Nigel Wong Chun Teim has been re-elected President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) for the 2026-2029 term, with the announcement made at the association’s 51st National Annual General Meeting held at the World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, on 27th June 2026. MATTA is Malaysia’s largest and most influential travel trade body, and the re-election underscores the continued confidence members place in Wong’s leadership as the association charts the next phase of the country’s tourism growth.
The AGM drew one of the strongest turnouts in recent years, with over 600 attendees, including 534 active members from across Malaysia, reflecting the industry’s active engagement in MATTA’s democratic processes.
Wong will be supported by a new leadership team comprising Mohd Hizzat Mohd Shah as Deputy President and Rocky Kho Kwang Peow as Honorary Treasurer. The newly elected Executive Committee also includes Chong Yu Ken, Dr. Fazil Khan Abdul Kadir, Subramaniam Kandasamy, Shazli Affuat Ghazali, Gopalan Mariappan, Adam Kamal Ahmad Kamil and Muhd Jafni Mustapha.
A veteran of the tourism trade, Wong has been part of MATTA’s Executive Council since 2013, holding positions including Vice President for Research & Technology, Honorary Secretary General and Honorary Treasurer before first being elected President in 2023. He also serves as Secretary General of the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) since 2019, where he has driven regional initiatives such as the Travel Safe Alliance and a blockchain-based ASEAN Vaccine Passport Protocol.
Trained originally as a software engineer, Wong’s tourism career began in Australia, where he built one of the country’s leading online adventure travel platforms. Returning to Malaysia in 2009, he founded Urban Rhythms Tours Adventures & Travel Sdn. Bhd., blending technology with sustainable tourism practice – an approach that has since defined much of his leadership at MATTA.
During his presidency, Wong has placed sustainability at the centre of MATTA’s agenda, launching the Green Circle Initiative to foster public-private collaboration on sustainable tourism, and opening discussions with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to encourage wider adoption of internationally recognised standards among members.
Looking ahead, the new Executive Council is expected to prioritise industry collaboration, digital transformation, stronger member engagement and progressive policy advocacy, while continuing to position Malaysia among Asia’s leading tourism destinations.
The AGM also saw strong regional representation, with a Penang delegation of around 25 members, led by Chairwoman Carolyn Leong, combining the meeting with an inspection visit to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as part of the chapter’s annual engagement programme.
Tourism India joins stakeholders across Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region in congratulating Nigel Wong and the newly elected Executive Council, and looks forward to their continued leadership in driving innovation, sustainability and regional cooperation over the coming term.
