The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aiming to improve and strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the two parties to generate respective synergies and promote the application of sustainability practices and the GSTC Criteria in travel and tourism in Malaysia. The signing was done by GSTC CEO, Randy Durband and Nigel Wong, President of MATTA on the 5th of September, 2024.
MATTA is the largest national umbrella representative body for the travel industry in Malaysia. With over 2,500 members and numerous overseas affiliations, MATTA plays a pivotal role in promoting the growth and development of the travel and tour industry in Malaysia. It works closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC) and the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) to ensure the interests of its members and the broader tourism sector are represented and advanced.
MATTA is best known for organizing the highly anticipated MATTA Fair, Malaysia’s largest travel fair, which offers a wide range of domestic and international travel packages. Through its initiatives, advocacy, and events, MATTA continuously strives to position Malaysia as a premier tourism destination and enhance the overall industry.
“I am proud to announce that MATTA has taken a greener step forward by welcoming our newest partner, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC); Through our partnership and the MATTA Green Circle initiative, we are committed to implementing actionable strategies that will help our members in their sustainability journey as we strive for a more responsible and sustainable way of developing our tourism industry in Malaysia. I’m eager to continue driving sustainability initiatives for our members and the broader tourism industry,” said Nigel Wong, President of MATTA.
“Our collaboration with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents marks a shared dedication to advancing sustainability in Malaysia. By aligning our efforts, we aim to build a better and more responsible future for the industry. We are excited to work closely with MATTA to achieve this,” said Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between GSTC and MATTA outlines the cooperative relationship between the two organizations with the aim of promoting sustainable tourism practices in Malaysia.
MATTA at #GSTC2024 Singapore
Nigel Wong Chun Teim, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), will participate in the GSTC Global Conference in Singapore (13-16 November 2024) in a session focused on ‘Tour Operators and Local Culture.’ That will explore the role of TOs in promoting and preserving local cultures – highlighting best practices, strategies and challenges for fostering cultural sustainability through tourism. For example, by actively engaging and empowering local communities in the tours (which can take different shapes) or by developing partnerships with local organizations to ensure the tourism business positively impacts the local communities.
