Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents(Matta), have unanimously agreed that for Malaysia now is the best time for domestic travel.

Matta Penang Vergis Mathews' President said that the key players in the North industry were promoting domestic tourism with aggressive aims to revitalize tourism.

"After the COVID-19 (pandemic), we have been laying out new tourism packages with dynamic pricing structures in the domestic market to show the world that we are ready," he said.

This year's online Matta Fair, which will take place from 9 to 15 September, is also aimed at promoting domestic tourism.

"With the school holidays and Merdeka Day coming close together, there will not be a better time for Malaysians to travel around Malaysia," he said.

He said Penang recorded approximately 680 domestic tourists to the state every day.

In collaboration with the Kedah Tourism Executive Councilor, Vergis participated in a networking session of Business for Business ( B2B) organized by the Chapter Matta Kedah / Perlis.

A total of 33 Matta members from Kedah and 19 from Penang attended B2B sessions led by Mohd Firdaus Ahmad, Chairman of the Committee of Kedah Tourism, Arts and Culture, Youth, and Sport.

The event was also attended by Ahmad Husni Ahmad Basri, Chairman of Tourism in Malaysia Northern Region, Mohd Yusin Mohd Yatim, Chairman of Matta Kedah, and Ooi Chok Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Global Tourism.

Mohd Firdaus also said that the programme, after being strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, would help Tourism Agents to update the current ranks of Matta members in Penang and Kedah.

"The B2B session will mutually help Matta members to understand their current status, how much they have lost (due to COVID-19) as well as to share and exchange their ideas and strategies to revitalize their businesses," he said.

He added that a B2B session was held in Perak on Aug 5, expressing hope that similar programmes could be held in Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Sabah in the future.