Matta Fair 2013

Matta Fair 2013 at PWTC Kuala Lumpur is back to start the new year with some exciting travel promotions, deals, and packages for everyone.

Having been around for many years now, this travel fair in KL is hands down the most successful travel fair of all time.

Held twice a year, in March and again in September, both fairs attract over 100000 people over for the three days at Putra World Trade Center. For 2013, we are speculating that there will be even more crazy travel deals for everyone.

Matta Fair 2013 Review

The fair is split into three halls, where the Hall 1 and 2 are for international travel and Hall 3 is for local tourism.

Overall, visitors can easily spend a good 4-6 hours here if you want to visit all three halls. Below is some basic information and pictures taken from the recent Matta Fair in September 2012.

Linkway booths to Hall 1 and 2

Matta Fair 2013 will definitely have some exciting travel offers judging from the previous years, most operators keep coming up with creative packages.

If you have not been to a Matta Fair before, you should go and experience one. While it looks like a madhouse with tens of thousands of people exploring all three halls, you should know that it would be wise to come prepared as you never know how long you will be spending there.

Overall, the travel fair here in Malaysia offers visitors all kinds of packages. From the ground, flight, complete tours, cruises, Muslim packages, and many others.

Visitors pay RM4 per entry and before you enter the main exhibition hall area, you will see other travel related promotions like cameras, bags and sometimes non-related beauty products. (How did that get in?)

The crowd at Matta Fair

Last year’s Matta Fair was interesting as they opened another floor above the main hall and had more booths there.

There were non-profit organizations, awareness booths, and even Puteri Harbour had a booth there promoting the much talked about Hello Kitty Town in Johor.

The main stage area was also set upstairs where food was available from a catering company. Tourism Iran was the largest with over 15 booths on display there.

Apart from the usual, many were seen looking for all sorts of travel deals. One of the popular booths in Hall 3 which is the local travel is the Sabah Tourism Board and Sarawak Tourism Board counters.

Here many travel companies were offering all kinds of Borneo escape packages. From visiting longhouses in remote Sarawak to cooking classes in Sabah.

View from the top floor at Hall 1

Specialty tours were also featured here with booths selling honeymoon packages, romantic getaways, trekking tours, bicycling tours, motorbike tours, and scuba diving packages just to name a few.

There should be more in 2013 and probably Cycling Tours in Malaysia would be one of the highlights as the tourism ministry has been working hard to promote this. Luxury Tourism in Malaysia is also one of the genres that we hope to see more of.

Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Hong Kong seem to be the hot sellers during every fair as the exhibition booths are pretty nice and interesting.

Giveaways are common where Taiwan Tourism actually had a small section where they gave away free bubble tea. In another area, a small game section for visitors where if you completed the simple mind games, they would give you a gift.

Other gimmicks used are men and women in traditional costumes of the individual countries where they hand out flyers.

The crowds start to swell up on Saturday and Sunday and it can get a little tricky moving about there. Sometimes if you want to seek a consultant, you would most likely have to wait your turn.

Just take a look at the images here and you can see how many people attend the Matta Fair. Me, personally I like to check the Club Med Packages as they usually offer a Buy 1 Free 1 deal to any of their resorts around Asia.

But if you explore around, you will find other packages that could meet your requirements.

Lonely Planet booth at Matta Fair Malaysia

Travel Magazines at Matta Fair Malaysia

New players like Lonely Planet made their debut by having a booth there promoting their Lonely Planet Magazine.

Other magazine players like Leisure Travel, Santai and Singapore’s Escape Magazine are also regulars.

Winter apparel brands are also common as there are a few booths dedicated to this section. Luggage bags, accessories, cameras, and even photo books are seen sold around here.

Airlines, Airlines and Cruise lines at Matta Fair Malaysia

Airlines are no strangers to the fair as every event, they will have one of the larger booths promoting their tickets and holiday packages.

Local players like Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia with their GoHolidays and also FireFly are seen very actively here.

Berjaya Air usually takes a small booth while we are waiting to see if the new budget airline, Malindo Airlines will make a debut in 2013.

Travel booth view from the top floor

Theme Park Packages and Promotions at Matta Fair

New theme park players Legoland Malaysia and Puteri Harbour are sure to have their booths at the Matta Fair 2013.

Let us see what gimmick or promotion they will have this time around as many are looking forward to some sort of all in one package.

One to look out for is the newly opened i-City Water World in Shah Alam. Otherwise, most of the travel companies would also sell these family packages.

Other players include the KL Bird Park, Genting Resorts, Langkawi Underwater World, Sunway Lagoon, Bukit Gambang Water Park and A’Famosa Water Park.

For outbound, one of the big players is Resorts World Singapore who is always
aggressively promoting their packages as they have Universal Studios
Singapore and Sentosa Island as a crowd puller.

Waterbom Bali, a water park is also popular while there is also the Bali Safari Park for those wanting to head to this island.

Matta Fair Muslim Packages

Muslim Tours or Halal Packages at Matta Fair

Another popular sector is the Muslim Packages or Halal Packages which seem to be getting more and more popular every year with the locals.

These special trips to Europe, China, Oceanic, and even Indochina offer Muslims the chance to explore these places with the relevant amenities.

You will notice some of the big players selling Muslim Tours at Matta Fair. There are also pure Muslim companies selling these tours and also Haj Packages or Pilgrimage Tours to Mecca.

Artist and Local Celebrities at Matta Fair Malaysia

Some travel companies use local and international celebrities to attracts customers. Last year, one local company used Malaysian movie star Aaron Aziz to promote their Korea Tour Package.

On a set day, Aaron Aziz made his way to the booth for an appearance and photo opportunity. This attracted loads of his fans to come and wait for him.

Even other exhibitors who were fans came running to see him or take a picture with him. You never know who will be next.

Previously, Taiwan Tourism also brought in some well known Taiwan singers and local radio station deejays while two years ago, local Malaysian star Mawi was the center of highlight.

Matta Fair Pictures

Left – Visitors inquiring, Right – Even clowns are made to promote packages

An aerial view of the main international hall 1

Staff working around the clock to meet customer demands

Travel promotion after promotion is seen all over the fair

matta-club-med-promotion Matta Fair 2013

Club Med Promotions are one of the popular booths at Matta

sarawak-tourism-matta-fair Matta Fair 2013

Sarawak Tourism Board’s gimmick of Tuak (Rice Wine) sampling

Travel mascot cheering the kids

After a hard day of walking and collecting flyers, visitors start to calculate costs

How to go to Matta Fair 2013 at PWTC

By Car:

If you are driving, park around the PWTC area, ~~Hentian Putra~~ or the open car parks.
Here’s a tip if you don’t want to spend time looking for parking – Drive up to the Seri Pacific Hotel (old Pan Pacific Hotel)
entrance and give your car to the valet parking which cost about RM15-RM45 depending on how long you take. No hassles as you simply walk straight into the Matta
Fair from the hotel entrance.
Another option would be to come very early and park in the PWTC.
Another place would be to park across at The Sunway Putra Shopping Center and walk over.
Avoid parking along the road illegally as you are bound to get summoned by the police.
To avoid the traffic jam, you need to head there very early before 11.00 am.

By Taxi:

Get a taxi and tell them Matta Fair at Putra World Trade Center or PWTC.
Make sure the Malaysian Taxi uses the meter (fare)

By Bus:

Intrakota Buses stops just outside the
Jukebox Shoe Shop opposite the Puduraya Bus Station and this bus
goes to Hentian Putra which is opposite PWTC. It will cost approximately RM1.20 (US$0.30) one way.
Be sure to check on the bus timings if you are going back late.

By Train:

STAR LRT stops at the PWTC Station and is a very short walk to the Matta Fair.
PUTRA LINE LRT stops at Masjid Jamek Station and you change with STAR LRT.

Matta Fair March 2013

Date: 15-17 March (Fri – Sun)

Time: 10AM – 9PM

Venue: Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) Kuala Lumpur, KL

Telephone: +603 92876881
Ticket Price: RM4 Adults / Per Day

For foreigners or travelers who are in town during this time, you should go and have a look as you never know what you could get some really good deals fro your next destination.

Conclusion

Usually, when I attend this fair, I hardly see any tourist here, 98% of the crowd are locals. Hopefully, there will be more tourists in 2013.

Lastly, you should be prepared for the thousands of people that will be scavenging the fair for the best deals and promotions. Keep an eye on your belongings and children during the fair.

If you have been saving from last year to go on that well deserved holiday, family trip or even a solo trip, head over to PWTC for the Matta Fair 2013.

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