Representatives from the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) and RHB Bank Berhad during the launch of the MATTA Muslim Friendly Travel Fair (MFTF) 2026. Pictured (from left) are Haji Mohd Azri Abd Razak, MATTA Vice President of Umrah & Hajj; Mohd Hizzat Mohd Shah, MATTA Vice President of Research & Technology; Dr. Fazil Khan Abdul Kadir, MATTA Vice President of Air Transportation and Deputy Organising Chairman of MFTF 2026; Mohammad Faisal Abu Suaib Khan, Director-General of Islamic Tourism Centre; Ishak Othman, Head of Islamic Business Development, RHB Bank Berhad; and Shazli Affuat Ghazali, MATTA Vice President of Education & Training. Together, they reaffirm their commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem through MFTF 2026. The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is set to bring back its flagship MATTA Muslim Friendly Travel Fair (MFTF) on 4 and 5 July 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTC KL), as demand for Muslim-friendly travel continues to surge globally. The second edition of the fair arrives at a time when the halal tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with Muslim international arrivals reaching 196 million in 2025—surpassing earlier projections by 10 million travellers. Industry forecasts also indicate that annual Muslim travel expenditure is expected to reach US$310 billion by 2030, underlining the immense potential of this rapidly expanding market. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, MFTF 2026 returns on a significantly larger scale, featuring 123 booths from 57 participating organisations across 2,700 square metres of exhibition space. The event is positioned as Malaysia’s most comprehensive platform dedicated to Muslim-friendly travel products, services and experiences, offering visitors a one-stop destination to explore travel packages, destinations and tourism offerings tailored to Muslim travellers. Malaysia’s leadership in the Muslim-friendly tourism sector remains a key advantage for the industry. The country has retained its top position in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for 11 consecutive years, reinforcing its status as the global benchmark for Muslim-friendly travel. According to Dr. Fazil Khan, Deputy Organising Chairman of MFTF 2026, the fair plays an important role in connecting Malaysia’s global recognition in the sector with real business opportunities for tourism industry players. The event is supported by several strategic industry partners, including the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) as Strategic Partner, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) as Sponsor, and RHB Bank Berhad as the Official Bank Partner. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem and expanding opportunities for travel businesses to tap into the growing global Muslim travel market. A major highlight of this year’s fair is the strong collaboration with ITC, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), which oversees Malaysia’s Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR) standards. ITC views the fair as an important platform for industry players to showcase Muslim-friendly products and services while promoting Malaysia as an inclusive destination. The agency has also announced plans to provide targeted capacity-building programmes to 1,000 MATTA members over the next two years, helping them enhance their competitiveness and marketability within the global Muslim tourism sector. Meanwhile, RHB Bank’s participation as the Official Bank Partner reflects growing support from the financial sector for halal tourism development. Through innovative banking solutions such as the RHB Multi Currency Debit Card/-i, travellers can enjoy seamless transactions across multiple destinations, enhancing convenience and accessibility when travelling abroad. International participation also adds to the significance of MFTF 2026, with Macao emerging as one of the event’s key sponsors. Ranked 16th in the GMTI 2025, Macao has made notable progress in developing Muslim-friendly tourism offerings, including halal-certified dining options and specialised training programmes for tourism personnel. Its presence at the fair highlights the growing international interest in attracting Muslim travellers and demonstrates how destinations worldwide are increasingly looking to Malaysia for expertise and market access. Open to the public from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm on both days, MFTF 2026 is expected to attract travel enthusiasts, families and industry stakeholders seeking the latest Muslim-friendly travel opportunities. As the halal tourism sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, the fair serves as a strategic platform that not only connects travellers with trusted travel providers but also reinforces Malaysia’s position as a global leader in Muslim-friendly tourism. For latest updates, follow us on Instagram, X and TikTok (@matta_mftf) and the officialFacebook Page (MATTA Muslim Friendly Travel Fair). Post navigation HOCK KEE KOPITIAM SCORES DOUBLE HONOURS AT THE TOP QUALITY BRAND AWARDS