Malaysia to host inaugural World IslamicTourism Mart

Malaysia can emerge as a major destination for Muslim tourists and a business hub for Islamic countries, taking advantage of the inaugural World Islamic Tourism Mart 2012 (WITM 2012). Hosted by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), the WITM 2012 is expected to woo 25,000 visitors. The three-day event will begin on May 31. 

Business-to-business (B2B) networking, exhibition featuring consumer products and services and conference will also be held during the event. Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said WITM 2012 aims to enhance and unlock Muslim tourists' immense potential to propel Malaysia into a tourism hub and an Islamic business centre in this region. 

"Muslims make up about 1.6 billion of the world's population and have over the years become more observant to Islamic tenets and certainly more affluent.

"This has led to a very large consumers' market which is yet to be fully explored or tapped into," he said at the soft launch of the WITM 2012.Mukhriz said that even non-Muslim travel agents have set up their own Muslim tour departments to tap the vast potential of the Muslim tourism industry. 

Meanwhile, WITM chairman Zarinah Hashim said 120 booths have been allocated for B2B networking sessions and some 500 quality buyers comprising business owners, company directors and top management officials. "We already have confirmed buyers and sellers, and a number of countries, including the UK, Turkey, China, India, Pakistan, Oman and many more have confirmed attendance."

Source - btimes.com.my