An afterthought on tour package deals in MATTA Fair

MATTA Fair, the largest travel fair in Malaysia, was held from 7th to 9th September 2012 in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. This was the second time in this year after the same was held in March earlier. Hundreds of thousands of people were flocking into the fair looking for good deals in tour package in this coming Winter and New Year festive seasons. Over hundred tour operators, airlines, hoteliers, and tourism bureau from Asian countries participated in the event.

In this year’s event, we saw the booming tourism industry in this country despite the global economic crisis especially in Europe and America regions. Travel operators are selling tour packages and air tickets to almost everywhere in the world with discounted price and attractive gifts, unlike previous years where Asian countries were predominant  travel destinations on offer. Some of the popular destinations on offer include China, Japan, Korea, European countries, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and even South Africa and USA.

Have you grabbed any package deal from the MATTA Fair?

If you haven’t, don’t worry. People are booking travel packages from the fair mainly because they can conveniently choose the best deal from all the top travel agencies under one roof, not because the tour package deals are really cheap. You can travel cheaper by Free and Easy packages or Free and Independent Travel style, with more flexibility in selecting and deciding where and when to go.

From what I’ve gathered from the MATTA Fair, let’s see 2 of the popular package deals found in the MATTA Fair. First is 7D5N tour to Japan Honshu, which includes popular destinations in Honshu Island such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and mount Fuji. This is the ‘must visit first‘ itinerary for 1st time visitor to Japan, and the all-inclusive package is averagely priced at RM7,500.00 per person. If you couldn’t decide whether to book it or not, maybe the following little facts can help. I spent a total of RM6,500 per person on my recent travel to Japan Honshu and Hokkaido for 10D9N, to view the blooming of Cherry Blossom in destinations such as Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Hakone in Honshu Island and Hakodate in Hokkaido! So, are you missing out on something if you did not book any package deal during MATTA Fair?

Another example is the 10D8N package to Central Europe. It costs around RM9,500 to visit London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Basel, in guided tour package. For Self guided tour, I’ve spent RM7,500 to travel around cities in central Europe in 15D14N, albeit in a more frugal way.

Don’t get me wrong either. I’m not dismissing the existence and worthiness of all-inclusive packaged travel. There are still chances when you just need to travel with tour group:

1. One of the occasions is when you are traveling with your old folks of your family. They are too old to walk too far, following you to search for hotels and train stations, or sitting down there doing nothing but watching people around.
2. The other time when following tour group with tour guide better than travel by our own is when we wish to travel to destinations that either language is a problem or access to that country is restricted, such as Korea or Tibet.
3. Or when you are traveling in a huge group of more than 20 people that you need a tour operator to help.

Having said that, wandering Hall1, 2 and 3 of MATTA Fair is still one of my regular activities, to get me updated information and trend in travel industry, as well as suggestions and ideas on travel itinerary in various destinations. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate travel photo blog

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.