The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) recently
held its 48th Annual General Meeting, during which Nigel Wong was
elected as the new president for a two-year term, succeeding Tan Kok
Liang, who served three full terms.
Wong brings with him a wealth of experience, having been a part of
the MATTA Executive Council for over a decade, holding various key
positions in the organisation.
Having served as the vice president for research and technology,
honorary secretary general, and most recently as honorary treasurer,
Wong is well-versed with the intricacies of the travel and tourism
industry. Speaking about his new role, Wong expressed his commitment
towards the members of MATTA.
"Our key objectives have not changed; we will look into improving
business prospects for our members, fostering innovation, and advocating
for more favourable conditions that will benefit not just our members
but the travel and tourism industry as a whole,” Wong said.
Acknowledging the efforts of his predecessors and the strong
foundations they have built, Wong aims to continue building upon these
foundations while developing new initiatives and programmes focusing on
growth and sustainability. He envisions MATTA and its members to remain
competitive in the ever-changing tourism landscape.
In an exclusive interview with Travel Weekly Asia, Wong expressed his
eagerness for the new term, particularly in the context of the ongoing
recovery process of the travel and tourism industry post-Covid-19.
Travel agents are one of the key drivers of the industry; their experience spans the width and breadth of the tourism sector, and they are intimately in touch with the heartbeat of travellers.– Nigel Wong, president, MATTA
"Challenges are what drives innovation and creativity - that is what
really excites me. Innovation and creativity are the key ingredients
that are needed to keep our industry fresh, vibrant, and alive," said
Wong, highlighting the resilience of the industry amidst changing market
demographics, supply chain disruptions, and global economic
uncertainties.
Regarding the next 12 months, Wong outlined his top priorities for
MATTA. "Apart from our core objectives, MATTA will be focusing on ways
to increase business opportunities and exposure for its members through
our various platforms," he stated. Already identifying and opening up
new markets through initiatives like the MATTA Travel Exchange (MTEX)
programme, tactical B2B roadshows, and technical FAMs, Wong aims to
bolster opportunities for members.
Furthermore, Wong emphasised MATTA's commitment to enhance and
restructure consumer-facing platforms, such as nationwide MATTA Fairs
and the online marketplace (mattaonline.travel).
Additionally, he stressed on aggressively pushing for vital structural
reforms within the industry to ensure its long-term health and
competitiveness.
Addressing the travel agent community, Wong underscored their pivotal
role as industry drivers. "Travel agents, whether they recognise it or
not, are one of the key drivers of the industry; their experience spans
the width and breadth of the tourism sector, and they are intimately in
touch with the heartbeat of travellers."
He calls upon his colleagues to actively participate in the
industry's development by sharing knowledge, contributing to
sustainability efforts, and upskilling their workforce to embrace the
new era in travel and tourism.