5,000 tour packages on offer at Virtual Travel Fair from Wed.

11th March, 2013

5,000 tour packages on offer at Virtual Travel Fair from Wed.

PETALING JAYA: Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd aims to rake in some RM15 million in travel packages enquiries through its Smart Online Travel Assistance's (SOTA) fifth Virtual Travel Fair.

"With the growing maturity of online travel in Malaysia, we believe we will see an even stronger response for this year's virtual travel fair, especially with a bigger variety of travel packages and value-for-money deals offering greater incentives for savvy buyers," said Creative Advances Technology chief executive officer Rohizam Md Yusof.

According to Rohizam, the last Virtual Travel Fair held in September 2012 saw a record-breaking 70,000 online visitors, or about 2,600 online visitors daily. "We expect more than 130,000 online visitors to participate in the upcoming Virtual Travel Fair," he told Business Times on the sidelines of its media appreciation luncheon on Friday.

The fifth Virtual Travel Fair is schedule to kick-off from Wednesday and ends on March 29. Themed "Great Deals, More Choices", it offers 5,000 travel packages and room deals from 150,000 hotels.

Rohizam said bargains include three-day/two-night packages to Universal Studios Singapore and Johor Legoland and seven-day/six-night packages to South Korea and Jeju Island, as well as umrah packages to Saudi Arabia.

"On top of that, travellers who spend a minimum of RM100 will stand a chance to win a a three-day/two-night package to Macau that includes accommodation and flight tickets worth RM7,000 for a contest held throughout the fair," he said.

There are value deals for trips to Beijing, Guilin, Phnom Penh, Bali, Makkah, Madinah, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, among many other exciting travel packages.

SOTA is an online travel platform that caters to both travel providers and travellers.

By: Cheryl Yvonne Achu

Copyright@The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

Domestic Tourism Dominates MATTA Fair.

11th March, 2013

Domestic Tourism Dominates MATTA Fair.

KUALA LUMPUR - Domestic tourism plays a major role in the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair, the much-awaited event for Malaysian travellers, said its president, Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun. Therefore, the three-day, 35th MATTA Fair which begins this Friday, offers a variety of domestic tourism packages, besides international packages.

"This time, MATTA Fair will have a total of 1,100 booths filling up 25,000 square metres of space at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). The Matta Fair gets bigger and bigger every year, with more emphasis on domestic tourism," said Mohd Khalid.

He said this in a joint press conference with Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) at KL Sentral here today.

Elaborating on domestic tourism, Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said a survey for 2011 found that the percentage of Malaysians travelling within the country and to international destination was about the same.

Tourism Malaysia's survey showed that in 2011, Malaysians made a total of 131 million trips within the country, and this generated RM42 billion. "If we divide the number of trips to 27 million Malaysian population, this means each Malaysian made four to five trips within Malaysia in 2011," he added.

Malaysia Airlines regional senior vice-president (Malaysia and Asean) Muzammil Mohamad said the airlines offered airfares with discounts of up to 47 per cent off normal market fares for domestic travel. "In addition, our holidays marketing arm, MasHolidays, offers many types of holiday packages for both Malaysian domestic, as well as international destinations," he said, adding that flights to Sabah operated as usual.

Copyright@BERNAMA

Langkawi's charter incentive drives arrivals.

11th March, 2013

Langkawi's charter incentive drives arrivals.

MALAYSIA'S Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) is keen to attract more charters to the island, having launched the Langkawi Charter Flight Incentive Programme (LCFIP) early last year.

Through LFCIP, which runs until December 31, 2015, LADA will provide financial support to charterers for their flight promotions to Langkawi, as well as assistance in joint marketing.

Malaysia Airports Holdings, which manages Langkawi International Airport, also provides free landing and parking to charterers participating in the programme.

At press time, LADA had secured 32 charter flights for this winter season, an increase from 27 last winter, with confirmed carriers such as Finnair, Novair, SCAT Air, Eva Air and Korean Air, said Rosnina Yaacob, LADA’s tourism division manager.

She added that LADA had also intensified its marketing efforts in Europe. “Europeans comprised 30 per cent of the total three million tourist arrivals and day trippers to Langkawi in 2012. This year, our target is to grow European arrivals to 35 per cent and total arrivals, including day trippers, to 5.9 million.”

Ting Zhang, sales and administration manager for In Depth Tourism Marketing UK, the sales office for The Danna Langkawi resort, lauded the LCFIP for providing more opportunities to woo longhaul travellers, particularly the high-yield Scandinavian market.

Nasha Abdullah, managing director, Malai Adventure Malaysia, agreed: “Word of mouth marketing is very important for the Scandinavian traveller. They are also creatures of habit, with the tendency to return to the places they have gone before provided they had positive, memorable experiences.”

By: S Puvaneswary, ITB Berlin

Copyright@TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd 2013

Malaysia Has Much To Offer European Holidaymakers.

11th March, 2013

Malaysia Has Much To Offer European Holidaymakers.

BERLIN - White sandy beaches, warm and sunny climate all-year round and a hospitable environment.

With such varied but picturesque landscapes, among others, Malaysia's irresistible offerings are after the heart of European holidaymakers.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said he had discerned a "new trend" among Europeans who, having visited the same beaches of southern European countries and the Mediterranean, were now eager to explore new destinations with different cultures and traditions.

He told Bernama this on the sidelines of Malaysia's participation at the International Tourism Exchange of Berlin, billed the world's largest travel trade fair, where Tourism Malaysia strongly promoted Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014.

"Visit Malaysia Year 2014 was announced some months back but we're now announcing it here to the world before a public that has very strong awareness of global markets," Mirza said at the Malaysian pavilion set up at the tourism show.

He noted that Germany was one of Malaysia's major markets, with about 131,000 German tourists visiting the Southeast Asian country last year.

By: Manik Mehta

Copyright@BERNAMA

STB's one-stop centre on events and attractions.

8th March, 2013

STB's one-stop centre on events and attractions.

The Singapore Tourism Board has created a one-stop online centre where Malaysians can learn about events and attractions in Singapore.

MALAYSIANS – more importantly Malaysian tourists - you are important to Singapore. Figures show that Malaysians make up one of the largest tourist groups to the island republic, and in 2011, arrivals grew by 10% to 1.1 million

Travel to Singapore peaks at the weekend and 33% of Malaysian visitors make more than three trips a year. So the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) sees Malaysians as making Singapore not just a holiday destination, but also an extension of their lifestyle.

A large majority are free and independent travellers who plan their own itineraries, relying heavily on the recommendations of family, friends and online communities. Keen to seek out new experiences, the Malaysian traveller is also partial to discovering new and exciting offerings, especially in the areas of dining and retail, spending almost equal amounts on each.

“We have observed that visits to Singapore driven by unique or time-limited experiences such as concerts, restaurant openings and events are on an upward trend. Our campaign will ride on these travel preferences to help spur the uptake further,” said Liew Chian Jia, STB (Malaysia) area director.

The “Only in Singapore, Right Now!” campaign seeks to raise awareness and highlight the bounty of new experiences and attractions that are coming up in the next 60 days and available exclusively in Singapore.

“Our studies show that most Malaysians are already familiar with Singapore’s classic attributes and are constantly seeking information on what’s new and upcoming that would compel them to return to Singapore. With Malaysian consumers growing increasingly affluent and sophisticated, we foresee that the sheer plethora of events promoted by our campaign will trigger the desire to visit Singapore even more frequently,” noted Liew.

To help you in your decision-making is the YourSingapore Live, a comprehensive and informative online platform that will serve a selection of up-to-date lifestyle experiences that can be sought out. “YourSingapore Live features an extensive range of attractions such as concerts, musicals, gastronomical adventures, attractions, exhibitions and a multitude of other lifestyle offerings.

The one-stop platform is also equipped with features that will make it easier for Malaysians to plan their next adventure in Singapore. “With YourSingapore Live, Malaysians will no longer have to browse through many different websites and platforms to get the necessary information. In fact, it is not just a one-stop platform to the latest activities in Singapore, but also an easy access to flights and event tickets booking,” added Liew.

Strategic co-collaborations between STB and such partners as airlines and credit card companies also help to create exciting offers and benefits to travellers.

By: S.S. YOGA

Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Reaping the benefits of paranormal tourism.

9th March, 2013

Reaping the benefits of paranormal tourism.

THERE'S just something intriguing about the paranormal. It's scary, yet fascinating. And whether we want to admit it or not, it's so easy to get drawn into a good ghost story be it in the form of a book, movie, or from monumental places with its own rich, “haunting” history.

In recent years, there has been a rise in television shows depicting “ghost hunters” exploring haunted houses and historical buildings, and this has sparked interest for many people to satisfy their own curiosity about the paranormal especially through travel and tourism.

Spine-chilling places, locations with a macabre past or grotesque history will whet the appetite of any fan of the paranormal or even the average tourist looking for a memorable, unique experience from their travels. So it's not surprising that many countries around the world these days are reaping the benefits of paranormal tourism.

This is especially the case for countries in Europe, where owners of castles and hotels provide tours to tourists and fans of the supernatural that take them a step closer “to the darkside” whilst at the same time making good money from it all.

The concept of paranormal tourism, however, has not quite picked up in Malaysia, although its financial potential and benefits have been under the radar for quite some time. In 2011, it was reported that Sabah was planning on holding a cultural festival featuring mythical creatures because its state government realised that interest in the paranormal was a growing phenomenon.

Noteworthy also is the fact that when Muzium Negara held its Exhibition on Ghosts in June 2002, it recorded one of its highest visits ever, selling over 30,000 tickets in a single day.

Malaysia is known for having its fair share of haunted places. One such notable location is Kellie's Castle in Perak. With the right push from the relevant authorities, these locations can be more than just spooky places to be talked about. They can become high tourist attractions, with the potential of raking in good tourism dollars.

By: EUGENE MAHALINGAM eugenicz@thestar.com.my

Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Sarawak eyeing six million tourists during VMY 2014.

9th March, 2013

Sarawak eyeing six million tourists during VMY 2014.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism is targeting six million tourist arrivals to Sarawak during Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014. Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said yesterday that VMY 2014 promotions and campaigns would be rolled out after the impending 13th general election.

Tourist arrivals in Sarawak surpassed the four million mark last year. “The state and federal governments will pick up momentum along the way by developing more unique and authentic tourism products to cater for foreign tourists,” he said at a `VMY 2014 Briefing and Dialogue with State Tourism Industry Players’ here. We will implement effective strategies to entice tourists to stay in the country longer.”

To ensure the success of VMY 2014, Dawos hoped that all stakeholders, including members of the public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would give a helping hand. “Contribute innovative and creative ideas so that we can achieve our objectives. We need everyone to be committed and take their roles seriously. We must not forget there’s competition from other Asean countries.”

Dawos said Malaysia was currently ranked number nine on the World Tourism Organisation’s list of most visited countries by international tourist arrivals. He thus urged all players to work closely together and share their resources to help push the tourism industry higher.

Using the recent `Chap Goh Mei’ cultural parade at Siniawan, Bau, as an example, Dawos said the crew of China’s broadcasting station (CCTV) was shooting a video there and this was the kind of thing which would benefit the country. “We are also targeting China as a potential market.”

The Visit Malaysia Year programme had been hosted for three times thus far. The first was in 1990 themed ‘Fascinating Malaysia, Year of Festivals’ which recorded 7.4 million arrivals and yielded RM4.5 billion in receipts. The second was in 1994 themed ‘Fascinating Malaysia, Naturally More’ which recording 7.2 million arrivals and receipts climbed to RM8.3 billion. The third was in 2007 to commemorate 50 years of nationhood. Tourist arrivals soared to 20.9 million and receipts totalled RM46.1 billion.

Dawos said the growth in tourist arrivals was in line with the target of the Malaysian Tourism Plan 2020 to achieve 36 million tourist arrivals and a tourism revenue of RM168 billion by year 2020. Last year, a total of 25,032,708 foreign tourists visited Malaysia, surpassing the figure of 24,714,324 arrivals in 2011. The total arrivals yielded RM60.6 billion on revenue in 2012, compared to RM58.3 billion in 2011.

The national target for this year is 26 million tourists.

Also present at the event were Ministry of Tourism Malaysia secretary-general Dato Dr Ong Hong Peng and the ministry’s deputy director-general (Marketing) Chong Yoke Har.

By: Karen Bong, reporters@theborneopost.com

Copyright @ 2010-2013 BorneoPost Online.

ITB Berlin Generates More Publicity For Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

8^th March, 2013

ITB Berlin Generates More Publicity For Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

KUALA LUMPUR - The Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014 has been strongly promoted by the Malaysian Delegation led by Tourism Malaysia Director-General, Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab at the 47th International Tourism Exchange (ITB) Berlin, Germany which will end on this Sunday (March 10).

With the theme "Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia", theVMY 2014 promotional campaign was launched last month by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and includees a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014.

Tourism Malaysia in a statement Friday said the five-day annual travel trade show offered Malaysia an excellent platform to market and create awareness of VMY 2014 and its promotional campaign this year to the travel trade fraternity and media in Germany and Europe.

The Malaysian delegation comprised 91 participants from 48 organisations, including 24 hotels and resorts, 17 tour operators, the country's national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), as well as the other representatives from state governments.

Malaysia's presence at ITB 2013 marks the country's 39th year of participation in the event, which clearly showed its continued interest and focus on the German and European markets.

At the ITB, The Malaysia Pavilion was officially opened by the Malaysian Ambassador to Germany Datuk Ibrahim Abdullah to showcase the best of travel products, destinations and services in Malaysia. He also hosted a Malaysia Evening on March 7 (Thursday) at Steingenberger Hotel to show the country's appreciation to Germany and international travel trade fraternity and the media for their continued support on tourism promotional effort.

With the presence of international media, ITB helps generate more publicity for Malaysia and further strengthen the presence of the country as a top-of-mind holiday destination. In addition, Tourism Malaysia also seeks to promote Malaysia as a business tourism destination, in line with the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan 2020, aims to acheive its target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion by the year 2020.

Last year, tourist arrivals to Malaysia continued to enjoy an upward trend, reaching 25 million, which was an increase of 1.3 percent compared to the previous year. In 2012, a total of 131,277 German tourists visited Malaysia. Correspondingly, receipts from German tourists had also increased on last year by 7.7 percent to the tune of RM397 million. This year, Malaysia has set a target to attract 145,000 German tourists to the country.

Copyright@BERNAMA