Malaysia will host the United Federation of Travel Agents' Associations' (UFTAA) Congress next year as part of the effort to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2013.
UFTAA board member, Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun JP, said the event was expected to attract over 1,500 participants.
Mohd Khalid, who is also president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, said the congress would discuss issues related to the tourism industry, including harmonisation of visas, health, safety and security regulations and common issues to assist industry players.
He said holding the congress here was in line with the Tourism Ministry's effort to transform the tourism industry and to attract more tourists.
"This is a good opportunity to promote Malaysia as the participants will be people who are going to 'sell' Malaysia globally and it will be held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2013," he told a media briefing here Tuesday.
Mohd Khalid said the congress would also promote Malaysia as one of the region's preferred venues for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.
"It will also showcase Malaysia's latest tourism products to the participants as we plan to organise pre- and post-tour to let them see the other parts of Malaysia, including the Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
He said UFTAA board of directors met on Sept 11, 2011 and picked Malaysia to host the congress, tentatively scheduled from Nov 17-22 next year. The last time Malaysia organised the congress was in 2002, he said.
"I'm confident the congress here will be a success with more programmes for to cater to a bigger crowd as we have the experience and expertise to organise the event," he said. The venue, he said, has yet to be decided.
Meanwhile, UFTAA president, Dr Mario Bevacqua, said this year's congress would be held on the "Victoria" cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea from Nov 10-24.
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