From YS Chan

Thirty years ago, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) decided to hold its first annual consumer travel fair. The Kuala Lumpur fair became a biannual event from 2001 and later went nationwide to meet demand.

The March 2019 fair featured 1,364 booths set up by 272 organisations, attracted a record 113,685 visitors and registered RM220 million in sales. As space was limited at the Putra World Trade Centre, Matta had to deal with demand exceeding supply issues.

But today, like all other trade and consumer fairs around the world, the Matta Fair had to be cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Instead of abating this year, global Covid-19 infections hit a record high of 825,694 new cases in a single day on Jan 8.

Understandably, they cannot be held as long as the pandemic is raging in all its fury. Sadly, prospects are getting dimmer by the day. Hence, decisive intervention by the government is crucial in preventing further losses in tourism businesses and jobs.

Matta was running like a loud Formula One racing car, powered by profits from its fairs. In recent years, properties were purchased to house its state chapter offices nationwide. Its headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur at Wisma MATTA, which was bought for RM3 million in 2010.

Operating with a full secretariat, the association had been the envy of NGOs. It was no surprise that aspiring members jostled for elected positions at successive annual general meetings held biennially.

Just as the pandemic had steamrolled everything in its path, it had also taken the wind out of Matta’s sails. Making attempts to rescue its members or salvage the travel industry is like swimming against the tide that is more like a tsunami. It is not only futile but suicidal.

Until the rates of Covid-19 infections are down to a manageable level at home and in countries where Malaysians can visit and their citizens can enter our country, it will be premature to promote international travel when flights can be abruptly cancelled, or borders closed overnight.

However, the next KL Matta Fair must be held in September even if our borders remain closed for non-essential travel. As promoting domestic tourism alone without overseas travel could be lossmaking for the organiser, all parties ought to chip in to lessen the burden.

This is especially so when the main beneficiaries of domestic tourism are local hotels and private residences, food and beverage outlets, theme parks and attractions, entertainment and public transport operators. The bulk of profits will be raked in by retailers, with very little for tour operators.

This is because an overwhelming number of domestic visitors drive their own vehicles, resulting in automotive fuel being the second highest expenditure after shopping. Those that use public transport book their own flight, ferry, train or bus tickets, and also their accommodation.

Only in places where public transport is scarce and too dicey to arrange upon arrival will domestic tourists opt for tour packages, especially to secluded natural sites. But the market for ecotourism is relatively small compared to mainstream tourism.

While it is true a more relaxing holiday can be found at many of our world-class resorts and hotels back home, most Malaysians prefer to travel overseas to experience different sights, sounds, smells and tastes.

But with inter-district and interstate travel banned, and international travel not an option, locked-down Malaysians would be thrilled just to move out of their neighbourhood, making domestic travel sexy.

Hence, if the next fair is held in September, it should be participated by all state tourism organisations so that smaller industry players that survive are given free space to sell in the fair, as many customers seek assurance directly from suppliers.

Tourism Malaysia had always lent strong support to the fair. Apart from visitors and exhibitors, they also energised the entire tourism industry.

While many industry players have fallen by the wayside, Matta fairs cannot be allowed to cease, as it is both the barometer and catalyst to spark the revival of our tourism industry.

As such, the tourism, culture & arts ministry must convince the National Security Council to guarantee in advance that the KL Matta Fair can be held in September, if the association wishes to do so, under the strictest SOPs, regardless of the rate of infections around that period.

And if international travel can resume by the beginning of next year, then the March fair in 2022 will offer both domestic and overseas tour packages but at a reduced scale. Many people have lost businesses or jobs, or have had their incomes reduced by the pandemic.

Real life can only be experienced using the five senses. A change of environment is needed to enrich life and nourish the soul. Over the years, millions of people have visited Matta fairs. One thing they have in common is, upon entry, they can feel the magic in the air.

YS Chan is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.