MATTA Muslim Friendly Travel Fair 2026 Opens As Malaysia Tops Global Muslim Travel Index For 11th Year

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – The MATTA Muslim Friendly Travel Fair 2026 officially opened at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, marking the second edition of the event and its largest edition so far. The travel fair brings together industry players, tourism agencies and consumers looking for Muslim-friendly travel packages, services and experiences.

The event comes as Malaysia retained its number one position in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026 for the 11th consecutive year. Malaysia scored 83 points, four points higher than last year, reflecting the country’s strong halal tourism ecosystem and continued appeal among Muslim travellers.

MFTF 2026 features 122 booths from 57 exhibitors across 2,700 square metres in a single hall. The fair serves as a dedicated marketplace for Muslim-friendly travel products, including halal-friendly holiday packages, family travel options, accommodation, tourism services and destination promotions.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. He said competition in the Muslim-friendly travel market is increasing as more non-Muslim-majority countries begin investing in halal services and facilities to attract Muslim tourists.

Tiong also highlighted that countries such as Macao have expanded halal dining options, Muslim-friendly accommodation, prayer facilities at airports and dedicated travel information for Muslim visitors. He said this shows that Malaysia must continue innovating and strengthening collaboration to remain ahead in the growing Muslim tourism market.

The fair also supports Visit Malaysia 2026, which targets 47 million visitors and RM329 billion in tourism receipts. Muslim-friendly travel has been identified as one of the key focus areas of the campaign, making MFTF 2026 an important platform for both tourism promotion and business growth.

MATTA Muslim Friendly Travel Fair deputy chairman Dr Fazil Khan said the Muslim-friendly travel segment is not a short-term trend, but a sustained and expanding market. He said the fair gives MATTA members a practical platform to connect directly with consumers who are actively looking for Muslim-friendly travel products.

During the opening ceremony, MATTA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic Tourism Centre to strengthen Malaysia’s Muslim-friendly tourism sector. Under the agreement, ITC will provide standards and capacity-building support, while MATTA will use its industry network to encourage more members to join the Muslim-Friendly Accreditation and Recognition programme.

ITC director-general Mohammad Faisal Abu Suaib Khan said the partnership aims to train 1,000 tourism industry professionals over the next few years. The first training session is scheduled for July 27 and 28, involving an estimated 50 MATTA members.

Mohammad Faisal also said the long-term goal is to develop a single reference point for Muslim travellers worldwide, including a comprehensive database of Muslim-friendly hotels, travel agencies, tourist guides, spa and wellness services, as well as other tourism products. He added that Muslim arrivals could reach 15 million by 2030.

Key partners for MFTF 2026 include RHB Bank Berhad as the official bank partner and the Macao Government Tourism Office as a sponsor. Macao Government Tourism Office director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said Muslim travellers are an important segment as Macao diversifies its tourism source markets.

MFTF 2026 is open from 10am to 9pm from July 4 to July 5. The fair also includes a Buyers’ Contest, where visitors who spend at least RM100 at participating booths can qualify for prizes.