Matta celebrates CNY with tourism players

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) held a Chinese New Year celebration on Feb 21 at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur with over 300 members and guests from the tourism industry.

The event was graced by Transport Minister and attended by many industry leaders from the tourism industry such as Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Tourism Malaysia, delegates from foreign embassies and international tourism agencies, airlines, hoteliers and media.

Matta president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said they were grateful with the Minister of Transport for addressing the issues of the travel and tour industry particularly on mounting extra flights for airlines during the Chinese New Year and the upcoming Hari Raya holiday period to allow Malaysians to go back to their hometown and celebrate with family and lovedones.

“The mounting of extra flights has resulted in more affordable and best value air fares for travelers during peak festive period particularly between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.

“The additional volume of flights aimed to cater to the surge in demand for air travel during peak festive period has benefited the growth of domestic tourism,” he said.

Tan said the land, air and sea transportation plays a crucial role in ensuring growth of tourist arrivals and a competitive tourism sector.

He said Matta is looking forward to work closely with the Ministry of Transport to facilitate the growth of the domestic tourism industry by taking measures to resolve touting issues at airports as well as operational issues raised by the industry.