Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents and Universiti Teknologi MARA Unite to Innovate and Elevate Tourism at the Esteemed 7th International Conference

Published on January 2, 2025

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has announced a strategic collaboration with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), unveiled during the 7th International Hospitality & Tourism Conference organized by UiTM’s Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management on December 3, 2024.

Milestone MoU Signed to Bridge Academia and Industry

In a significant development, MATTA and UiTM formalized their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the conference dinner. This pivotal agreement underscores a shared vision to close the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry demands.

The MoU outlines several collaborative objectives:

• Faculty and Student Exchanges: Facilitating mutual exchanges to foster academic growth and industry understanding.
• Study and Research Opportunities: Offering graduate and undergraduate students access to hands-on research and field experiences.
• Knowledge Sharing Platforms: Creating opportunities through symposia, conferences, and specialized short courses.
• Industry Insights: Exchanging valuable data on tourism trends and advancements to stay ahead of the curve.
• Joint Initiatives: Promoting partnerships that blend education with real-world tourism industry needs.

This collaboration is designed to actively exchange expertise and insights, creating a synergy that benefits both education and the tourism sector.

Focus on Tourism Talent Development

MATTA has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent in the tourism industry. Recognizing the rapidly evolving landscape, MATTA aims to ensure professionals are equipped with the skills and adaptability required for sustainable growth.

A cornerstone of this initiative is the upcoming MATTA Tourism Talent Expo, set to take place alongside the National MATTA Fair from April 18–20, 2024. This specialized event will serve as a dynamic platform to:

• Highlight education opportunities tailored for tourism and hospitality professionals.
• Promote upskilling and reskilling initiatives to enhance workforce capabilities.
• Offer workshops led by seasoned industry experts, providing actionable insights and career guidance.

The Talent Expo will focus on career development across the travel, hospitality, tourism, and airline sectors, aiming to inspire a future-ready workforce.

Strengthening Education-Industry Ties

This collaboration between MATTA and UiTM reflects a shared commitment to advancing Malaysia’s tourism sector by fostering innovation, talent development, and research. By bridging the divide between academia and industry, the partnership is poised to create transformative opportunities that enhance the competitiveness of Malaysia’s tourism landscape.

As MATTA and UiTM continue to align their efforts, this landmark initiative sets a precedent for future collaborations that prioritize education, talent cultivation, and industry excellence.

Nigel Wong, President of MATTA, expressed his optimism about the collaboration, stating, “Through this partnership with UiTM, we hope to provide a chance to bridge the gap between academic excellence and industry needs. It sets a benchmark to better equip the tourism and hospitality industry to excel in an ever-changing global business environment. MATTA, through the MATTA Academy and its strategic partnerships is looking into addressing the manpower needs for a growing industry. We intend to prosper and shape a resilient, future-focused industry.”