KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — Domestic and regional tourism continue to show resilience despite global cost pressures and geopolitical uncertainties, supported by strong demand and pre-existing travel bookings.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Nigel Wong said travel within Malaysia and the ASEAN region remains robust, even as rising costs linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis weigh on long-haul travel.
He said strong demand for domestic tourism is evident, with member feedback indicating that destinations across Southeast Asia and the wider Asian region continue to perform well.
Earlier bookings have also helped sustain travel activity, as Malaysians continue to travel despite current uncertainties.
“For now, we are okay. As you can see from the crowd at the domestic hall, demand is still very high for domestic tourism.
“Our one hope is that this conflict will end soon and then we can resume business as normal,” he told Bernama after the opening ceremony of the 58th MATTA Fair April 2026 here today.
Wong said airline ticket prices have fluctuated amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, affecting overall travel costs, particularly for long-haul routes involving Europe via the region.
“As long as the crisis in the Middle East continues, we can expect costs, including airline tickets and ground transportation, to increase due to rising fuel prices.
“But we’ve noticed that many Malaysian carriers have tried to keep their prices down for now. However, it also depends on demand. So for anyone booking airline tickets, the same rule applies, book as early as possible to get the cheapest rates."
He also encouraged Malaysians to support domestic tourism, noting that a strong local tourism base would drive innovation, improve infrastructure and enhance service quality, ultimately benefiting inbound tourism.
The 58th MATTA Fair April 2026, its largest edition to date, features 2,051 booths and 332 participating organisations, including 210 tour and travel agencies, as well as national and state tourism bodies, hotels, theme parks and service providers.
The event runs from April 3 to 5, from 10am to 9pm, with free admission.
