MATTA CALLS FOR UNIFIED NATIONAL EFFORT TO DRIVE ELECTRIC TOURISM VEHICLES

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 APRIL 2026 – The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has called for a coordinated national strategy to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) within Malaysia’s tourism sector, stressing that strong collaboration between government agencies and industry players is essential to build a sustainable and future-ready tourism ecosystem.

According to MATTA President, Nigel Wong, the transition towards electric mobility in tourism should not be viewed solely as a transport initiative, but rather as a broader systemic transformation involving infrastructure planning, energy development, financial support mechanisms and tourism governance. He noted that without proper coordination between ministries, agencies and stakeholders, efforts to electrify tourism-related transport would remain fragmented and unable to achieve meaningful long-term impact.

Wong explained that the transition is not simply about replacing conventional petrol and diesel vehicles with EVs, but about creating a practical ecosystem that enables tourism operators to adopt electric mobility confidently, affordably and at scale. He emphasised the need for stronger nationwide coordination to ensure charging infrastructure is strategically rolled out across tourism hotspots, highways and major urban centres, while also providing targeted incentives to support tourism operators transitioning their fleets to EVs.

MATTA also pointed to several international examples where coordinated government action has successfully accelerated EV adoption across tourism and transport systems. In Norway, extensive charging infrastructure, supportive incentives and comprehensive policies have contributed to widespread EV usage, including rental car fleets servicing popular tourist routes and scenic destinations. Across the European Union, cities such as Amsterdam and Paris have introduced low-emission zones and climate-focused transport policies that encouraged tourism mobility services, including hotel shuttles and sightseeing fleets, to transition towards electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, China’s large-scale state-led coordination has enabled rapid electrification in cities like Shenzhen, where entire public bus fleets have shifted to electric power. MATTA said these global examples demonstrate the importance of whole-of-government leadership in aligning infrastructure, policies and incentives to ensure successful EV transitions.

The association added that Malaysia already possesses a solid foundation through initiatives such as the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021–2030, which outlines the country’s direction in reducing transport-related emissions while supporting economic growth. However, MATTA believes stronger inter-agency coordination is now crucial to ensure these strategies are implemented effectively and benefit tourism operators nationwide.

Beyond infrastructure and policy support, MATTA also highlighted the importance of integrating renewable energy into the EV ecosystem to ensure emissions reductions are genuinely sustainable rather than simply shifted to another sector. The association further urged government-linked companies and public sector agencies to lead by example by adopting electric vehicles for official and tourism-related transportation, saying public sector leadership would help build confidence and encourage wider private sector adoption.

Wong noted that tourism remains one of Malaysia’s most important economic sectors, and maintaining global competitiveness will require the country to align with international sustainability trends. He stressed that the urgency for a whole-of-government approach lies in its ability to provide the coordination, scale and policy certainty needed to transform tourism mobility in a meaningful and sustainable manner.