The travel bug was strong at the 53rd MATTA Fair,
which took place over the weekend at Malaysia International Trade &
Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur. With over 180,000 enthusiastic
travellers, the fair featured 1,367 exhibition booths, representing
national tourism organisations, state tourism offices, hotels, theme
parks, and airlines.
MATTA’s new president Nigel Wong,
during his opening speech, unveiled a new sustainable initiative that
will be announced at the World Travel Market (WTM) in November. He
shared, “The proceeds from this initiative will be dedicated to
supporting local tourism communities through training, funding, and the
development of grassroots tourism. This initiative serves as a testament
to our commitment to fostering the thriving growth of Malaysia's
tourism industry.”
Elsewhere, the MATTA Fair also provided a glimpse of the upcoming
travel trends Malaysians are likely to embrace as they wind down the
year.
China’s resurgence
A resounding theme echoed throughout the weekend affair – the revival
of China as a sought-after destination. After an extended hiatus due to
pandemic restrictions, China has thrown open its gates to international
visitors and Malaysians are coming in droves.
Yu Hang, marketing manager at Parlo Tours, remarked, “We’ve witnessed
a substantial demand for China, particularly in destinations boasting
breathtaking scenery. Zhangjiajie, renowned for its Avatar-like
landscapes, and the Silk Road have particularly captivated travellers.
In fact, our Silk Road packages sold out even before the fair
commenced.”
In search of novelty
Malaysians are no longer contented with standard travel experiences, opting instead for value and uniqueness.
Mohd Helmi, product manager at Tripfez explained, “We see that
travellers want to maximise their adventures without stretching their
budgets to the limit. What we’ve done with one of our packages, for
example, is to take them from London to Amsterdam on an overnight cruise
as an alternative to conventional flights or even the ferry.”
He said that guests appreciate the effort made to curate a bespoke
itinerary, no matter how small. “At the end of the day, they want a
journey that leaves a lasting impression,” he concluded.
Chartering to the demand
A significant trend observed among Malaysian travellers is the
growing demand for chartered flights, specifically targeting popular
destinations like Japan and China.
YJ Chong, head of west at Apple Vacations, elaborated, “In response
to the escalating travel demand, especially during the December school
holidays, we've turned to chartered flights as a solution. This approach
proves exceptionally convenient for travellers venturing to
destinations like Japan and China, especially for Chinese cities that
offer visa-on-arrival. It streamlines the travel process and helps us to
provide a smoother, hassle-free experience.”
Spontaneity in travel choices
Another intriguing trend observed in Malaysian travel habits is the unpredictability of destination choices.
Mohd Helmi explained, “Travellers are displaying greater spontaneity
in selecting their destinations, making it increasingly challenging for
travel agents to predict the places and experiences that they prefer.”
In the previous MATTA fair pre-pandemic, he noted the popularity of
destinations like South Korea, Japan, and Turkiye during school
holidays. “However, this is no longer the case. Today it can be China,
but there is also interest in Europe. What we do as travel agents is to
be adaptable and offer as much exciting and enticing adventures that
meet their evolving preferences.”