Held under the theme “Leadership, Challenges & the Future of Malaysia’s Travel Industry,” the summit underscored MATTA’s role as a facilitator and advocate for its members at a critical juncture for the development and growth of the tourism industry. The platform enabled open and constructive exchanges between industry players, policymakers and MATTA leadership, ensuring that industry viewpoints and feedback remained central to national tourism planning and execution.
In his speech, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC), welcomed MATTA’s initiative and emphasised the central role of trust in tourism.
“Tourism success is built on trust and word of mouth. When visitors trust our industry, they buy with confidence. When trust is broken, one bad case can damage the reputation of many businesses, even can destroy the tourism industry.”
Against this backdrop, the Summit saw the debut of TRUST: Powered by MATTA, a MATTA-led initiative introduced as a commitment to confidence, accountability and professional standards within the tourism ecosystem. TRUST was positioned as a practical framework supporting responsible reporting, transparency and collaboration with government agencies, while complementing existing enforcement efforts without duplicating regulatory functions.
MATTA President Nigel Wong highlighted the shared responsibility carried by members.
“Leadership in MATTA reflects the responsibility and direction of the industry when it matters most in today’s challenging times. By being part of MATTA, our members are leaders, contributing collectively to a stronger, more resilient industry,” he added.
The Summit also reinforced collaboration on enforcement, compliance and industry governance. In this context, MATTA reaffirmed its support for MOTAC’s call for the return of full regulatory powers over tour vehicles, recognising that stronger coordination and consistent enforcement would enhance safety standards and service quality for tourists.
Addressing recent public confidence issues, including Umrah travel cases, Tiong stressed the need to protect consumers and the industry.
“This is not punishing legitimate business, but we must give back confidence to the public. It is to protect customers, protect the industry, protect the Malaysian reputation.”
He emphasised the unity between the ministry and industry.
“Malaysia cannot present itself to the world if this happens all the time. We must stick together.”
Sing, Minister Of MOTAC
Beyond regulation, the Summit highlighted the importance of improving tourism products and visitor experience. The Minister called on industry players to work with the ministry and state tourism stakeholders to develop new products, platforms and destinations, while enhancing cultural tourism and travel experiences.
With nationwide participation, insights gathered from the MATTA Membership Summit 2026 were set to guide MATTA’s future initiatives, policy engagement and member-focused programmes, reinforcing trust, accountability and collaboration across Malaysia’s tourism ecosystem.
