KOTA BHARU, May 21 — The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) will work with the Thai government to promote the tourism sector, especially at the country’s border.
Matta president Nigel Wong said this effort is following the Transport Ministry’s (MOT) announcement that it would allow buses from Thailand to enter Malaysia.
“I hope the entry of buses from this country into Thailand will be facilitated,” he told reporters at the launch of the new Kelantan Matta office on Jalan Pengkalan Chepa here.
“We see the facilities provided by the MOT as a very good initiative to attract tourists from Thailand to boost the country’s tourism sector and to coincide with Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.
Also present at the launch were Kelantan Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor.
According to Wong, Matta will visit the Association of Thai Travel Agents in a few months to promote the Kelantan tourism sector.
“If before, we had a memorandum of understanding (MOU) involving Perak and Thailand, we will after this expand this cooperation to involve other states, including Kelantan,” he said.
On May 13, MOT allowed buses from Thailand to enter all states in Malaysia, not just states near the border, with the condition of getting approval from the Land Public Transport Agency.
When asked to comment on the target of 26.1 million foreign tourist arrivals in conjunction with VMY 2026, Wong said the goal can be achieved as Matta has a good network with foreign superpowers including China and Europe.
“Matta has become a member of the World Tourism Alliance, which is advantageous to us in promoting the country’s tourism sector. Additionally, we have an MOU with the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance,” he said.
“Matta has also become a member of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association comprising nearly 40,000 organisations involved in tourism, and this gives us the opportunity to expand promotions related to the country’s tourism,” he said.
— Bernama
