 mln sales turnover from Penang fair

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is eyeing RM30 million in sales turnover for the upcoming MATTA Fair to be held from Sept 28 to 30 at Setia SPICE Arena here.

MATTA immediate past president Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said due to the overwhelming success of the previous MATTA Fair early this year, the association has decided to shift the venue from Straits Quay Convention Centre to Setia SPICE Arena in order to accommodate more exhibition booths.

He said there will be about 50 more exhibition booths compared to the previous fair and the association is eyeing a greater sales turnover during the Fair, which opens from 10am until 9pm with free admission.

“The sales turnover from the previous fair has shown an increasing trend, and we believe with more exhibitors, a 50 per cent increase in sales turnover is possible to achieve,” he told reporters here yesterday.

He said the sales turnover from the previous Penang MATTA Fair has increased from RM17 million in 2017 to RM20 million early this year.

“Currently about 186 exhibition booths have been taken up by 63 travel companies and tourism organisations at a bigger exhibition venue,” he said.

He added that over 30,000 visitors are expected at the Fair, where a daily lucky draw offers visitors a chance to win tickets to Bangkok, Hanoi and Melbourne including hotel accommodation.

This year’s fair comprises 63 participants, including 37 tour and travel agents, two local state government tourist offices, a national tourism office, 13 representatives from the hotel, resort and theme park category, five banks and five other businesses.

However, Hamzah said Penang is also planning to host one of the largest MATTA Fairs on April 5 to 7 next year.

He said the association has already booked Setia SPICE Arena for the fair, which will feature 350 exhibitions booths. — Bernama