Latest news with #MATTAFairSabah2025
The Star
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Big boost at Sabah MATTA fair
Smile for the camera: (From left) Malaysia Aviation Group's East Malaysia and Government Commercial Sales head Nur Hayati Aziz Rashid, Sabah Tourism Board deputy chief executive officer Tay Shu Lan, Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai, Liew, MATTA Sabah president Nigel Wong, RHB Bank Sabah Region Sales and Services' regional sales head (deposit) Ivy Primus Kayau, MATTA Sabah immediate president Datuk KL Tan and MATTA Sabah chairman Mohd Azlan Saleh attending the official launch of MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 in Kota Kinabalu. Surge in exhibitors signals return of tourism confidence KOTA KINABALU: A surge in exhibitors and booths at this year's Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair Sabah is sending a strong signal of renewed confidence and enthusiasm among tourism stakeholders. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the increased participation reflects optimism in the industry and Sabah's rising profile as a must-visit destination on both the domestic and international travel map. 'This year, we are proud to see that MATTA Fair Sabah has grown bigger, with more companies coming on board. 'This expanded participation enhances the fair's appeal and presents valuable opportunities for local travel agencies and tourism players to showcase their products and services,' she said at the launch of the fair at the Sabah International Convention Centre yesterday. Liew praised the tourism sector's resilience following years of pandemic-related disruption. 'Sabah recorded RM4.5mil in sales at the recent MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur, up from RM3mil last September. 'This is a clear reflection of the growing interest in our culture, adventure and nature tourism offerings,' she added. Island-hopping excursions and immersive cultural experiences, such as trips to the Mari Mari Cultural Village, topped the list of best-selling packages. Liew stressed that the fair is about more than just sales, as it is also about nurturing partnerships, building stronger networks, and most importantly, creating meaningful, unforgettable experiences for everyone who steps foot in Sabah. 'Through continuous collaboration and innovation, I believe Sabah's tourism industry will continue to grow, fuelling both our economy and our reputation as one of Asia's top destinations,' she said. She also spotlighted the new 'Top 5 Mountains in Sabah' campaign, launched in Kuala Lumpur last month, as part of efforts to strengthen its status as a South-East Asian adventure tourism hub. 'Peaks such as Mount Kinabalu, Mount Trus Madi and Mount Tambuyukon are just some of the highlights under this campaign, and we look forward to welcoming more climbers and trekkers in the months ahead,' she said. The MATTA Fair Sabah, organised with support from the Sabah Tourism Board, runs throughout the weekend and features a wide array of travel deals and packages. Liew also extended her gratitude to MATTA for its ongoing efforts in championing Sabah as a travel destination, urging all tourism players to keep working hand-in-hand to ensure the state remains one of Asia's top travel destinations. Meanwhile, organising chairman Rocky Kho said this year's fair stands out not just for its exclusive travel deals, but also its strategic role in promoting travel aligned with the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026. He emphasised that hosting the fair in Sabah reinforces the state's visibility and MATTA's role as a key driver of tourism growth within and beyond Malaysia. Kho added that the event also continues MATTA's Eco and Sustainable Tourism Initiative (Mesti), in line with the association's commitment to promote a cleaner, more conscious, sustainable and inclusive way of exploring the country. 'The initiative prioritises collaborative efforts to address wildlife and marine conservation, and cultural and historical preservation. Mesti empowers the travel and tourism industry, and visitors alike to protect what makes Malaysia truly unique,' he said.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah tourism sees strong start in 2025, says Liew
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's tourism industry has kicked off the year with a surge in visitor arrivals, recording a total of 923,709 tourists between January and March, an 18.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Of this total, 366,727 were international arrivals, while 556,982 were domestic visitors, reflecting growing interest in Sabah from both local and overseas travellers. State Tourism, Culture and Environment MInister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the state also recorded RM2.13mil in tourism receipts for the first quarter, marking a 17.7% rise from the same period in 2024. She added that the numbers were a positive indicator of Sabah's continued appeal and resilience in the competitive tourism sector. 'This strong start shows that Sabah remains a destination of choice, both for new visitors and returning travellers,' she told reporters after officiating at the MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (May 10). She added that China continues to top the list of Sabah's international tourist markets with 154,319 arrivals, followed by South Korea (57,995) and Brunei (45,469). Liew said Sabah is also preparing to unveil a series of tourism developments by year-end, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and providing fresh offerings for both first-timers and repeat tourists. 'As I announced earlier, Sabah is planning to launch a number of projects, both big and small, before the end of the year. These are meant to offer something new for everyone,' she said. She added that the aim is to transform Sabah into a destination where travellers are encouraged to stay longer. 'Don't just come and go, stay for at least a week so we can properly showcase what Sabah has in store,' she said. On projections, Liew said Sabah expects to receive between 3.2 and 3.5 million visitors in 2025. But she stressed that what has been announced so far is just 'the tip of the iceberg.' 'Next week, I will be in Sandakan to announce new or upgraded attractions around the wildlife centre. The following week, I will be in Kudat to unveil two major tourism-related projects,' she added. Liew also shared that larger-scale initiatives, such as the redevelopment of the Wisma Budaya site and the construction of its own Wisma KePKAS, are in the pipeline. These projects will centralise all agencies under her ministry to improve service efficiency and collaboration. 'Sabah is undergoing a tourism transformation. We are not just targeting new visitors but also encouraging repeat visits. Once our developments are completed, there will be even more to offer,' she said. Liew commended the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Sabah chapter for organising the tourism gathering, which she said helps boost travel activity and partnership-building.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Political shifts ahead of Sabah polls 'more interesting', says Liew
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR political bureau chairman Datuk Christina Liew has remained silent on potential political realignments ahead of the next state election. This comes amidst speculation that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) may contest solo if Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional confirm their partnership. GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said on Friday (May 9) that the Sabah-based coalition intends to contest the upcoming state polls alone after Sabah Pakatan aligned with the national Pakatan-Barisan decision to work together. 'I honestly do not know what is going on. I read that the Chief Minister (Hajiji) said he would make an announcement after the upcoming state legislative assembly is dissolved, so we will have to wait and see,' said Liew at the MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 launch on Saturday (May 10). Asked whether Sabah PKR was preparing for any possible realignment, Liew, who is also the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, declined to speculate. 'This is a serious matter. I would like to have more definite answers before commenting. But it is getting more and more interesting,' she added. Liew, who is also Api-Api assemblyman, stressed that political developments would not deter her focus on serving the people. 'Whatever happens, whether there are changes or not, we will continue to serve the people in our constituencies. That remains our priority,' she said. The next state election in Sabah is expected to reshape political alignments as coalitions weigh their grassroots strength amid shifting voter sentiment. Although United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) are local parties, they are currently aligned with Sabah Pakatan and Sabah Barisan, respectively. With Hajiji signalling a solo path for GRS, observers say Sabah may witness a showdown between local-based and national-based political coalitions.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Increased participation at Sabah MATTA fair shows increased confidence among stakeholders, says Liew
KOTA KINABALU: The growing number of exhibitors and booths at this year's Sabah edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) fair signals renewed confidence and enthusiasm among tourism stakeholders. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the increased participation was a positive indicator of Sabah's strengthening position as a prime travel destination, both domestically and internationally. 'This year, we are proud to see that MATTA Fair Sabah itself has grown bigger with more exhibiting companies. This expanded participation enhances the fair's appeal and presents valuable opportunities for local travel agencies and tourism players to showcase their products and services,' she said. Speaking at the launch of MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Saturday (May 10), Liew noted that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, in recent years, the tourism industry in Sabah has shown remarkable resilience and is now bouncing back with strong momentum. 'Sabah recorded RM4.5mil in sales at the recent MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur, up from RM3mil in September last year. This is a clear reflection of the growing appeal of our Culture, Adventure and Nature (CAN) tourism offerings,' she said. Among the most popular packages sold were island-hopping tours and cultural experiences such as visits to the Mari Mari Cultural Village. She added that efforts are not just about boosting sales figures, but also nurturing partnerships, building stronger networks and most importantly, creating meaningful and memorable experiences for all who visit Sabah. 'Through continuous collaboration and innovation, we are confident that Sabah's tourism industry will continue to grow, contributing to both our economy and our reputation as one of Asia's top destinations,' she said. She also highlighted the state's new 'Top 5 Mountains in Sabah' campaign, which was launched in Kuala Lumpur last month to boost Sabah's standing as an adventure tourism hub in Southeast Asia. 'Peaks such as Mount Kinabalu, Mount Trus Madi and Mount Tambuyukon are just some of the highlights under this campaign, and we look forward to welcoming more climbers and trekkers in the months ahead,' she said. The fair, organised by MATTA with support from the Sabah Tourism Board, runs over the weekend and features a variety of travel deals and holiday packages. Liew also thanked MATTA for its continued commitment to promoting Sabah, and urged all industry players to continue working together to ensure the state remains one of Asia's top travel destinations. Meanwhile, event organising chairman Rocky Kho said the MATTA FAir Sabah stands out significantly this year as it also includes more exclusive travel deals, while campaigning their inbound and outbound initiatives as a strategic partner to the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. 'Hosting the fair in Sabah is a great deal, not only to enhance the visibility to the state as a primary tourism destination but also reinforces the fair's role as an important platform to promote travel within and beyond Malaysia,' said Kho. He added that this fair also sees the continued implementation of the MATTA Eco and Sustainable Tourism Initiative (Mesti), in line with the association's commitment to promoting a cleaner, more conscious, sustainable and inclusive way of exploring the country. Mesti, he added, is aimed at strengthening and promoting sustainable, and inclusive growth across the country. 'The initiative prioritises collaborative efforts to address wildlife and marine conservation, and cultural and historical preservation. Mesti empowers the travel and tourism industry, and visitors alike to protect what makes Malaysia truly unique,' he said.
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 expects to generate RM26 million in sales
Rocky (third from right) at the press conference to announce the MATTA Fair Sabah 2025. KOTA KINABALU (May 8): The MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) from May 9 to 11, is expected to generate up to RM26 million in sales and attract 27,000 visitors. A total of 143 booths showcasing a diverse range of travel services have been taken up by 51 participating organisations, including 31 tour and travel agencies, three local state tourism offices, two airlines and five hotels and resorts. Visitors who spend a minimum of RM100 at the fair will be eligible to join the MATTA's flagship crowd-favourite, the Buyers' Contest, with over RM61,000 worth of prizes to be won. This contest offers a chance to win a grand prize of two round-trip economy class tickets from Kota Kinabalu to Paris, France worth over RM9,000. Other prizes up for grabs, sponsored by the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), include round trip tickets to Beijing, Kerala, Chiang Mai, Da Nang, as well as business class tickets to Kuala Lumpur. Royal Brunei Airlines is also supporting the Buyers Contest with two fantastic international prizes: a round trip economy class tickets from Kota Kinabalu to Incheon, South Korea. MATTA Fair Sabah 2025 organising chairman Rocky Kho said that all the participants at the fair were licensed players.
