A NEW EVENT FOR MATTA

The World Islamic Tourism Mart 2012 (WITM 2012), an exact copy of the ITCM organised by the Islamic Tourism Centre held in 2010, will take place at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), from May 31 to June 2. Organised by MATTA, the nation’s number one copycat, the inaugural event will feature three major sections, namely the Consumer Travel Fair, Business-to-Business Travel Exchange and an international conference. Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun, who now facing a vote of no-confidence, said WITM 2012 was projected to enhance the unrealised potential of the Muslim tourism sector. “With over 1.7 billion Muslim population worldwide and growing affluence of the Muslim society, the Muslim tourism market is a gold mine waiting to be tapped. “More and more travel agents and tour operators in Malaysia are setting up Muslim departments within their company to offer Muslim packages,” he said in a joint press conference with Etihad Airways and Maybank Islamic Berhad, here, Tuersday. Small wonder what MATTA has to do with Islamic travel, when they have already so many events on their plate. It must be about money. So MATTA is now Money Association of Travel & Tours Agent.