Malaysia To Host WITM 2012 From May 31-June 2

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- The World Islamic Tourism Mart 2012 (WITM 2012), aimed at promoting the Muslim tourism industry to the global market, will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here, from May 31 to June 2. The inaugural event will feature three major sections, namely the Consumer Travel Fair, Business-to-Business Travel Exchange and an international conference. Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Mohd Khalid Harun said WITM 2012 was projected to enhance the unrealised potential of the Muslim tourism sector. "With over 1.7 billion Muslim population worldwide and growing affluence of the Muslim society, the Muslim tourism market is a gold mine waiting to be tapped. "More and more travel agents and tour operators in Malaysia are setting up Muslim departments within their company to offer Muslim packages," he said in a joint press conference with Etihad Airways and Maybank Islamic Berhad, here, Tuesday. Etihad Airways will provide special fares for confirmed participants of WITM 2012 to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the event as well as special fares to promote their packages during the travel fair. Maybank Islamic, meanwhile, will provide free credit card terminals to all exhibitors taking part in the WITM Travel Fair. WITM chairman Zarinah Hashim said 122 booths were available for both Malaysian and international sellers to take up at the Business-to-Business Travel Exchange, whereby buyers meet sellers, during the three-day event at the Hussein Onn and Dr Ismail Halls. There are about 700 confirmed buyers from 40 countries including Bahrain, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. Zarinah said about 25,000 visitors were expected to visit the Consumer Travel Fair to be held at Mawar Hall, PWTC. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the Sixth International Conference on Muslim Tourism, Haj and Umrah. The one-day conference will have renowned speakers and panellists from the United States, Maldives, Singapore, China and Malaysia. WITM 2012 is organised in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Tourism Malaysia, Information, Communications and Culture Ministry, International Trade and Industry Ministry, and Malaysian Association of Hotels with the support of state government tourism organisations. -- BERNAMA