tourism services M A L A Y S I A

This blog is about tourism and hospitality in Malaysia. The objectives are to provide information, news and events of Malaysia's attraction, access, amenities and ancillary services to tourists, industry players and general public. It may also include global tourism news and shouts, plus a venue to explore the industry development, surveys, measures and comments. We hope it will be informative, educational and useful for all readers. Enjoy and have fun exploring the blog!

Thursday 11 April 2013

Australia Sees Strong Asian Tourist Arrivals.

Date: 7 March 2013

Australia Sees Strong Asian Tourist Arrivals.

CANBERRA, March 7 (Bernama) - Australia's overseas arrivals have recorded a 4.1 percent increase in the last 12 months, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a release by the Ministry of Tourism Thursday. The first Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures for 2013, released Thursday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, showed growth of inbound arrivals from many major markets in the month of January.

Despite a decline in arrivals from Asian markets such as China, Singapore and Malaysia during January 2013 -- due to Chinese New Year falling in February this year - these markets grew strongly in the 12 months to January 2013, up 8.8 percent, 6.8 percent and 8.5 percent respectively.

Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson, said the figures highlighted the importance of the government's allocation of A$48.5 million Australian dollars (US$49.5 million) to the Asia Marketing Fund and Tourism Australia's long term marketing campaign "There's Nothing Like Australia."

"Continued annualized growth of overseas visitor arrivals gives the Australian tourism industry cause for optimism with strong growth continuing from Asian markets," Ferguson said. "It is likely that we will see strong solid growth in February 2013 driven by the Chinese New Year period and importantly, there are signs of continued improvement from large traditional markets such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the U.S."

Visitors from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States, were up 1.4 percent, 9.5 percent and 8.5 percent respectively in January 2013. Visitors from other Asian markets including Indonesia and India continued to record positive growth, up 3.6 percent and 4.6 percent respectively in January 2013.

Outbound departures continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace. The outbound sector increased by 4.2 percent in January 2013, almost half the rate of the five year average of 8 percent.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

KLIA2 Terminal Building 80 Per Cent Completed, Says MAHB.

Date: 7 March 2013

KLIA2 Terminal Building 80 Per Cent Completed, Says MAHB.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) - The terminal building at the new KLIA2 low-cost airport has surpassed 80 per cent completion rate, says Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) Senior General Manager (Commercial Services) Faizah Khairuddin.

Construction of the 257,000 sq. m. KLIA2 is on track, she said, adding MAHB is working with the contractor to make sure the construction and internal works of the terminal building conclude by May 1.

Faizah said although the commencement date has been delayed to June 28, the two-month grace period would be utilised by the airport operator to perform testing and commissioning activities.

She said KLIA2 would be launched on June 28 this year, the date chosen by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and coinciding with the launch date of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in 1998. Faizah also said retailers can come in in stages while the terminal building is being completed.

"According to the timeline we are able to make it for commencement," she told Bernama. She said 82 per cent of the commercial floor space has been tendered, and no more new brands will be entertained.

Asked about Malindo Air's plan to begin operations in mid-March, she said MAHB is very happy with the presence of new airlines and welcomes Malindo into the family. “I think it's also good for consumers because now they have more choices and I believe that would induce further growth in our passenger numbers," she added.

The RM4 billion KLIA2, built to cater for the explosive growth expected in low-cost travel, is envisaged to handle a maximum of 45 million passengers per annum. It will have 60 gates, eight remote stands and 80 aerobridges, plus a 32,000 sq. m. retail space with 225 retail outlets.

By Kavita Pannir Selvam

Copyright @ BERNAMA

More than 150 local and international brands to be showcased at shoe fair.

Date: 7 March 2013

More than 150 local and international brands to be showcased at shoe fair.

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia International Shoe Festival (MISF) is back for the fourth consecutive year with more than 150 local and international brands being showcased. Among the highlights of the fair from March 29 to 31 at Hall 2 of the Putra World Trade Centre will be a showcase of the latest collection by Malaysia's tourism ambassador and shoe couturier, Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo.

“Malaysia has been ranked 19th worldwide in terms of our shoe exports. Half of the 68 million pairs made in our country yearly were sold to overseas markets. Our footwear export has fetched US$200mil (RM621mil) from markets such as Brazil, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Asean countries. I trust that the MISF 2013 will be well-received by tourists and shoe enthusiasts alike,” Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said at the soft launch of the festival here yesterday.

Other activities expected at the festival include a shoe fashion show, a Malaysia footwear design competition and an exhibit of works by young designers.

A brand new Hyundai i10 worth RM56,000 also awaits a lucky visitor who can successfully guess the value of the shoes on display inside the car at the fair. The car is sponsored by Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd. The contest is open to any visitor who spends RM300 and above at the festival and shares a photo of the MISF 2013 on the festival's Facebook page.

The MISF 2013 is organised by the Tourism Ministry and the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association in conjunction with the Grand Prix Sale. The four-day exhibition, themed 1Malaysia Walking in Unity, Sole of the Nation, kicks-off with a special preview for trade buyers on the first day. Others can visit the fair on subsequent days from 10.30am to 8.30pm.

Copyright @ 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Tourism Malaysia to woo more wedding tourists from India.

Date: 7 March 2013

Tourism Malaysia to woo more wedding tourists from India.

TOURISM Malaysia, which is eyeing 780,000 tourists from India in 2013, is all geared up to woo more wedding tourism from the country, its Director, Amran Abdul Rahman said. Last year, a total of 691,271 Indians visited Malaysia

"Indians spend lavishly on weddings, especially in the northern region. It is a great market indeed," he said, adding, spending between RM3 million to RM4 million for weddings is very common.

Tourism Malaysia, he said has identified places such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Lucknow, as the major markets for wedding related tourism. There have been a few weddings held to date in Malaysia and the favourite destination of wedding couples was Langkawi, Pangkor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

"We started this tourism strategy just four to five years ago and really want to go big on it. The market is so huge that the package could also include chartering a whole aircraft," he told Bernama. "Malaysia also offers exotic destinations like Sabah and Sarawak for Indians who are seeking locations closer to nature," said Amran.

On why there have been only a few weddings, despite the huge potential, he said, the segment is still at a very early stage of development. “One reason why we receive less weddings in Malaysia compared to Thailand, is that the product owners, namely hoteliers are not ready to host such big weddings. Of course, they are used to having Malaysian weddings. But the requirements for Indian weddings are different, especially in terms of food, which a majority of the hoteliers can't cater for," he added.

However, a number of hotels now understand the market and are well prepared to host, "Big Fat Indian Weddings."

On the part of Tourism Malaysia, he said, India’s leading wedding planners have been taken on hosted tours to Malaysia, to discover the best on offer. "We have also tied-up with wedding related magazines to showcase our products as well as participate in wedding fairs," he said. The aim, he added, is to attract more quality weddings and not just quantity.

Besides weddings, he said Tourism Malaysia also aims to promote high-end tourism like spas, eco tourism, golf, exotic destinations as well as event related tourism such as the Formula One, Moto GP, and International Shoe Festivals.

Amran said there is also a huge demand for "single women" outbound travellers, which Tourism Malaysia would tap on, by coming up with customised travel packages. "Besides spa, entertainment and shopping, we are also promoting diving activities for them in places like Tioman and Redang.

"Indian holidaymakers will continue to spend this year despite the global economic strain. Hence, we will be promoting various attractive destinations in Malaysia through various media and other activities, including campaigns on television, newspapers, magazines and the social media," he added.

Amran said Tourism Malaysia also does joint promotions with local tour operators, airlines, other tourism boards and select brands, to entice the tourism traffic from India. – Bernama

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Tourism ministry closely monitoring situation in Lahad Datu.

Date: 7 March 2013

Tourism ministry closely monitoring situation in Lahad Datu.

THE tourism ministry and Tourism Malaysia are closely monitoring the situation in Lahad Datu and Semporna, Sabah and getting updates at 12-hour intervals from the Sabah Tourism Board.

Despite the intrusion into Sabah by terrorists last week, the minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, has reiterated that the state was still safe for tourism.

In fact, the intrusion had little impact on tourism in the country, shecsaid, adding that tourists should however, take precaution when travelling to Lahad Datu and Semporna.

"Not all places in Sabah are unsafe. Tourists can visit the captial city of Kota Kinabalu or scale Mount Kinabalu or head to Gaya Island.

"We are constantly monitoring the situation. We receive daily reports from the Sabah Tourism Board to relay information to our officials," she told a press conference after the soft launch of the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2013 here yesterday.

Meanwhile, in the Sabah Tourism Board’s website, its director, Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks has given an assurance that the tourism industry, island resorts and activities in the east coast of Sabah were operating as usual in the various dive destinations of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking, Pom Pom, Pandanan and Lankayan. - Bernama

Copyright @ 2012 Malay Mail Sdn. Bhd.

Tour operators to be educated on social media.

Date: 6 March 2013

Tour operators to be educated on social media.

KUALA LUMPUR: Social media will be part of the Tourism Ministry's education programme for tour operators and travel guides.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said social media must be included to ensure the travel industry is up to date with current trends.

“When they apply for a licence to operate, they need to undergo a two-day compulsory training course while those who want to renew their licences have to attend a one-day continuous education course.

“So, the social media aspect will be included in both these courses as it is important in improving the services and products provided to tourists,” she said after launching the two-day 2nd Malaysia International Tourism Bloggers Conference and Awards 2013 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.

Dr Ng pointed out that the ministry had come out strong in utilising social media in its promotional activities with the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia's Facebook page receiving 1,365,925 likes.

By WONG PEK MEI pekmei@thestar.com.my

Global Air Travel Demand In January Up 2.7 Per Cent.

Date: 5 March 2013

Global Air Travel Demand In January Up 2.7 Per Cent.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) - Global air travel demand statistics for January 2013 saw a 2.7 per cent rise compared to the same month last year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.

The rise was slightly ahead of the 2.2 per cent expansion in capacity, while the load factor stood at 77.1 per cent, IATA said in a statement Tuesday.

"Strong demand for air travel, driven by the Chinese New year, had distorted the January figures. Chinese New Year fell in January 2012 and in February this year.

"The comparison to such a strong month made January 2013 demand look weaker than the underlying trend would indicate.

"After adjusting for such seasonal factors, IATA estimates that the actual growth would have been 3.5 per cent. This growth is still lower than the 5.3 per cent of 2012 average," it added.

However, air travel growth slowed sharply through the year and the results of the past few months represent an acceleration of demand growth.

Meanwhile, IATA's Director General and Chief Executive Officer Tony Tyler said passenger travel is growing in line with the business confidence level.

"Recent months have seen some positive economic signs emerge in both the United States and China, and the Eurozone crisis seems to have stabilised. Of course, risks remain, as the impact of the US budget cut has yet to play out and fuel prices are high.

"But even with these headwinds, real and potential, we still see underlying support for continued and potentially, even strengthened growth," he added.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Malaysia tops Asean tourist arrivals from 2007 to 2011.

Date: 5 March 2013

Malaysia tops Asean tourist arrivals from 2007 to 2011.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia received more tourists than any other Asean nation between 2007 and 2011, according to a new Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) report.

Over half came from Singapore, helping drive economic growth and Malaysia’s foreign exchange earnings. According to the report, three quarters of the tourists to Malaysia were from within Asean, with over 70 per cent of them coming from Singapore, thanks to close family and business ties.

Meanwhile, between 2007 and 2011, tourist arrivals from outside the region grew by 28.6 per cent, bringing an influx of tourist dollars to countries like Vietnam and Singapore.

Intra-regional travel grew even more for some nations, rising by 34.5 per cent. However, Singaporeans and Malaysians made up nearly two-thirds of intra-Asean tourists in 2011, mostly to each other for short trips. The increased wealth of countries like Indonesia also increased visitor numbers to Vietnam, as well as newer destinations like Laos.

ICAEW Economic Advisor and Centre for Economics and Business Research(Cebr’s) Executive Chairman, Douglas McWilliams, said:" One success story for the region is tourism, a major industry for South East Asia. Tourism is not just a major employer but also provides substantial foreign currency earnings, so the rise is a boost to the region’s economies."

He also said a big boost actually came from intra-regional travel, including business travel, which had grown by over a third in the last four years, suggesting significant economic development. - BERNAMA

Copyright @ 2011 The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

Explore Johor to attract tourists.

Date: 5 March 2013

Explore Johor to attract tourists.

JOHOR BARU: The state government has recorded 1.9 million visitors as of January this year. Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang said the number was an increase of 30 per cent as compared with RM1.5 million in the same period last year.

"With the cooperation of all those involved in the tourism sector, we are confident of having about 1.9 million visitors every month until the end of the year," he said. He said this during the launch of the Explore Johor programme at the Sutera Mall recently.

Hoo added that under the Explore Johor programme, the focus would be given to three major components of tourism in the state, Johor icons, attractive destinations, and local or international events. "Besides these, good infrastructure, communication and excellent customer service are crucial to attract tourists," he said.

He said that Explore Johor is in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Jan 19 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

"Explore Johor will be carried out throughout the year and one of our methods will be to introduce places of interest to the public as well as to carry out tourism promotions in different states," he said. Hoo said it would be a platform for the state government to woo more visitors.

By Rohizai Zainal

More free bus rides for JB residents who fly from Changi.

Date: 4 March 2013

More free bus rides for JB residents who fly from Changi.

Four more carriers have started offering free cross-border bus rides to attract Johor residents to fly from Changi Airport. The move by Singapore Airlines (SIA), SilkAir and Jetstar's Singapore and Australia arms will put Changi one up on its Malaysian rival if traffic is channelled away from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, industry watchers said.

Budget carrier Tiger Airways launched the service - which is operated by bus firm Transtar - in September 2010. Jetstar hopped on last month while SIA and SilkAir came on board Friday.

Anyone can get on the buses, where the cost is up to $7 for a one-way journey, but the ride is complimentary for passengers of the five carriers, including Tiger. The cost is shared between Changi Airport Group, which introduced the service, and the carriers, all of which declined to give details.

Buses depart 13 times a day from downtown Johor Baru, and passengers at Changi can also hop on board for the return journey.

After clearing immigration and Customs at the Malaysia and Singapore checkpoints, they stop at several places including Marsiling, Woodlands and Punggol, before heading to Changi Airport. The total journey takes between one and two hours depending on the time and day of the week. A flight from Johor's Senai Airport to the main KL airport takes less than an hour.

Changi's free shuttle service is one of several tie-ups the airport has introduced with partner carriers to boost traffic in an increasingly competitive landscape. With the demand for air travel in the Asia-Pacific expected to surpass the rate of growth in all other regions, airports are vying for a greater market share.

Airlines are also going all out to woo travellers - some with new services and facilities, and others with low fares. New opportunities, such as tapping into the Malaysian market, are also being explored.

Changi Airport Group spokesman Ivan Tan said that since October 2010, more than 200,000 passengers have hopped onto the cross-border buses. SIA's spokesman Nicholas Ionides declined to say how many passengers originating from Johor take SIA's flights from Changi, but added that the airline "sees potential for growth in both corporate and leisure traffic of this nature".

The competitive lure is not just from Johor Baru to Changi Airport. AirAsia, one of the three big budget carriers operating at Changi, also offers its travellers free bus rides from Singapore to Johor's Senai Airport. From there, they can get on flights not served by the airline from Changi.

The more options the better, said retiree Ahmad Ismail, who lives in Singapore and has flown from both Changi and Senai airports. "With different airports and airlines offering different services, travellers can pick and choose the best deal, which is a good thing," he said.

By Karamjit Kaur karam@sph.com.sg

Jetstar Asia looks to boost footprint in Malaysia.

Date: 4 March 2013

Jetstar Asia looks to boost footprint in Malaysia.

JETSTAR Asia, an affiliate of Australia's low-cost carrier the Jetstar group, is looking at stronger footprint in Malaysia by providing more frequencies from its hub in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Chief executive officer Barathan Pasupathi said the airline has the opportunity to increase flight frequencies into those markets that it currently operate in, as well as looking at select new markets.

For its Malaysia market, Jetstar Asia flies from Changi International Airport (Singapore) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Penang International Airport, and vice versa. It first started flying to Malaysia in 2008. Although being a low-cost carrier, the airline does not fly to the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) as it wants to provide convenience to its passengers, especially via the express rail link (ERL) train to connect from the airport to the city.

However, Pasupathi said Jetstar Asia will move to the new LCCT, klia2, once it begins operating in June. "That is definitely something that we are looking forward to because it basically has the same conveniences as the main terminal at KLIA. As long as our customers' convenience is there and it is easy for them to connect to the city, we will definitely move to klia2," he told Business Times recently.

When asked about the possibility of adding Sabah and Sarawak as Jetstar Asia's new destinations, he said that it is something the airline is looking at very closely as the markets are interesting and "the growth there is just booming". “But our immediate target is to focus on Kuala Lumpur and Penang by boosting flight frequencies and adding more seats into this market, and connecting these routes to our network into and out of Singapore," said Pasupathi.

As of October last year, Jetstar Asia has increased its capacity to key and emerging markets across its Southeast Asian network by 70,000 extra seats for services from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phuket and Yangon.

Jetstar Asia is operating 61 weekly return services between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and, thus, providing customers with more timely connections to popular services through Singapore to Manila, Perth and Taipei. The airline currently has a daily return service between Singapore and Penang and Pasupathi said there is a potential to add more services over the next few months.

Jetstar Asia started its operations in December 2004 and currently operates more than 400 weekly flights to 24 destinations across 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region. It flies from its hub in Singapore to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand and Thailand, among others.

The airline carried about 3.4 million passengers last year and expects to carry four million passengers this year. As at December 2012, Jetstar Asia has 18 Airbus A320 aircraft and the carrier expects to have a minimum of 19 A320s by year-end. The carrier received the first of six new A320s in October last year as part of its fleet rejuvenation programme.

By Bilqis Bahari

Japan sees big potential in Asian Muslim tourists.

Date: 4 March 2013

Japan sees big potential in Asian Muslim tourists.

GREATER ENTHUSIASM: More travel agencies are going all out to ensure Muslims have a comfortable stay in their country

JAPAN has suffered a traumatic decrease of Chinese tourists since the third quarter of last year, primarily because of Sino-Japan territorial frictions. Filling the void are the new waves of tourists, notably from Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries.

The number of Chinese tourists dropped 33 per cent during October, for example, but Malaysian tourists rose 66 per cent and Indonesians 40 per cent, compared with the same month the previous year.

The new trend is driving Japanese enthusiasm in preparing to welcome Muslim visitors so that they can stay more comfortably in accordance with their religious requirements.

More than 130,000 Malaysians visited Japan last year, up nearly 14 per cent from the peak year of 2010, because of the growing Malaysian middle class that can afford to travel abroad and launch of low-cost carriers. These tourists include increasing Malay Muslims, who previously found it hard to keep their religious practices in Japan.

The Muslim population in Japan is between 50,000 and 100,000, most of them followers from overseas. There are only fewer than 1,000 Japanese Muslims, it is said, in a country of 120 million people.

Allah's teachings are unfamiliar to most of the Japanese. The new clientele in tourism is quickly educating Japanese travel business about Muslims. "A major challenge was to ensure space for worship and halal food for them," says Kazunari Kurosawa of Miyako Kokusai Co. Over the past few years, the travel agency in Osaka has developed environments for Asian Muslim visitors.

He studied about halal food and visited restaurants, accompanied by Japan Halal Association officials, approved by Malaysia's Jakim (Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia), to make sure they served non-alcoholic, pork-free food.

He arranged that Muslim visitors always used new disposable spoons, cups and other utensils taken directly to their mouths so that they are free from cleaning alcohol commonly used in Japan. He also secured space for musalla in shrines and other tourist spots and announced to his customers the kiblat (direction of the Qaaba)

Kurosawa has since served about 500 Muslim tourists from Malaysia and his spring tours for cherry blossom viewing are fully booked.

Many Southeast Asian tourists would also head for the northern parts of Japan to see snow-covered Japan and enjoy skiing and other "snow experiences" during winter. Hokkaido, the northernmost island, lately enjoyed an increasing number of Southeast Asian visitors, including Muslims.

In an unsurprising consequence, Chitose Outlet Mall Rera in Sapporo has installed a prayer room so that Muslims can shop for many hours without worrying about a place for prayers.

In October, the Japan Halal Business Association was founded in Tokyo for promoting halal-related business and market by educating businessmen about the traditions and halal requirements through publications, seminars and campaigns. They invited former Malaysian prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as keynote speaker at the halal forum in November.

The Japanese government is also learning quickly about the potential of the faith-based tourism. The Japan National Tourism Organisation, the government tourism-promoting arm, plans to create an official halal guidebook for Muslim tourists, listing restaurants and worship places in Japan. It hopes to increase the number of Southeast Asian tourists to one million, double the number of 2011.

The organisation, in January signed a memorandum with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents to promote inbound Malaysian tourists. Also, last month, it held the Japan-Muslim tourism seminar for Japanese businesses interested in promoting inbound Asian Muslim tourists.

Inbound tourists to Japan rose to 8.37 million last year, recovering from the drop in the disaster-tainted previous year but lagging behind the year's goal of nine million. "It is not a satisfactory situation yet," said Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Akihiro Ohta. Setting a new yearly goal at 10 million for this year, he pledged to promote tourism by all means of all divisions of his ministry, obviously setting a big target for Muslim visitors from Asia and other parts of the world.

By Mutsuko Murakami

(Writer is a Tokyo-based veteran journalist)

Let’s get ready for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 now, says Ng.

Date: 4 March 2013

Let’s get ready for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 now, says Ng.

GEORGE TOWN: Although 2014 may be a year away, the Tourism Ministry is wasting no time in making early preparations to woo the targeted 28 million tourists.

Besides a grand tourism carnival to create awareness in the public and private sectors, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her ministry would also reintroduce the salam gesture to welcome visitors to the country. “It’s symbolic and let’s try to make it a natural habit for everyone,” she said. The gesture requires one to put his right hand over the left collarbone as a courtesy greeting.

Dr Ng said people should understand that Visit Malaysia Year 2014 was good for the economy as it would generate income for the nation. “It (tourism) is our third largest foreign exchange earner and generates 1.8 million jobs. If tourism prospers, the economy will, too,” she said at the mini carnival promotional campaign for VMY14 at the Queensbay Mall outdoor car park here yesterday.

She said the ministry targeted 28.8 million tourists to visit the country next year. “Last year, we had 25.03 million tourists. We expect 26 million for this year. “We are heading towards achieving our 2020 target of 36 million tourists a year,” she said.

Dr Ng also said the ministry aimed to reduce foreign workers in the tourism and related sectors.

As for Penang, Dr Ng said 127 hotels had been rated and urged the rest to do so to achieve a common standard. She said there should be an additional nine hotels with a total of 2,016 rooms in Penang by 2016. “We need at least 9,000 five-star hotel rooms in the state by 2020.”

She added that Penang should be more competitive in tourism because it was the leader back in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sabah safe for tourists: Yen Yen.

Date: 3 March 2013

Sabah safe for tourists: Yen Yen.

GEORGE TOWN, March 3 - Sabah is still safe for tourism despite the Lahad Datu incident, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said today.

The Tourism Minister told The Star Online that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation.

“We have not receive any queries from our overseas office on the matter. The Sabah Tourism Board had also issued a statement on Saturday to all industry players that the state is safe and business is as usual,” Ng was quoted as saying by the news portal.

She added that the ministry believed that tourists were aware of the country’s overall stability.

India Proposes To Have Tourist Visa-on-arrival For Malaysians.

Date: 2 March 2013

India Proposes To Have Tourist Visa-on-arrival For Malaysians.

NEW DELHI, March 2 (Bernama) - India's Tourism Ministry has proposed extending the visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility to tourists of 16 more countries, including Malaysia.

The facility is currently available to 11 countries, namely Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

The tourist VOA, which is being granted by immigration Officers at the New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports, has a maximum validity of 30 days with a single-entry facility.

The ministry strongly feels that the tourist VOA facility for those countries which are potential source markets for India and where there have been no security-related issues in the past or likely to be in the future can be taken up under this scheme, Minister K. Chiranjeevi said. He has submitted the proposal to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

The other potential countries besides Malaysia are Brazil, Brunei, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The Ministry of Tourism has also proposed extending the tourist VOA facility to more airports, namely Bodhgaya, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram.

By M. Saraswathi

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Double daily RB Flights to Kuala Lumpur.

Date: 2 March 2013

Double daily RB Flights to Kuala Lumpur.

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) has announced that its popular services to Kuala Lumpur are being increased to twice a day, starting May 22, Borneo Bulletin reported. This announcement was made by the airline in a press statement yesterday, in which RB announced the latest increase to 14 flights a week, and it comes off the back of an earlier announcement of an increase to 11 weekly flights, which will be effective from March 30.

With this newly announced increase, starting May 22, double daily flights will be departing Bandar Seri Begawan at 9am and 6.10pm every day, arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.15am and 8.25pm respectively. The return flights will depart KLIA at 12.45pm and 9.10pm, and arrive in Bandar Seri Begawan at 3.15pm and 11.30pm respectively.

According to the statement, this increase in the number of flights, all at convenient times of the day, aims to better serve the strong flow of business and leisure traffic in both directions on this route. “It also provides passengers with more convenient options to connect to other destinations,” RB said in a statement.

Dermot Mannion, the Deputy Chairman of RB, was quoted as saying that the launch of double daily services to Kuala Lumpur “marks another important milestone in the development of RB’s services around the region. This underlines our commitment to better serve the travel needs of both our loyal Bruneian customers and visitors alike,” he added.

It was also mentioned that RB flights to Kuala Lumpur will continue to be jointly marketed with Malaysia Airlines through a joint code share agreement. Malaysia Airlines’ Head of Government and International Affairs, Germal Singh, also welcomed Royal Brunei’s plans to increase capacity between Malaysia and Brunei. “The travel market between both countries continues to be robust and this also augurs well for the Asean air services liberalisation road map,” he said.

“Since we are already code sharing on each other’s services amounting to 14 weekly services, we look forward to adding our code on more of Royal Brunei’s services. This will grow the volume of business and leisure market segments between the two countries,” he added.

RB is set to officially launch these new flights today at the Belait Travel Fair, which is being held at the Community Hall in Kuala Belait until March 3.

Copyright @ 2010-2013 BorneoPost Online

Malaysia Spice Market Draws Hundreds At Melbourne Expo.

Date: 2 March 2013

Malaysia Spice Market Draws Hundreds At Melbourne Expo.

MELBOURNE, March 2 (Bernama) - The Malaysia Spice Market at this year's Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) attracted hundreds of people, all standing in queues to taste some tantalising Malaysian food prepared on the spot.

"The spice market has been a tremendous success in promoting our brand. Food is high on the list of buyers in the convention and incentives market and I think we have impressed AIME attendees as well from exhibitors who came from 44 countries," said Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) Chief Executive Zulkefli Hj Sharif.

Among the dishes on sale were laksa, nasi lemak, char kway teow, satay, dim sum and spring rolls.

Zulkefli said Malaysia was increasingly gaining its momentum and status as "Asia's Business Events Hub". "We have witnessed more business tourist arrivals in Malaysia. We attribute this to the country's unique qualities such as its strategic location being in the middle of Asia, diverse cultures, value for money, continuous product development and our conducive business environment," he told Bernama in an interview.

MyCEB also took the opportunity to promote its corporate and incentive campaign -- "Malaysia - Asia Like Never Before" which was launched late last year. Malaysia's exhibitors had a mixture of quality buyers and business leads at two-day AIME show here.

Malaysia Airlines Melbourne Manager Terence Swampillai said he had several strong leads with inquiries for group flights to Malaysia. "I had 11 solid inquiries and this should boost tourism to Malaysia,'' he said.

Sarawak Convention Bureau Business Development Manager Anedia Kahar said AIME this year appeared to be quiet. "Nonetheless, we had a number of buyers talking to and we are very hopeful," she said.

As usual Tourism Sabah had the largest contingent from Malaysia and the biggest booth at the expo. Senior Marketing Manager Noredah Othman, an AIME veteran of many years, said her team was kept busy with scores of inquiries. "We are happy with our participation here although this year has been a little slow," she added.

Tourism Malaysia Sydney Director Roslan Abdullah and Senior Marketing Officer Wendy Lee had big smiles which indicated they too were pleased with the response from the buyers.

By Neville D'Cruz

Copyright @ BERNAMA

DRH Set To Attract More International Business Travellers.

Date: 28 February 2013

DRH Set To Attract More International Business Travellers.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) is set to lure more international business travellers and tourists to Malaysia with its exciting developments that are expected to elevate the business tourism landscape in the region.

In a statement issued today, DRH said it has participated in the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME), which was held in Melbourne, Australia recently, to reinforce its standing as a leader in the business and introduce its meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) and leisure offerings that cater to a wide range of tourists.

"We understand that we must have an edge over our competitors as the MICE industry is growing so rapidly that it is now even more dynamic compared to years ago. From business travellers and delegates, leisure holiday makers and golf aficionados to families and honeymooners, all our destinations will draw visitors of different interests and provide a new level of excitement and experience, including creating value for event organisers for every event held at our destinations," said Managing Director Nadziruddin Basri.

DRH, a master planner, investor and developer of destination resorts in the country, is currently developing several premium business destinations in Johor that will elevate the MICE offerings in the region.

One of DRH's main developments is Desaru Coast which is poised to be the region's first luxury integrated destination. Desaru Coast spans over 3,900 acres of land along a 17 kilometre beach fronting the magnificent South China Sea and will be developed in three phases with the Phase 1 of Desaru Coast due for completion in 2015. DRH said the multi-billion dollar destination resort will boast a state-of-the-art MICE venue, the Desaru Convention Centre, which could accommodate up to 1,000 persons.

Also in the state of Johor, another key development under DRH's portfolio is the Little Red Cube in Puteri Harbour, the luxury waterfront development in Nusajaya, Johor, which houses an internationally renowned hotel brand, Traders Hotel, and a family-oriented theme park.

In addition, DRH is developing LEGOLAND Hotel Malaysia in Nusajaya, Johor, which is scheduled to open its doors in 2014, which will be the first LEGO-themed hotel in Asia and the fourth in the world.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Sabah tourism industry not affected by armed intrusion: Masidi.

Date: 27 February 2013

Sabah tourism industry not affected by armed intrusion: Masidi.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s tourism industry is not affected by the intrusion of Filipino gunmen in Lahad Datu, said Datuk Masidi Manjun.

The Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said this is because Kampung Tanduo where the gunmen were being holed up was over 130 kilometres from Lahad Datu town.

“Thus far it is not affecting our tourism sector,” he told reporters after officiating at his ministry monthly gathering here, yesterday.

Masidi said he had received inquiries from several people about the situation “and I told them Sabah remains safe and there is no problem with regards to security”.

He also said the incident did not affect the daily activities of the people living in and around the area.

These Filipino gunmen have been in Sabah since February 12 this year.

World's best cruise ships named.

Date: 27 February 2013

World's best cruise ships named.

PENNINGTON, N.J. - The results 2013 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards have been announced today.

Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Fantasy, swept the boards in the large ship class, taking five top places including best in class. Disney Fantasy, which debuted in March 2012, was named Best Large Ship, and took first place in five other categories: Best Cabins, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms, and Best Service. Its sister ship, Disney Dream, won Best Shore Excursions.

Holland America's Noordam ship was named Best Mid-Sized Ship, and Azamara Quest won Best Small Ship -- along with Best for Fitness and Best Service in the Small Ship category.

The Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards are based on reviews submitted by cruisers for cruises taken during 2012. They are awarded in three ship classes, according to passenger capacity – small (1,199 passengers or fewer), mid-sized (1,200 to 1,999) and large (2,000+). The top 10 ships in each class are named in the following categories: Overall, Cabins, Dining, Embarkation, Entertainment, Fitness, Public Rooms, Service, Shore Excursions and Value for Money. Awards are also given to the top-ranked ships in popular cruise regions; Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean and the Mediterranean. This year's winners include:

Best Large Ships

Disney Fantasy: Best Overall Large Ship, Best Cabins, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms, Best Service

Disney Dream: Best Shore Excursions

Celebrity Reflection: Best Dining

Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean): Best for Fitness, Best for Embarkation

Celebrity Eclipse: Best Value for Money

Best Mid-Sized Ships

Noordam (Holland America): Best Overall Mid-Sized Ship

Marina (Oceania): Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Public Rooms

Thomson Dream: Best Entertainment, Best Service

Westerdam (Holland America): Best for Fitness, Best Shore Excursions

Norwegian Spirit: Best Value for Money

Celebrity Summit: Best for Embarkation

Best Small Ships

Azamara Quest: Best Overall Small Ship, Best for Fitness, Best for Service

Azamara Journey: Best Value for Money

Crystal Serenity: Best Dining, Best Entertainment

Crystal Symphony: Best Public Rooms

Seabourn Odyssey: Best Cabins

Seven Seas Navigator (Regent): Best Shore Excursions

Wind Surf (Windstar): Best for Embarkation

Best for Families (all ship sizes) - Disney Fantasy

Best Destination Cruises

Best Cruise to Alaska: Volendam (Holland America)

Best Cruise to the Bahamas: Disney Dream

Best Cruise to the Caribbean: Disney Fantasy

Best Cruise to the Mediterranean: Riviera (Oceania)

Best from Florida: Disney Fantasy

Best from the Northeast: Norwegian Star

Best from the West Coast Westerdam (Holland America)

"These awards are based entirely on reviews submitted by cruisers, so offer a terrific insight into what consumers think of the ships they have sailed on," explained Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. "It's interesting to note that eight out of 10 awards in the Large Ship category went to ships launched within the past two years, so it seems that cruisers are enthusiastic about many of the emerging trends in dining, entertainment and onboard experiences."

Borneo International Bird Race to take flight.

Date: 27 February 2013

Borneo International Bird Race to take flight.

THE inaugural Borneo International Bird Race is due to take place in May and June across Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak, and has already confirmed participation from international bird enthusiasts. Organised by Sandakan Borneo Bird Club with support from the respective tourism boards, the event will be launched on May 31 at Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei.

The race will kick off on June 1 at Ulu Temburong, continue at Borneo Highlands Resort in Sarawak on June 4, Kinabalu Park in Sabah on June 6 and the Rainforest Discovery Centre Sandakan on June 8.

Participants must take part in the entire race and aim to identify the most number of species within 24 hours for each leg.

Organisers are expecting bird clubs from 10 countries to send three representatives each. Countries that have confirmed their participation so far are India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan, said Roger Rajah, manager of AsiaMemories Brunei and organiser for the Brunei chapter of the race.

According to him, bird watchers from Malaysia and Brunei are forbidden from joining the race as they would have an unfair advantage. Rajah added: “It is a good opportunity for inbound operators in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei to package tours as participants tend to come with their families.”

By S Puvaneswary, Bandar Seri Begawan

MATTA Eyes RM90 Million Sales In March MATTA Fair 2013.

Date: 27 February 2013

MATTA Eyes RM90 Million Sales In March MATTA Fair 2013.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) - The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) expects to secure RM90 million in total sales turnover for its MATTA Fair 2013 March session, slightly lower than the RM106 million registered in the same session last year.

In September 2012, the most anticipated travel fair secured a RM120 million sales turnover.

MATTA Fair March 2013 Organising Chairman Jeffri Sulaiman said the upcoming 13th general election (GE), expected to be in March, has weighed on the sentiment of industry players. "As everybody is aware, the GE has put worries on consumers as well as exhibitors. We've been asking what MATTA's plan is if the GE falls during the exhibition days. There is nothing we could do, the show must go on," he told a press conference on the event Wednesday.

MATTA Fair 2013 will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre on March 15-17. Jeffri said this session will be bigger than the previous one with a total of 1,100 booths in five halls and exhibition areas.

The association plans to expand the coverage area into Legar Putra, PWTC, to support all exhibitor booths.

Jeffri expects the three-day event to receive a total of 100,000 visitors, a hike from 92,600 visitors in the same session of 2012. "We are positive with the outlook of Malaysia's tourism industry despite the uncertain global economy. The number of MATTA members has increased from 2,800 in last year to 3,000, to date. This shows a high demand for our travel industry," he said.

Jeffri noted MATTA FAIR 2013 will draw several new services with the introduction of online entrance ticket purchase, MATTA mobile Apps and online entry forms for the MATTA buyers contest.

At the same event today, MATTA signed an agreement with Etihad Airways to mark the latter as its official airline partner for the second consecutive session.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Tourism Programmes Provide Thousands Of Jobs In Penang.

Date: 26 February 2013

Tourism Programmes Provide Thousands Of Jobs In Penang.

GEORGE TOWN, Feb 26 (Bernama) - Tourism Ministry programmes in Penang have opened thousands of jobs for the local population while increasing the state's revenue.

Penang Tourism Ministry Office director, Jaime Yeoh said the ministry is organising various events, including a Mini Carnival to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2014 from March 2-3. The carnival with the theme, "Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia.. We Are The Host' is expected to be launched by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, he told a press conference Tuesday.

Other than tour packages designed for health-tourism, it is also promoting Juru Autocity, the hub for the homestay programme and luxury yachts.

The ministry is targeting tourists from India, China, Russia, Middle East and countries in the region as many airlines are interested in flying to destinations in Malaysia.

Yeoh said the Mini Carnival will showcase tourism products, social services, cultural performances and development of the tourism industry. The public will also have the opportunity to apply for jobs and training to meet the demands of the tourism industry during Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Malaysia to host congress for concierges.

Date: 26 February 2013

Malaysia to host congress for concierges.

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA will be hosting the 61st Les Clefs d'Or Union UICH International Congress in 2014. The Society of Golden Keys Malaysia president Ragu Kumarasamy said that more than 400 of the world's concierges from more than 43 countries are expected to converge for the congress. The congress which will be held from Jan 11 to 16 will be filled with many programmes and activities.

"Kuala Lumpur has been chosen as the preferred destination by the Union Internationale Des Concierges D'Hotels Les Clefs d'Or International board of directors following a bid by the Malaysian team," he said.

He said that the successful bid was initiated by the Society of Golden Keys Malaysia which was supported by MyCEB, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and its hotel partners. He added that the international board of directors was very impressed with the preparation made by the Malaysian team.

"We have been officially awarded the right to host the conference after United Kingdom (2012) and New Zealand (2013)," he said. "Participants will be able to tour Kuala Lumpur after dark, go to food fairs, shopping trips and attend the International board of directors meeting and also the general assembly," he said.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said that Malaysia was fortunate to be given the opportunity to host the congress. "We will be able to increase awareness about our country to other participants," he said.

He added that Malaysia has always been a good example of Asian culture. "We can showcase the real meaning behind our tag line Malaysia Truly Asia," he added.

Les Clefs d'Or international president Virginia Casale said she believes that Malaysia will be able to do it. "Malaysia has one of the highest growth in the hospitality sector in the world," she said.

MyCEB chief executive officer Zulkefli Sharif said the congress will help generate more income. "This congress will generate approximately RM6.7 million in terms of the economic impact and RM4 million in visitor expenditure to the country," he said.

Also present at the announcement was Negri Sembilan Tourism Malaysia director, Zaidi Kassim and Les Clefs d'Or UICH second international vice-president Colin Toomey.

For more information about the Society of the Golden Keys Malaysia, log on to www.uichlesclefsdor.org.

By SERI NOR NADIAH KORIS | streets@nstp.com.my

'Kuala Lumpur by cycle' enables tourists to explore KL.

Date: 26 February 2013

'Kuala Lumpur by cycle' enables tourists to explore KL.

KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) today introduced a new tourism product, that is exploring Kuala Lumpur on a bicycle.

Launched by Kuala Lumpur Mayor, Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib here, the programme 'Kuala Lumpur By Cycle' enables tourist to cycle to explore the environmental beauty of the national capital such as the Taman Botani Perdana, Taman Burung and Memorial Tun Abdul Razak beginning today.

Speaking to reporters after launching the programme, Ahmad Phesal said tourists had the opportunity to explore Kuala Lumpur by themselves through the cycling package, while under the group cycling package, the tourists would be accompanied by a tourist guide.

Under the programme, tourists are required to rent the bicycle according to the package offered that is RM30 for the first four hours and an additional RM5 for each subsequent hour, while the group package with the tourist guide is RM45.

"The tourist will be provided with a bicycle, helmet, and other safety features, besides a map as a guide and safety of the rider," he said. - Bernama

NTO Wants Malaysia To Share Tourism Success, Especially In Handling Crises.

Date: 25 February 2013

NTO Wants Malaysia To Share Tourism Success, Especially In Handling Crises.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) - The National Tourism Organisation (NTO) picked Malaysia to conduct the Asean Tourism Crisis Management and Communication Workshop because it wanted the country to share its tourism success, especially in handling crises.

Tourism Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng, said the selection was viewed as an acknowledgement of Malaysia's various tourism contributions to the region. "Malaysia is proud to undertake the two-day workshop, starting today, and do its part as an Asean member in an effort to build the quality and professionalism of the Asean tourism manpower," he said in a statement.

Ong said the global tourism industry has been affected by several crises over the past couple of years and Malaysia was no exception. "However, despite the various external uncertainties in the world and region, Malaysia's tourism performance continues to shine, emerging with 25.03 million in tourist arrivals last year, with a total of RM60.6 billion in tourist receipts," he said.

He said the largest growth would be seen in Asia-Pacific, where arrivals were forecast to increase by 331 million to 535

million in 2030. "Asia-Pacific countries will have an increased share of the global tourist market from 22 per cent in 2010 to 30 per cent in 2030," he said.

Ong said with this outlook, it was important for Asean countries to realise their strengths as one, and work together as one to ensure the region continued to be a safe and welcoming destination for tourists.

Over 40 participants from government agencies and tourism trade members of Asean countries are attending the workshop.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Visitors Warned On High-Quality Fake Currency In Sydney

Date: 25 February 2013

Visitors Warned On High-Quality Fake Currency In Sydney

MELBOURNE, Feb 25 (Bernama) - Malaysians visiting Australia should be careful as Sydney has been flooded with counterfeit cash that is of such high quality some banks are struggling to detect it.

In the past two months, organised crime gangs have caused a "significant spike" in the amount of fake currency - mainly A$50 and A$100 notes - passed in restaurants, bars and fast food outlets, particularly in Sydney's west.

Just two weeks ago they charged a Comanchero bikie with being in possession of A$520,000 in "funny money", the Australian Associated Press reports.

Businesses in the Sydney suburbs of Fairfield, Mt Druitt and Penrith have all detected fake notes, mainly A$100 bills. It is also unknowingly being passed around by banks.

Police warned the high quality of the bank notes meant they were difficult to detect. "They have been coated in a plastic resin to make them have a feel similar to a real note. They are pretty good. In the past, A$50 notes were the most popular but we are seeing an increasing number of A$100," a police spokesman is quoted as saying

All discoveries of forged money are handed to the Reserve Bank and Australian Federal Police to investigate.

Despite government assurances that counterfeiting is a minor problem in Australia, local and international crime syndicates are known to have been involved in its production on a mass scale.

By Neville D'Cruz

Copyrights @ BERNAMA

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