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

Capitalising on Sarawak’s tourism opportunities.

26th March, 2013

Capitalising on Sarawak’s tourism opportunities.

KUCHING: For Sarawak to succeed in providing new tourism opportunities in order to attract more travellers and reach its target, it will have to resolve the issue of air connectivity. In its 2012 report on the state, Inside Investors highlighted that the Sarawak government and its Sabah counterpart were in agreement with Malaysia Airlines Systems Bhd (MAS) subsidiary MASwings to be East Malaysia’s own airline.

The latest developments indicated that this was the right decision. With added air capacity, the state could evolve into a tourism destination of choice for people who were not necessarily looking for the usual mass treatment but more for adventure, nature, cultural heritage and festivals.

Sarawak has recently found a niche in the so called musical tourism by staging several events the most famous of which were the Rainforest World Music Festival and the Miri International Jazz Festival. Both events are big draws for people who otherwise will probably bypass Sarawak compared to other tourism destinations.

“One other area is eco-tourism, which is part of the state’s development plan for the tourism sector. The government has indicated that all industry players will have to be responsive to the new plan, as it aims to create Sarawak’s own niche market to make its tourism offers more attractive,” Inside Investors enthused.

Meetings, incentives conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector is also gaining traction. This form of tourism in Sarawak could be easily related to projects in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), an area in which the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) was focusing on. As far as the conferences related to SCORE, there would be, for example, the upcoming Hydropower Association conference in Kuching in May.

The government would use this as a platform to showcase how they could move forward in terms of hydropower utilisation and related technologies. All the events around SCORE offer a perfect opportunity for stakeholders to network with others who were also active in sub-sector business.

The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) responsible for the conventional tourism, hopes to see more funds allocated for the tourism sector in the future. Under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, the state government had allocated a five year RM30 million fund to cover all tourism activities as well as its operation costs to the board, which made RM6 million a year.

This was however deemed too low by STB which meant that funds need to be raised from private investors to ensure the tourism industry stays on track.

By: Jonathan Wong, jonathanwong@theborneopost.com

Copyright@2010-2013 BorneoPost Online

Cycling packages helping to promote local products too.

25th March, 2013

Cycling packages helping to promote local products too.

RAUB: The cycling packages introduced by the Tourism Ministry have helped to highlight locals products besides boosting domestic tourism, said minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“In Felda Tersang, there are local fruits like buah saga and the various colours of bunga raya; some of the things which city folks may not even know exist,” she said. “The settlers, too, were not familiar with them. But after they took part in the cycling programme, they came to know about these during their stops,” she added.

Dr Ng said the making of parang had also long existed in Felda Tersang but some settlers knew about it only through the cycling trips. “The cycling packages we launched last year have proven to be one of the most popular tourism packages for locals and foreigners.

“We have expanded the packages into the Felda settlements. We started it in Felda Tersang which is some 45km from Raub town,” she said after taking part in the 10km Kayuhan Sihat@ Tersang held at Felda Tersang Satu here yesterday.

Dr Ng said also said that her ministry had funded the upgrade of fishing ponds in Felda Tersang so that these would become more attractive to visitors, joggers and cyclists. “Soon their surface will be full of teratai flowers and the landscaping will be enhanced too,” she said.

 Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

International Sporting Events Help Boost Sports Tourism In Malaysia.

24^th March, 2013

International Sporting Events Help Boost Sports Tourism In Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR - Successful international sporting events undoubtedly lead Malaysia towards development in the sports tourism sector, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said such events not only benefited one area of economy, but it also drives investment in other sectors such as hospitality, retail, trade and industries.

"In such international events like the Maybank Malaysian Open Golf Championship, it is a chance for Malaysia to show the world that we have the facilities and expertise to organise world class events," he said in his speech at the Maybank Malaysian Open Golf Championship 2013 prize giving ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, here, Sunday.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin noted that the initiative by Maybank and Malaysia Golf Association (MGA) to develop the talent of young people and teach them skills that needed to succeed are vital in ensuring our country continues to be on the world stage.

He also congratulated Thailand's rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat who won the Maybank Malaysian Open 2013 title today and also Malaysia's top ranked amateur Gavin Kyle Green who finished as the best Malaysian player.

Copyright@BERNAMA

The race to woo more tourists.

18th March, 2013

The race to woo more tourists.

KUALA LUMPUR: WITH the 15th edition of the Formula 1 Grand Prix taking place from Friday to Sunday, Tourism Malaysia  is set to take advantage of the spike in tourist arrivals to embark on another promotional blitz. The 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale, launched at the Pavilion in Jalan Bukit Bintang here recently, features 23 days of shopping mania with great discounts and promotions at participating outlets until April 7.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who launched the event, said she was proud of the fact that last year Malaysia received some 25 million tourists who spent RM60.6 million, of which shopping contributed 30.7 per cent (or RM18.56 million) of the total tourism revenue. "The 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale is one of the promotional activities in the run-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2014. The government is targeting to receive 36 million tourists and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020," said Ng.

In a symbolic gesture, Ng flagged off one of three Ferraris stationed at Pavilion when launching the event. This was followed by a fashion show, with models displaying the latest creations from leading fashion brands.

Among the participating malls in the on-going promotion are Sunway Pyramid, where most outlets are offering discounts of up to 70 per cent and a chance to win F1 GP grandstand tickets, and Fahrenheit 88, which is having its 100 Pairs Giveaway special. The latter promotion has shoppers who spend RM100 in a single receipt at any specialty store, or RM300 at Uniqlo or selected branded outlets, standing to win a pair of shoes, with up to 100 pairs of footwear worth RM20,000 to be given away.

After the promotion ends, shopaholics can look forward to the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (June 29 to Sept 1) and the 1Malaysia Year-End Sale (Nov 16 to Jan 5 next year). The 1Malaysia GP Sale is jointly organised by Tourism Malaysia and Bukit Bintang-KLCC Tourism Association.

By: RICKY YAP | streets@nstp.com.my

Copyright@The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

Taiwan Keen To Attract Malaysian-Chinese Tourists.

18th March, 2013

Taiwan Keen To Attract Malaysian-Chinese Tourists.

BERLIN - Taiwan is very keen to attract tourists from Malaysia, and has been highlighting areas of interest to the Malaysian-Chinese community, which has increased its visits to the island republic.

Using the catchphrase "Tantalising Taiwan" to make a strong pitch for Taiwan as an attractive destination at the just-concluded International Tourism Bourse (ITB) of Berlin, Cheng Ying-Huei, the deputy director of the international affairs division at the Taipei-based Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said that tourism has become one of the top six segments of the country's economy.

He said that Taiwan was not just eyeing the traditional Western markets but also the Asean markets, with Malaysia serving as a major source of tourism traffic. Cheng added that tourism generated revenue of US$11 billion in 2011.

"If in the past, visitors comprised largely of business travellers, we now see a growing number of leisure travellers visiting Taiwan. We received some 7.31 million tourists last year, an increase of 20.11 per cent over 2011," Cheng said in an interview with Bernama in Berlin.

While Western tourists were attracted by culture, tourists of Chinese origin, including from Malaysia, were drawn by several attractions, particularly the Sun Moon Lake, the common Chinese culture, Buddhist landmarks and, particularly in the case of Malaysian-Chinese, by traditional Chinese medicine.

Taiwan is also playing up as an innovative place of learning traditional Chinese medicine to court Malaysian-Chinese tourists. Indeed, the Asean region has become one of the major markets for Taiwan to source tourism from, with Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia providing the bulk of the region's traffic.

"Malaysian-Chinese also visit Taiwan for shopping, wedding photo shooting, which has become highly popular among young people," she added.

Cheng said that Malaysian companies could offer their employees incentive travel benefits. The employees could enjoy "not only the benefits of a common culture with links to Malaysia but also feel very much at home". Taiwan's Tourism Bureau regularly organises roadshows in the Asean region. Malaysia is one of the countries that is seen as a market inherent with good business potential.

By: Manik Mehta

Copyright@BERNAMA

Kuching To Host Routes Asia Conference Next Year.

18th March, 2013

Kuching To Host Routes Asia Conference Next Year.

KUCHING - Kuching will be hosting the Routes Asia 2014 conference and exhibition, a premier annual event for the meeting of airlines and airports operators throughout Asia.

Sarawak Tourism Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, said today the city was chosen as the venue for the event ahead of three other well-established cities, namely Osaka in Japan, Brisbane (Australia) and Hong Kong.

"Next year, all the CEOs (chief executive officers) of airlines and airports will come here to see what we can offer and we hope that they will bring their planes or flights over to Kuching. We want Kuching to become the international destinations," he said.

He made the remarks when speaking to officiate the handing over ceremony of a Quality Environment Practices (QE5S) Recognition Certificate to Dormani Hotel here.

He attributed Sarawak's success in winning the bid to become the host of the event to the strong collaboration with the Federal government and Malaysia Airports Berhad.

Copyright@BERNAMA

Step up efforts to promote islands.

13th March, 2013

Step up efforts to promote islands.

JOHOR BARU: THE Johor Tourism Department has to step up efforts to promote 14 islands in the state as tourist destinations in a bid to attract more visitors. Last year, the state recorded 22.3 million visitors, which was an increase of about 33 per cent in comparison to 16.7 million in 2011.

Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang said the department will focus on promoting the beaches and islands to tourists. "Johor has at least 14 islands including Pulau Tinggi, Aur, Pemanggil, Sibu, Tengah, Rawa, Kukup and Besar with resorts offering pristine beaches," he said at the launch of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair at the Danga City Mall here recently.

"European tourists have returned to visit our islands. They are also fascinated with the wetlands of Kukup Island which has been recognised as a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance."

He said the department is encouraged to speak to travel agents and the international media to provide them with information on the state's tourist attractions and gather feedback. "This is important in preparing for the run up to Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Meanwhile, Tourism Ministry Johor office director Mohamad Isa Abdul Halim said that travellers are not affected by the upcoming 13th General Election. "Although polling date has yet to be announced, there was no drop in travel bookings in the state," he added.

Also present were MATTA Johor chairman Kenny Ngi and fair organising deputy president Steven Chung.

By: MAHANI ISHAK | johor@nst.com.my

Copyright@The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

Tourism carnival boost for LIMA 2013.

13th March, 2013

Tourism carnival boost for LIMA 2013.

PUTRAJAYA - In conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA 13) exhibition from March 26 to 30, the Tourism Ministry will be hold a Lima Tourism Carnival. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said among the events are tax-free goods sales, sales of delicacies from all over the state as well as a 2014 Visit Malaysia Year exhibition.

"We will also hold the 1Malaysia Clean Campaign quiz and competition and the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival," she said at a media conference on LIMA, here today.

She said there will also be an exhibition on careers in spa therapy and foot massage to attract more youths to be involved in the field. "To develop further lifestyle tourism, the country needs about 6,000 local residents, to be skilled in the field of spa therapy," she said.

Apart from the Tourism Ministry, Lima will also its own attractions such as aerobatic display, exhibition of Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft at the Mahsuri International Exhibition hall and the Maritime Sector at Awana Porto Malai. Air shows will be held each day from 12.30pm to 2pm on March 26, 27 and 28 and two sessions on March 29 and 30 from 10am to 11.30am and from 2.30pm to 4pm at the Langkawi International Airport. – BERNAMA

Copyright@The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

Make room for tourists on a shoestring budget.

11th March, 2013

Make room for tourists on a shoestring budget.

THE word is out. The place to be - for sun-sand-sea-beach-loving enthusiasts, foodies or those stuck in the nostalgia of old-world colonial charm - is the island of Penang. Tourists are coming in droves to check out what this tiny island has to offer and its people are gearing up to embrace the economic benefits that will enrich them in the coming years.

The hotel industry will be the best business to be in here as its clientele does not depend on "seasons" compared with the industry in Kuala Lumpur. Every day is an "Arab, Europe, Thai or Singaporean season" for the hotels in Penang. Some are even fully booked until next year.

Upon realising the mammoth tourism potential in the state, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has said that the island required the support of the hotel industry to be turned into a tourism hub.

The hospitality industry had foreseen this coming as nine hotels are being built on the island, with the first one to be ready by 2015.

Dr Ng had said to compete with other tourism-centric states such as Malacca and Johor, 9,000 five-star hotel rooms are needed by 2020, with a target of 36 million tourist arrivals. While some in the hotel industry concur with the need for more five-star hotels, there are others who say that there are enough rooms already.

Some who are involved in the hospitality and tourism business say that the target may be a bit too ambitious and on the wrong track as the real need is for more four-star hotels on the island. It was reported that Penang has more than 13,000 hotel rooms, with 5,368 in George Town, 2,417 along the popular Batu Ferringhi beach area and 1,077 in Tanjung Bungah, among others.

Industry experts believe that at least half of the tourists are drawn to Penang as it offers relatively cheap accommodation, besides other attractions. They also said there is a sizeable number of tourists who are backpackers who don't need five-star accommodation, seeking instead for affordable boutique hotels like the ones found in George Town.

So the question is, how many tourists would fork out RM300 to RM500 a night for a night's stay at a five-star hotel in Penang? There are some hotels at Batu Ferringhi that are charging even more and, believe it or not, they are enjoying full occupancy daily, with rooms booked months ahead. While some hotels in town and in the southern areas have rooms aplenty. They are grumbling that there is "no business" for them.

With the increase in the number of five-star hotels in Penang, most tourists, especially Malaysians from other states, would find it hard to stay and help the economy to prosper. Is there a real need for luxury hotels at a time when the people of Penang are already plagued with the lack of affordable homes, traffic jams and a plethora of other problems?

Perhaps it is time the authorities came out and walked around Lebuh Chulia, where hostels, bed and breakfast, inns and backpackers lodges thrive. In anticipation of Visit Malaysia Year 2014, government agencies must come together to ensure that tourists get decent accommodation at a decent price, rather than purely focusing on the well-heeled folk alone. The budget hotel rooms must be clean and hygienic or the image of the Pearl of the Orient will be tarnished.

By: Predeep Nambiar

Copyright@The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

New tourism projects in Johor to lure Europeans and Asians.

11th March, 2013

New tourism projects in Johor to lure Europeans and Asians.

DESTINATION Resorts and Hotels' (DRH) upcoming developments in Nusajaya and Desaru Coast in Malaysia's southern state of Johor are set to appeal to both longhaul and shorthaul markets, using Singapore as a gateway. According to DRH managing director, Mohd Nadziruddin Mohd Basri, the 283-key Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour – opening in May 2013 – and Legoland Hotel – due to launch in 1Q2014 – will be located next to the Legoland theme park in Nusajaya.

Also in Johor, another DRH project rolling out in 2015 is Desaru Coast. Located a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Singapore, the integrated destination offers a 17km beachfront, luxury resorts by international brands such as Amanresorts, The Datai and Sheraton, a waterfront retail village, a convention centre, two water theme parks and two championship golf courses at the first Els Club in Asia.

To reach out to tour operators and MICE planners in Europe, DRH will conduct a roadshow in Scandinavia in September and will also participate in joint sales missions with Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau this year. Tour operators in neighbouring Singapore are also looking forward to Johor’s new tourism offerings.

Dominic Ong, general manager of Star Holiday Mart Singapore, said: “Currently, the leisure market spends two nights in Singapore and three days in Desaru. But once the development is completed, we can look at packages combining two nights in Singapore and seven nights in Desaru Coast for the European market, which loves nature and beachfront hotels. “With the new hotels, we can also look at converting Legoland Malaysia from a day trip to a one- or two-night stay for the regional as well as Chinese and Indian markets.”

Helen Goh, director of marketing at Vacation Asia Singapore, added: “Singapore’s green fee is expensive and on weekends, most golf courses are for members only. With the Els Club golf courses, we can do golfing on weekends in Desaru Coast and weekdays in Singapore.” 

By: S Puvaneswary, ITB Berlin

Copyright@TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd 2013

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

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

Tourism Malaysia eyes promotion of niche market segments.

Date: 12 February 2013

Tourism Malaysia eyes promotion of niche market segments.

NEW YORK: The new vice-president at Tourism Malaysia's New York office has identified "good business potential" in certain niche market segments which will be promoted during his tenure. Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali listed them as adventure, nature, diving, business travel and MICE (meetings, incentive travels, conferences and exhibitions).

"These segments are inherent with good business potential. But we also need to enhance the awareness of travellers from this part of the world about the attractions of Malaysia as a destination," Johanif, who arrived here two weeks ago, told Bernama in an interview on Tuesday.

Johanif noted that in a fiercely competitive place like New York, prices for long-haul flights were of crucial importance. "However, being a long-haul destination for American travellers, Malaysia's attractiveness can be further enhanced by offering it in combination with another destination in Southeast Asia such as Thailand or Singapore," he said.

Malaysia received a total of 240,134 visitors from the United States (US) in 2012, which was in fact, higher than the actual target of 230,000 visitors set for the US offices. The 2012 figures showed a 10.8 percent increase over 2011.

Another interesting segment inherent with good tourism potential is Malaysia's rainforests with their unique and exotic flora and fauna, which foreign visitors as well as students of ecology, botany and nature would find fascinating. Having been Tourism Malaysia's director in Sarawak before arriving in New York, Johanif has acquired good insights into the intricacies of nature and adventure tourism.

Johanif also discerned the cruise tourism segment as holding good promise for business, with this in mind, the New York office will attend the Miami Cruise Show scheduled for March in Miami. Tourism Malaysia is also eyeing for cruise ships to stop in Penang, Kota Kinabalu or Kuching en route to other destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan. - Bernama

Copyright @ 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Media Encouraged To Give New Ideas To Promote Tourism.

Date: 3 February 2013

Media Encouraged To Give New Ideas To Promote Tourism.

MELAKA - The media have been encouraged to give new ideas to promote the tourism industry, particularly in Malacca which banks on heritage and culture. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said their views were important for they could help attract more tourists as well as preserve national heritage for future generations.

"Efforts to uphold national heritage are important for the benefits of future generations, and the thrust of the historic city of Melaka's heritage management is preserving heritage sites in the interest of preservation and protection of its legacy," he said.

He was speaking at a dinner in conjunction with the All Ladies Treasure Hunt organised by the Association of Women and Wives of Bernama Employees (Benita) at Bayview Hotel here last night. Bernama acting general manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong was present.

Two hundred women travelling in 50 cars took part in the hunt from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka, yesterday. The contestants vied for prizes, including RM10,000 cash, and diamond and pearl pendants worth RM2,000 from Habib Jewels.

Mohd Ali said the state government would give priority to preservation and protection of its historical heritage sites in line with the recognition accorded by Unesco on July 7, 2008. He also urged stakeholders, including building owners and residents, to help preserve the state's heritage and culture.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Melaka Zoo Expected To Attract One Million Visitors This Year.

Date: 1 February 2013

Melaka Zoo Expected To Attract One Million Visitors This Year.

MELAKA - The Melaka Zoo and Night Safari is expected to attract a million visitors this year under its new management since Jan 1.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said this target was in line with initiatives worth RM8 million to upgrade various facilities and buildings, as well as cleanliness under the privatisation by Konsortium KKW Sdn Bhd.

"We hope the Melaka Zoo and Night Safari will be able to attract one million visitors, with projected ticket collections of RM8 million this year compared to 750,000 visitors and ticket sales of RM3.5 million last year," he said when launching the zoo's new management, here Friday.

Also present was KKW Sdn Bhd managing director, Datuk Michelle Ong.

In line with the target, he said the consortium, comprising Koperasi Hang Tuah Jaya, Koperasi Bela Masyarakat (KOBEMAS) and Wildlife Sdn Bhd has planned an assortment of programmes to attract visitors such as animal show, animal feeding programmes, night train and treasure hunt.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

SIC target 130,000 fans for this year’s F1 race.

Date: 30 January 2013

SIC target 130,000 fans for this year’s F1 race.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix is now 15 years but still going strong. And the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), the organisers, are hoping the promotional activities in place this year will help them attract an even bigger crowd to the Sepang Circuit come March 22-24.

SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Mahathir, speaking at the official launching of the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix by Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek last night, said they are hopeful of enticing 90,000 fans on race day itself.

“We recorded an attendance of 120,000 spectators for three days last year, but we hope to bring in more than 130,000 over three days this time. I am hoping that more fans will come on race day. We are expecting to have at least 40% foreigners and 60% local spectators.

“Over the years, the local spectators have continued to give good support to this event and we hope they continue to do so. To achieve this, SIC will be working closely with Petronas (the title sponsors) and all our key partners like Tourism Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Majlis Perbandaran Sepang, BBKLCC Tourism Association and the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture as well as the various government agencies and NGOs in making this year the best-ever F1 event,” said Mokhzani, adding that all 14 Petronas F1 cars from 1999 to 2012 will be presented to the public nationwide until the race weekend.

“We also encourage fans to purchase tickets early because seat selection will not be allowed during the ticket purchase process during the racing weekend (March 22-24) in the interest of serving the larger crowd of patrons present at the circuit grounds.”

A special One Ticket Unlimited (1TU) package will also be introduced this year to provide fans with a host of privileges to enjoy the event in March. Apart from being a passport for additional discounts at the 1Malaysian GP Sale 2013 in March, 1TU will also provide the ticket-holders a host of other privileges like shopping and dining. With the 1TU, all the grandstand ticket-holders will have access to the F1 after race concert featuring the legendary Guns N Roses on March 24 for free.

Those with the hillstand tickets will have to add a minimum of RM120 to catch the legendary rock performance.

Malaysia will host the second round of this season’s 20-leg F1 World Championship. The new season will open with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne from March 15-17.

By LIM TEIK HUAT

Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Longhaul markets develop fancy for Sabah and Sarawak.

Date: 30 January 2013

Longhaul markets develop fancy for Sabah and Sarawak.

LONGHAUL travel consultants at the recently concluded ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Vientiane have seen growing interest in Sabah and Sarawak, with competitive airfares and hotel rates pushing up demand.

Norway-based Asia Spesialisten’s director of sales and marketing, Oddvar Sivertsen, said: “Low-cost carriers have opened air access to the more remote parts of Sabah and Sarawak, and this too is causing demand for tailor-made, off-the-beaten-track tours.”

Cheaper airfares and hotel rates had driven demand for FIT travel, especially among the 30-50 year-old group, he observed. Tours to these states typically combine a beach experience, a soft adventure component and cultural tours that incorporate educational elements and novel experiences.

Air France’s new thrice-weekly direct flights between Charles de Gaulle Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport beginning April 22 has also interested at least one DMC from France. Abako general manager, Jose Henrique Goncalves, said: “We’re in the middle of preparing a concept paper on Borneo as an incentive destination and once ready, we will promote it to our clients in the automobile, construction, health and finance sectors.

“With direct flights, we don’t have to stop in Singapore for a night, which is expensive. Malaysia’s hotel rates are competitive and one can negotiate with them. The French have a good image of Malaysia as a destination that is modern yet retains an old-world charm.”

Germany-based Kornelius Reisen’s owner, Johannes Harle, said Sabah and Sarawak also appealed to niche travellers keen on nature, culture and adventure.

By S Puvaneswary, Vientiane

Copyright @ TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd 2013

KidZania opening in Sentosa.

Date: 29 January 2013

KidZania opening in Sentosa.

KUALA LUMPUR: THE government investment Khazanah Nasional Bhd has expanded its leisure and tourism portfolio with the opening of the Lion City’s first indoor educational and entertainment theme park, KidZania, at Sentosa Island. The Singapore outlet will be Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd (TAR) second offering of the Mexican theme park developer in the region.

“Similar to KidZania Kuala Lumpur, KidZania Singapore will also provide a ‘win-win-win-win’ proposition,” said TAR chief executive officer Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin in a statement.

He said parents will be pleased their children are being entertained while they are learning in a safe and stimulating setting. Children are able to role-play and have fun in an enriching environment, he added. KidZania combines role playing with real-life experiences in a kid-sized city.

“It’s good for schools because KidZania Singapore will offer valuable life-learning away from the classroom, and a memorable destination for school trips.”

At KidZania Singapore, TAR and Sentosa Development Corporation will share the strategic goal of promoting quality family bonding time in attractions with unique concepts.

KidZania Singapore is central to TAR’s objective of developing, managing and operating attractions that are family-orientated, such as its recently opened theme parks in Iskandar Malaysia — Legoland and Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park known for its “Sanrio Hello Kitty Town”, “The Little Big Club” attraction and “Lat’s Place”.

The KidZania concept has since experienced rapid global growth and now has 11 locations, across four continents in eight countries, including Tokyo, Dubai, Seoul and Lisbon. Together with KidZania Singapore, a total of 13 locations are under development in Bangkok, Kuwait, Jeddah, Moscow, Mumbai, Sao Paolo, Manila, Istanbul, Cairo, London, US and Qatar.

Copyright @ 2012 Malay Mail Sdn. Bhd.

Singapore is favourite destination of Malaysians.

Date: 29 January 2013

Singapore is favourite destination of Malaysians.

MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE - Malaysian travellers prefer destinations that don't require a long-haul flight. Singapore's high exchange rate and rigid rules may cause us to pause, but apparently, it has done little to stop us zooming over the causeway in droves.

Based on internal data gathered from January to November 2012, Tripadvisor, one of the world's largest travel sites, has revealed the local and international destinations that Malaysian travellers looked up the most as the destinations for their next holiday, and The Lion City topped the list.

Eight other Asian destinations also made it to the list, showing Malaysian travellers to prefer flights within the six-hour duration. The second and third most viewed international destination belongs to Bangkok and Hong Kong respectively.

Thailand took the most spots with Bangkok, Krabi Town (#4) and Patong (#10). Only London (#9) made the cut for long-haul destinations.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Kuala Lumpur - city with the highest concentration of shopping malls and recreation facilities - has ranked tops within Malaysia.

This should come as no surprise, given that a majority of Malaysians travel domestically to visit friends and relatives, followed by shopping, vacation and entertainment and recreation, according to the Domestic Tourism Survey 2011 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia.

The other most-searched local destinations are, in a descending order, Malacca, Genting Highlands, Kota Kinabalu and Georgetown.

By Louisa Lim, The Star/Asia News Network

Copyright @ 2013 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.

Inclusion of Singapore in tourist arrival in line with guidelines: Mirza

Date: 24 January 2013

Inclusion of Singapore in tourist arrival in line with guidelines: Mirza

VIENTIANE: The inclusion of Singaporeans in Malaysia's tourist arrival data is in line with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) guidelines on tourists. According to the UNWTO, it is stipulated that any foreigner who enters a country through proper entry points is counted as tourist.

This puts to rest, whatever debate within the tourism industry circles and among a small number of Malaysians, on whether Singaporeans, including those who merely spent several visiting hours in Malaysia, should come under the tourist category.

The industry has generally, felt that Singaporeans should not be included in the tourist arrivals data as Singapore did not include Malaysians visiting the republic in their tourist arrivals data.

Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab has defended the country's stand to include Singaporeans in their tourist arrivals data. He said, what Tourism Malaysia did, did not go against the UNWTO guidelines on tourists which stipulated that any foreigner entering a country, via proper entry points, was a tourist.

Mirza noted that even Thailand counted Malaysians visiting the country as tourists. So did, European countries which counted foreigners from their neighbouring countries as tourists when they visited the countries.

Malaysia recorded 24.7 million tourist arrivals in 2011, with Singaporeans making up the biggest portion of 9.7 million tourists. "The data is genuine. We did not fabricate or doctor the data as it all conforms with the UNWTO guidelines. Malaysia is among the top countries in the region which receives a high number of tourist arrivals," said Mirza, adding that Malaysia was well connected by land with neighbours such as Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.

There have been many feathers on Malaysia's tourism cap. The UNWTO ranked Malaysia as the ninth Most Visited Country in the World in 2011, and CNN's survey last year, placed Malaysia as the fourth Best Shopping City in the World, after New York, London and Tokyo.

Malaysia is the world's top Muslim-Friendly Holiday Destination, according to a survey by Crescentrating, Singapore-based Muslim travel consultancy released on Jan 16, 2013. The country is ranked third for 2013 World's Top Retirement Havens by Internationalliving.com and takes seventh spot on the top 10 Meetings Destination in Asia Pacific by ICCA.

It was named the World's Friendliest Country in 2012 by Forbes Online and numbers 12th Most Competitive Economy in the World for Doing Business by the World Bank's Doing Business Report 2013 edition.

It also won the first prize for the UNWTO 2012 Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance for its Homestay Experience Programme. UNWTO also ranked Malaysia 14th in International Tourism Receipts in 2010 and 2011.

Mirza said Malaysia might not have won so many awards without a proper tourist arrival data. We are just a small country but I am proud when I opened the book, we are among the top 10 countries in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) chief executive officer Zulkefli Sharif said, 19 events were secured for the period between 2012 and 2014, with tourist expenditure of RM373 million. The events include Jennifer Lopez Concert, Kids Golf World Championship, Vijay TV Movie Awards, Tropfest South East Asia, Asia Pacific Cheerleading Championship, World Universities Debating Championship and MuayThai World Championship.

MYCEB was established in 2009 by the tourism ministry as a non-profit organisation to further strengthen Malaysia's business tourism brand and position for international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions market. - BERNAMA

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