DRH reveals two new developments in Nusajaya.

27th March, 2013

DRH reveals two new developments in Nusajaya.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By: Tatiana Rokou

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

2,000 hotel bookings cancelled.

22^nd March, 2013

2,000 hotel bookings cancelled.

Sandakan: About 2,000 rooms that were booked online with the various hotels here were cancelled following the Suluk terrorist intrusion in Lahad Datu and Semporna recently. It is feared that the situation would lead to the closure of many businesses.

A newly-opened international-class hotel suffered a great loss when 600 guest rooms booked by foreign tourists over the next few months were cancelled.

Tourism industry player, Datuk John Lim Shau Ket, also revealed that renowned local hotels here incurred huge losses when about 90 arrangements were cancelled within one day on March 6. "The misleading information disseminated (by foreign countries) contributed to this phenomenon," he said.

Foreign tourists, he said, were given travel advisory by their respective governments that the East Coast of Sabah had turned into a battlefield. "But the hotspot is actually about 200km from here," he said.

He urged the Federal Tourism Ministry to negotiate with countries that imposed travel advisories through Malaysia's diplomats to lift the ban. "They must explain to the foreign tourists the actual situation here. Especially the hotspot in Felda Sahabat, which is well under control by our security forces," he said.

He said even the inbound tours here were badly affected with similar cancellations the past few weeks. The former Sabah Tourism Board Director said a committee co-named as Sandakan Tourism Association (STA), of which he is protem chairman, has been set up to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, former Sandakan Municipal Council deputy president, Thomas Lau Chi Keong, said the participation of government departments is vital to stop the rumours that were created by irresponsible elements, including by the media in the Philippines. Lau said that by ceasing business operations, it would only create panic among the public. "We must have confidence in our security forces," he said, adding that his cafŽ business dropped by 50 per cent. Lau advised the people to verify the information they received by checking with the police.

Copyright@2013 Sabah Publishing House Sdn. Bhd

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

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

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.

 Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

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 

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

Twin Towers top TripAdvisor list.

Date: 15 February 2013

Twin Towers top TripAdvisor list.

TRIPADVISOR, the world's largest travel site, yesterday revealed the highly rated attractions in Malaysia that travellers around the world were talking about the most last year. In a statement, TripAdvisor said the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur topped the list.

"These towers are really stunning, especially at night when they are lit up. They are so big that it was hard to get them both in a single picture," said a TripAdvisor traveller.

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), which came in at number two, has, as one TripAdvisor traveller said, anything and everything you need, from coffee places to shops, restaurants and bars.

At number three is the Langkawi Cable Car, Kedah. "You can feast your eyes on the breathtaking greenery along the way and we had a beautiful view of the sunset, too," said a traveller.

TripAdvisor said the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, at number four, was described by a traveller as an add-on after visiting the National Orchid Garden. "We spent three hours there watching the various birds soar through the huge canopy area. I would recommend this to anyone even marginally interested in birds," the traveller added.

TripAdvisor said the top 10 picks in Malaysia's most talked about attractions last year, from premier shopping malls to historical museums and tropical conservation parks, were ranked according to the number of reviews received on TripAdvisor.com based on global Internet protocol addresses between Jan 1 and Dec 31, last year.

TripAdvisor, which started in March 2011 in Malaysia, is the world's largest travel website and operates in 30 countries worldwide, including China. It features 1,443 hotels, 1,235 bed and breakfast inns, 143 vacation rentals, 3,024 restaurants and 941 things-to-do, including a collaboration with Malaysia's leading organisations like Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Maxis and Tourism Malaysia. - Bernama

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

Malaysia as a preferred tour destination.

Date: 12 February 2013

Malaysia as a preferred tour destination.

Tourism Malaysia in association with Malaysia Airlines organised a promotional programme ‘Sales Mission to India’ in conjunction with South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE 2013) from January 7 to 18. The programme was organised in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi.

Business sessions (buyers and sellers meet) were being held in all the four cities which acted as a platform for the Indian travel agents to meet the Malaysian hoteliers, tour operators and tourism boards. Presentations were made by selected Malaysian industry players on new products.

Zulkifly Md. Said, Director of South Asia, West Asia and Africa Division, was leading the Malaysian delegation consisting of 17 tour agents, 21 hotel operators, six product owners, three State governments and Tourism Malaysia officials, to promote Malaysia as a preferred tourist destination.

He said “We are here to provide support to our partners in the Tourism Malaysia offices in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi. We look forward to working even more closely with our partners here to increase the number of visitors from India to Malaysia. For 2013, we are targeting 7,80,000 tourists from India to Malaysia while our overall tourism targets are to achieve 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion (approx. USD55 billion) in tourist receipts by the year 2020.”

This promotional effort was expected to increase the numbers significantly, through heralding a greater awareness of Malaysia as an ideal holiday destination, as well as fostering greater co-operation between tour operators and members of the tourism fraternity.

Tourism Malaysia India’s successful foray into social media on Facebook, Twitter and blogs was supported by its strong offline presence. Contests such as ‘Live Your Dream Malaysia Contest’, ‘Showcase Malaysia Dream Deals campaign’, and ‘Choose Your Dream Destination (Facebook)’, were organised and prizes were distributed. Out of exciting entries, Shashikala Kataria won the grand prize, wherein she wants to ‘explore the chance to go scuba diving and experience the underwater world in Malaysia’.

Copyright @ 2013 The Hindu

Muslims can charter direct flights from Senai Airport to Jeddah.

Date: 3 February 2013

Muslims can charter direct flights from Senai Airport to Jeddah.

JOHOR BARU: Muslims can now charter direct flights from the Senai International Airport here to Jeddah as there will be a total of 18 flights from servicing the two destinations between now to August. Johor Corporation (JCorp) president and chief executive  officer Datuk Kamaruzzaman Abu Kasim said there will be  three flights each month, accommodating about 550 pilgrims  per flight.

More than 250 pilgrims yesterday set off for Jeddah in the  maiden Johor Baru-Jeddah flight on The National Air Services (NAS), a Saudi Arabian domestic low-cost airline. The flights were arranged by Tiram Travel Sdn Bhd, a  subsidiary of JCorp.

Speaking to reporters after the launch, Kamaruzzaman  said the 18 flights will see a total of 9,000 pilgrims to Jeddah,  which is expected to generate a value of RM60 million for the  company.

“Due to the strategic-location of the Senai International  Airport, we believe the package will attract those from  Singapore and Indonesia as well as locals. We also plan to have flights from Johor Baru to Medina  some time this year. We are still in talks with the Saudi  Arabian government regarding this,” he said, adding that the  airport will become a "Umrah hub" of the southern region.

He added that the tour company was also planning to  introduce flights for pilgrims from the Riau Islands via Batam  and to Pekan Baru via Malacca. Tiram Travel, which has been organising umrah packages for more than a decade and has 12 branches in various  states, is expecting between 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims to  make the journey this year.

Kamaruzzaman said the number has been increasing each  year since 2010. “There were 4,000 pilgrims in 2010, which increased to  5,700 the following year. Last year, 7,353 made the trip,” he said, adding Tiram Travel was also going to embark aggressively on inbound travels as Johor now has the Johor Premium Outlets and the  Legoland Theme Park. There are also plans to incorporate Universal Studios Singapore (USS) in the tour package.

“We are targeting Arab tourists from the Middle East, and hope that the upward trend will continue into the Visit  Malaysia Year 2014,” he said.

In conjunction with the launch of the maiden flight, the  company also proceeded with the launch of the JCorp Hotels  and Resorts Sdn Bhd lounge in the Senai International  Airport. The lounge offers information of the hotels owned by the  group, which included, The Puteri Pacific Johor Baru, Hotel  Selesa Pasir Gudang, Selesa Tioman Condotel and the Sibu  Island Resort.

By Chuah Bee Kim

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

Tourism Industry Needs To Focus On Quality Than On Tourist Arrivals.

Date: 29 January 2013

Tourism Industry Needs To Focus On Quality Than On Tourist Arrivals.

KUALA LUMPUR - The tourism industry needs to re-look at what it wants to achieve and focus more on quality than on tourist arrivals, said former Tourism Minister, Tan Sri Sabaruddin Chik.

He said based on recent statistics, while the number of tourist arrivals had increased substantially over the years, the occupancy rates in hotels had remained relatively unchanged.

"We need to focus on creating jobs for our people. This is what we should be focusing on and not just on the number of tourist arrivals," he said at the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Association tea reception in conjunction with its Golden Jubilee celebration.

Former managing director of Malaysia Airlines, Tan Sri Aziz Rahman, said the tourism industry needed to ensure that tourists will have a pleasant experience and continue to remember their stay in this country.

"The tourism industry in this country also need to upgrade skills. The government and private sector can team up to upgrade them," he said.

Aziz said another key issue was security and safety. "A tourist that got pickpocked, things snatched or lost belongings in the hotel room is a bad experience and the news will spread fast," he said.

Copyright @ BERNAMA

Asia's tourism players demand better ecotourism practices.

Date: 25 January 2013

Asia's tourism players demand better ecotourism practices.

WHILE balancing economic development and environmental sustainability continues to be a challenge, tourism players should chart the way forward for ecotourism in South-east Asia, a salient theme that was raised during the ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC) at ATF 2013.

“We have to take care of the goose that lays the golden eggs,” said Victor Wee, chairman, Tourism Malaysia, on sustainability and ecotourism. “Ecotourism is a two-way street – it requires the responsible, conscious and committed participation of all parties.”

Tour operators should take a proactive stance, urged Umberto Cadamuro, director of business and operations, Pacto Indonesia. “The key is to keep sustainability in mind when developing products. We would recommend incentive groups to have their CSR activities in South-east Asia. It is the responsibility of DMCs to suggest this to their clients.”

Jimmy Sim, business development manager, Dorison Travel Singapore, agreed: “Sustainable tourism enjoys a higher profile in the Western world but is still something very new in this region. Hotels are the most polluting link in the tourism field. There are a lot of opportunities but it’s very frustrating as many hotel owners are just looking at dollars and cents,” said Anthony Wong, group managing director of Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Malaysia and Frangipani Hotels & Resorts. “General managers are often appointed for two years or so, therefore it’s up to owners to set the vision and goals for their properties.”

Since adopting green practices such as rainwater harvesting, composting and setting up a wetland at Frangipani Langkawi, the resort’s operating costs have declined by 20 per cent, Wong revealed.

Community-based tourism can be tapped to improve the well-being of the local community while raking in tourist dollars, keynote speakers pointed out. For example, PATA Foundation has partnered Canada’s Capilano University to launch homestay programmes in Vietnam’s Sapa, according to chairman – board of trustees, Mario Hardy.

Better policies and regulations should be drawn up, as ecotourism products are generally under-priced in the region, leading to high visitations and environmental degradation, Wee added.

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, ASEAN Tourism Forum, Vientiane

Copyright @ TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd 2013

Efforts underway to correct tourist arrivals receipt imbalance.

Date: 24 January 2013

Efforts underway to correct tourist arrivals receipt imbalance.

VIENTIANE: Efforts are in the pipeline to correct the imbalance between Malaysian tourist arrivals and tourism receipts, Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said here. 

The opening of the new low-cost carrier terminal, known as Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2), and the expansion of air linkages into the country could contribute to addressing the issue, he said. 

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Malaysia was the ninth most-visited country in the world in 2009, 2010 and 2011. However, when it came to international tourism receipts, UNWTO ranked Malaysia on 14th spot in 2010 and 2011.

Malaysia recorded 24.7 million tourist arrivals and RM58.3 billion in tourism revenue in 2011. Data for tourist arrivals and tourism receipts for 2012 are not available yet.

Mirza told Bernama on the sidelines of the Asean Tourism Forum here that shorter duration of stay and tourists' choices for more competitive activities were the two factors that had contributed to the low tourism receipts. He said international tourists coming to Malaysia consisted of 10 per cent from long-haul arrivals; 30 per cent, medium-haul; and 60 per cent, short-haul; with an average duration of stay of 4.6 days at the moment.  

"With such a scenario, we cannot expect tourists from short-haul countries like Singapore to stay in Malaysia for two weeks. We need more long-haul tourists, for example from the United States and Europe, to stay longer during their visits," he said.

Basically, the longer tourists stay, the more they spend on accommodation, transportation, food and activities. 

Mirza said the opening of KLIA2, which is scheduled for completion in May, could attract more tourists as it can accommodate 45 million passengers a year. KLIA, located next to KLIA2, can accommodate 25 million passengers a year.

The resumption of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris by Malaysia Airlines, scheduled for March, and the introduction of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris by Air France in April could bring in more long-haul tourists, he said. Furthermore, he said, MAS' plan in ordering new aircraft and reviewing its long-haul routes could contribute to the arrival of more long-haul tourists. He said the factor of MAS joining other airline alliances would also add more tourists, especially from the long- and medium-haul arrivals. 

The new Malaysia-Indonesia low-cost airline, Malindo Airways, which would take off in March, would also increase the momentum for tourist arrivals, he said.

Mirza also said that the opening of new luxury hotels, such as Grand Hyatt KL (2012), the Majestic Hotel KL (2012), St Regis (2014), The Regent (2015) and Four Seasons Place KL (2015), could enhance further the country's tourism receipts, especially from tourists who were after luxury tourism.

Apart from that, the fast-growing economy in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the creation of the Asean Community by 2015, which allows easier mobility in the region, would further increase tourist arrivals and receipts for Malaysia.

On Tourism Malaysia, he said, efforts would be made to enhance promotional activities at all levels in attracting more tourists, especially during Visit Malaysia Year 2014. "All these may change the tourist arrivals-receipt imbalance we have experienced in the past," he said. The tourism industry in Malaysia has provided 1.8 million jobs and contributed RM168 billion to the national gross income.  - BERNAMA

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

TRAVELLER: Feel at home in Malaysia: Perfect for weddings, families, or business travellers.

Date: 23 January 2013

TRAVELLER: Feel at home in Malaysia: Perfect for weddings, families, or business travellers.

If you could spend just $900 (Rs48,262) for a trip and still feel like a king, what would stop you?  That's exactly why Malaysia has been and still is on the top of every Indian's getaway list. With a total of 514,926 tourists from India in 2012 (from January to September), which accounts for a 2.6 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2011, India is a top ten market for Malaysia.

Being a family destination also helps, says Zulkifly Md. Said, the director of Malaysian tourism, South Asia, West Asia and Africa Division. "Malaysia, apart from being a good family destination, is also a country mostly preferred by women, as it's comparatively safer. The shopping, bicycle riding and diving activities make the country desirable for all age groups," says Said.

As much as $6 million has been kept aside by the tourism authorities of Malaysia in 2013 for India. For South Asia, the total budget is eight to ten million US dollars. Apart from luring Indians with its lush green forests and serene beaches, the country also hosts events such as the rain forest music festival, which attracts around 3,000 foreign visitors every year.

Also, international concerts and big names such as Jennifer Lopez came down to Malaysia last year and it proved to be a major crowd puller. "We are looking forward to widen our tourism horizons to include medical tourism and incentive travels for business travelers," points out Said.

For instance, in the Malaysian homestay programme, you will get to experience life in a kampong or a traditional village. Apart from housing spas such as Spa Village at Pangkor Laut Resort on Pangkur Laut Island, Malaysia's cuisine is also worth exploring.

You can join a culinary tour where you can be a part of a cooking workshop or go on a market tour to shop for local ingredients. Also, foodies may want to be a part of the annual food and fruits fiesta, usually held in July, to learn about the country's fare.

Foreign patients also consider Malaysia a wise choice for treatment due to the state-of-the-art private medical centres in the country. "After a surgery or during the recuperation period, these patients become tourists, enjoying a spot of sightseeing, playing a round of golf or two, or going for spa treatments," says Said. But the country is yet to explore the prospect of Indian tourists heading to Malaysia for treatment.

"English is widely spoken in Malaysia. So Indians do not find communication as a big issue," adds Said.

Malaysia's first international theme park, Legoland opened in September. With over 40 interactive rides, shows and other attractions, it is on its way to become a favourite among Indians. What makes Legoland different from other popular theme parks?  Said has an immediate answer: "Well, we do not see other theme parks around the tourist destinations in the world as competition. "Legoland caters to every age group, and also its proximity to Singapore will make it a perfect stop-over for tourists who want to experience both Malaysia and Singapore in the same trip."

Malaysia also received an award by CNN for being the fourth best shopping destination in the world behind New York, London and Tokyo.

Shopping, relaxation, entertainment - you name it and Malaysia hands it over to you.

By Adila Matra

Copyright @ Associated Newspapers Ltd

Malaysia Airports makes foray into hotels.

Date: 11 January 2013

Malaysia Airports makes foray into hotels.

MALAYSIA Airports Holdings has launched its new airport hotel brand, Sama-Sama, marking its entry into airport accommodation sector. The airport operator will own and operate the five-star full-service Sama-Sama KL International Airport hotel adjacent to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as well as the existing transit hotel – which will be rebranded as Sama-Sama Express KLIA. With the completion of KLIA2, Malaysia Airports will also operate its transit hotel, Sama-Sama Express KLIA2.

Said tourism minister, Ng Yen Yen, at the hotel launch yesterday: “It is heartening to note that Malaysia Airports is expanding on its repertoire of airport services to include hospitality with its Sama-Sama brand. It is always a proud moment to see a Malaysian brand grow from strength to strength and achieve success on the world stage.”

Malaysia Airports chairman, Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, said: “Not content with just providing world-class, award-winning airport services, Malaysia Airports had the vision to offer every passenger who lands at KLIA a seamless travel experience – from the aircraft to the airport and to the hotel room. We will provide the connectivity, the convenience, the facilities and our unique Malaysian hospitality to welcome them. And so the Sama-Sama brand is born.”

Malaysia Airports aims to launch the Sama-Sama brand in other markets where it plans to operate airport hotels, according to Wan Abdul Aziz. Malaysia Airports manages and operates 39 airports in Malaysia, and also has operations in India and Turkey.

In the Malay language, sama-sama means “togetherness” and “you’re welcome”.

Copyright @ TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2013

Tourism Ministry Targets 234,000 Hotel Rooms By 2020.

Date: 10 January 2013

Tourism Ministry Targets 234,000 Hotel Rooms By 2020.

SEPANG (Bernama) - The Tourism Ministry is expecting an increase of 2,620 hotel rooms this year and is confident of achievings its target of 234,000 rooms by 2020, said its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

"The total number of hotel rooms as of November 2012 was 180,037, and for new luxury four and five-star hotels the number was 4,016," she said at the launch of Sama-Sama KL International Airport Hotel here Thursday.

Formerly known as Pan Pacific KL International Airport, the hotel has been re-branded and boasts an enhanced five-star experience with newly furbished rooms aside from its new image.

Ng said transit hotels also played an important role to cater the increase demand involving transit passengers.

"Last year there were 7.9 million transit passengers, so we need more transit hotels to facilitate them," she said.

Copyrights @ BERNAMA