Kota Kinabalu: Sabah recorded a strong performance at the recent Matta Fair Kuala Lumpur, generating total sales of RM5,098,153.74 over the three-day event and reaffirming its appeal as a preferred domestic travel destination.
Sales gained momentum throughout the fair, with Sabah-based sellers recording RM812,156.32 on the opening day on April 3, rising to RM1,425,231.32 on the second day, before peaking at RM2,860,766.10 on the final day.
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State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin described the strong sales performance as encouraging and said Sabah’s continued participation in major travel fairs will help drive bookings and visitor arrivals to the State.
“The steady increase in sales throughout the fair reflects strong demand for Sabah travel experiences among domestic travellers.
“Platforms such as Matta Fair allow our industry players to connect directly with the market, and we will continue to support greater participation from local agents to translate this interest into actual visits to the State,” he said.
Compared with the RM4.5 million recorded at the April Matta Fair last year with the participation of 43 agents, Jafry said this year’s performance demonstrates the resilience of Sabah’s domestic tourism market even as the industry prepares to navigate evolving travel trends and incoming challenges.
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At this April edition of the Matta Fair, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) was joined by 37 Sabah-based tour and travel agents operating 100 booths, offering a wide range of travel packages showcasing the State’s diverse tourism offerings, including culture, adventure and nature.
STB also introduced and reinforced the Explore Sabah destination branding while highlighting the Kaamatan Festival as a key cultural attraction, inviting visitors to experience the month-long harvest celebration taking place across the State in May.
Agents were also encouraged to incorporate community-based tourism experiences into their packages, allowing travellers to engage with local communities and support sustainable tourism development.
Sabah Tourism remains optimistic that the positive market response at Matta Fair Kuala Lumpur will translate into increased visitor arrivals in the coming months.
