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Jakarta Great Sale 2013 Aims to Draw Tourists From Asia and Middle East.

28th March, 2013

Jakarta Great Sale 2013 Aims to Draw Tourists From Asia and Middle East.

The Jakarta Great Sale Festival 2013 will kick off in June to offer discounted products in an effort to attract domestic buyers and draw tourists from Asia and the Middle East to malls in the capital. The two-week event will launch on June 1, in honor of Jakarta’s 486th anniversary. Handaka Santosa, the head of the festival, said that the festival will combine shopping, cultural and lifestyle events into one big event.

This year’s event will highlight Indonesian cuisine and traditional crafts, in cooperation with the Indonesian Female Entrepreneurs and Regional Crafts Council. This year, Handaka said, the festival has teamed up with 74 shopping centers and other partners throughout the city to offer 20 percent to 70 percent off a myriad of products. Handaka added that the event strives to draw tourists to malls across Jakarta.

“The Jakarta Great Sale Festival is also targeted to reach the Asia and Middle East areas. We expect the tourists from those areas will be attracted to come to Jakarta to enjoy the many discounts and to shop,” he said during dinner with Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama at City Hall on Wednesday night.

Basuki said the annual event encourages people to come to the city, spend money and experience all that Jakarta has to offer. “It’s better if all products are discounted, not only certain brands. With many products at a discounted price, people that come here would remember Jakarta,” Basuki said.

Handaka said he was optimistic that campaigns across Asia and the Middle East promoting the Jakarta Great Sale Festival would pay off with a massive influx of buyers. He also told Kompas.com that he wants to show Indonesians that they don’t need to go overseas to find great products at affordable prices. Handaka said that the Jakarta Great Sale Festival 2013 is expected to see 15 percent more money from transactions than last year’s event ,which reached Rp 10.7 trillion ($175 million). The organizer also said the sale would strengthen the relations among business people in the city, increase mall visitors by 20 percent and contribute to Jakarta’s tax income.

Sapta Nirwandar, vice minister of tourism and creative economy, said the Jakarta Great Sale will bring many profits to the capital city. “The event will increase Jakarta’s regional income and also increase the tourists visiting the city,” Sapta said.

By: Lenny Tristia Tambun

Copyright@2013 JakartaGlobe

KLIA2 on schedule to open on June 28.

28th March, 2013

KLIA2 on schedule to open on June 28.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) says the klia2 - the new low-cost airline hub - is on schedule to open on June 28. The airports operator said on Thursday all efforts were underway to meet this target date.

"MAHB is closely monitoring the progress of the work being done by the contractors," it said. Although some works by the contractors were behind schedule, they were ramping up their efforts to meet the deadline, it said.

MAHB is employing 1,102 new staff for KLIA2, of which 746 are aviation security, 86 are airport fire and rescue services, 98 are engineering and maintenance and 172 are operations services.

MAHB also said its managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, who has been with the company since 2003, had requested the board seek a suitable successor. Bashir's contract ends in June.

However, MAHB said the board would like Bashir to continue to guide the company through the current challenges facing the aviation industry. "The board will in due course identify a successor and will provide sufficient time for a proper transition. The board has deliberated the matter and has forwarded the matter to Ministry of Finance for its decision," it said.

By: Leong Hung Yee

Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

TripAdvisor unveils travelers' choice islands.

27th March, 2013

TripAdvisor unveils travelers' choice islands.

Travelers' Choice Islands awards; Top islands worldwide recognized based on opinions of millions of travelers across the globe.

NEWTON, MASS. - TripAdvisor announced the winners of its inaugural Travelers' Choice Islands awards. Based on millions of valuable traveler reviews and opinions on the site, the awards recognize more than 100 islands across the globe, including dedicated lists for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, and the U.S. 

"Whether you're looking for idyllic palm-lined islands, or islands that offer a more cultural experience, you'll find inspiration in these lists," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "From the world famous to the hidden gems, what unifies every award winner is the fantastic feedback from travelers across the globe."

Top 10 Islands in the U.S.:

•San Juan Island, Washington

•Kauai, Hawaii

•Marco Island, Florida

•Anna Maria Island, Florida

•Maui, Hawaii

•Sanibel Island, Florida

•Chincoteague Island, Virginia

•Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

•Amelia Island, Florida

•Key West, Florida

Top 10 Islands in the World:

•Ambergris Caye, Belize

•St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

•Bora Bora, French Polynesia

•San Juan Island, Washington

•Santorini, Greece

•Isla Mujeres, Mexico

•Moorea, French Polynesia

•Koh Tao, Thailand

•Easter Island, Chile

•Nosy Be, Madagascar

"We're delighted that San Juan Island is honored as both the top island in the U.S. and as a top four world pick in the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Islands awards," said Deborah Hopkins, executive director for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. "We'd like to thank the travelers who have made this win possible, simply by sharing their love of the sparkling waters, abundant wildlife, outdoor recreation and vibrant arts scene that San Juan Island offers on TripAdvisor."

By: Helena Tzioti

Copyright@1999 - 2013, TravelDailyNews www.traveldailynews.com

Bangladesh Wants To Emulate Malaysia's Infrastructure Development To Attract More Tourists.

28th March, 2013

Bangladesh Wants To Emulate Malaysia's Infrastructure Development To Attract More Tourists.

KUALA LUMPUR - Bangladesh is keen to emulate Malaysia's infrastructure development to attract more tourists to the country, said Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Malaysia A.K.M. Atiqur Rahman. He said tourists were easily attracted to Malaysia because of its infrastructure.

For example, an average of 500 people from Bangladesh fly to Malaysia each day, with three flights operating daily between Kuala Lumpur and Dhaka, he told Bernama in an interview recently, in conjunction with the country's 42nd independence anniversary celebration yesterday.

Atiqur Rahman said the lack of infrastructure facilities had restricted the country from getting more tourists from around the globe. "Once we can do these things (rebuild infrastructure), I think we will get more tourists, not only from Malaysia but also from other countries," he said. However, he noted that a lot of work needed to be done, not only to improve Bangladesh's infrastructure but also to develop air links, hotels and restaurants.

The High Commissioner said Bangladesh had many tourist attractions, including the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and home to the Bengal tiger. The Sundarban forest covers around 10,000 square km, of which a major portion is in Bangladesh, while India's portion is estimated to be around 4,264 square km.

Atiqur Rahman said Bangladesh is also known for its Cox's Bazar beach, which is one of the world's longest natural sandy beaches and also a fishing port, an added value to attract more tourists.

Touching on investments, he said a number of Malaysian companies were investing in housing projects in the country. However, he sees the need for more collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry as Bangladesh maintains a high standard of medicinal products at very competitive prices. "So, we hope that by the next three to five years, there will be lot of Malaysian companies investing in Bangladesh in the medical sector also," Atiqur Rahman said.

Touching on bilateral relations, he said diplomatic ties with Malaysia began in 1972, a year after Bangladesh attained its independence. He lauded the Malaysian government and its people for being the first Muslim and Southeast Asian country to recognise Bangladesh, just within months after its liberation on Dec 16, 1971 (regarded as Victory Day).

By: Azzah Mohamad

Copyright@BERNAMA

Taiwan aiming to attract more Muslim tourists.

27th March, 2013

Taiwan aiming to attract more Muslim tourists.

Taipei (CNA) - Taiwan is working to attract more Muslim tourists as part of its efforts to expand its tourism, the Tourism Bureau said Monday at a briefing by Muslim travel market experts.

Last year, the number of foreign tourist arrivals to Taiwan reached a record high of 7.3 million, but the percentage of Muslim tourists remained small, said Eric Lin, director of the bureau’s international affairs division.

Lin said the bureau has been working with the Taipei-based Chinese Muslims Association over the past few years to create a Muslim-friendly environment that would include the certification of Muslim restaurants and hotels.

With the focus on Muslim tourists, “we now need to step up our efforts” to understand and cater to their needs to make Taiwan more attractive to them, he said.

To this end, the bureau commissioned the association to invite experts on the Muslim travel market to meet Monday with representatives of restaurants and hotels in Taiwan.

Darhim Dali Hashim, chief executive officer of the Malaysia-based International Halal Integrity Alliance, said that the majority of the world’s Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan is within short distance by air from many Muslim countries in Asia such as Malaysia, he said. “That represents an opportunity for Taiwan,” he added.

On the subject of restaurant services, one expert said Muslim diners would need to have Halal food and a prayer facility. Halal restaurants do not serve certain foods such as pork or wine, as these are not permissible under Islamic law.

There is no big difference, however, between Muslim tourists and other travelers, said Fazal Bahardeen, founder and CEO of Crescent rating, a travel portal dedicated to Muslim tourists. Muslim visitors just need to be able to preserve their religious values, he added.

After the briefing, the tourism bureau held a ceremony at which it granted Halal certificates to an additional 16 restaurants around Taiwan.

By: Elaine Hou

Copyright@2001-2012 MuslimVillage Incorporated

Sabah a magnet for tourists.

27th March, 2013

Sabah a magnet for tourists.

SABAH, also known as the “Land Below The Wind”, is among one of the country's fastest growing economies driven mainly by its eco-tourism products, palm oil industry and other natural resources.

Home to the nation's highest peak Mount Kinabalu and world-class diving site Sipadan, Sabah draws hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world annually.

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands off the Kota Kinabalu capital city is also a popular draw for local and foreign tourists seeking adventure sport holiday packages.

The Danum Valley rainforest conservation area also draws researchers from all over the globe as well as prominent visitors like Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton last year.

 Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

DRH reveals two new developments in Nusajaya.

27th March, 2013

DRH reveals two new developments in Nusajaya.

Key projects by Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) to boost Johor’s tourism and commercial sector

KUALA LUMPUR – Formed to be a catalyst of premier and integrated destination resorts in Malaysia, Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH), is proud to announce two new premier developments under its investment portfolio – Traders Hotel and Little Red Cube, both located in Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya.

As one of the major leisure and tourism (“L&T”) investments located at the southern tip of peninsula Malaysia, these two developments undertaken by DRH will contribute immensely to elevate Puteri Harbour as the new destination of Johor.

Nadziruddin Basri, Managing Director of DRH said, “As a catalyst for the development of Malaysia’s L&T sector, this is a very exciting time for DRH. Last November, we announced our first integrated resort development in Johor; Desaru Coast. Today, we are proud to introduce Traders Hotel along with Little Red Cube, our key developments in Puteri Harbour – the jewel of Nusajaya. These developments will add to the leisure offerings in the region, stimulate the economy in the surrounding areas, create employment for our local talents as well as develop a pool of hospitality professionals.”

DRH has formed a strategic partnership with world-renowned Shangri-La Group, to operate the first international hotel brand in Nusajaya – Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour. Located at the waterfront marina, guests will be able to enjoy world-class facilities complemented with Traders signature warm hospitality. Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour boasts five multi-function meeting and event rooms including a banquet hall with the capacity to cater up to 600 guests. It also features key Traders signature facilities including a skybar lounge located on the rooftop overlooking the stunning Straits of Johor, three swimming pools, along with a spa and gym. In addition, it is fully equipped with a contemporary business centre, pre-function area and VIP room  to cater to local and international business and MICE travelers. To prepare for its opening in Q2 2013, the hotel has started its recruitment with more than 350 job offerings to professionals in the hospitality industry.

Within the same integrated development is Little Red Cube; a lifestyle and family entertainment complex covering over 4.2 acres that hosts a premium mix of retail, leisure, F&B and entertainment outlets. Its 88 lots are sprawled on two levels, consisting of a promenade that faces the harbour, offering a spectacular view of the Straits of Johor. Little Red Cube is also home to the newly opened Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park, an indoor theme park comprising Hello Kitty Town and Little Big Club, with the latest addition LAT’s Place that has recently opened its doors to eager diners to experience the first interactive dining experience within the region.

With a total investment of more than RM400 million, both Little Red Cube and Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour are expected to create over 1,000 employment opportunities and to bring in the 500,000 target visitors during the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

“DRH’s portfolio is growing steadily and we are eager to share our latest projects as they unveil. Ultimately, our success is largely attributed to our collaborations with key partners, such as the Shangri-La Group. They share our strong commitment to further elevate the L&T landscape with world-class developments and innovative infrastructure in realizing the strong growth potential in our region. Today, we begin by catering to the booming commercial and tourism industry in Nusajaya, which is one of the five flagship development zones in Iskandar, Johor,” he added.

By: Tatiana Rokou

Copyright@1999 - 2013, TravelDailyNews www.traveldailynews.com