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

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

MAS ups its global network capacity.

12th March, 2013

MAS ups its global network capacity.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is increasing its capacity to the routes across its network through additional flights and bigger capacity aircraft for the Northern Summer operating pattern effective March 31, 2013.

In a statement today, group chief executive officer, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, said the capacity increase was made possible as MAS had taken delivery of an average one 160-seater 737-800 aircraft per month, two more 494-seater A380 and four 283-seater A330-300 aircraft this year.

He said the capacity increase was an integral aspect of MAS' Business Plan and the commitment to improve air connectivity within Malaysia as well as leverage on Asia-Pacific where the demand outlook was strong. "We are confident that our improving fleet size will continue to drive revenue and loads and our return to profitability," he said.

Apart from the Kuala Lumpur-Paris return route that saw a weekly capacity increase of 1,484 seats in each direction with the 494-seater A380 replacing the 282-seater B777-200 from March 1, 2013, the upward capacity changes focus on matching air traffic volume in Asia-Pacific that is expected to see strong growth in 2013 as cargo recovers.

From March 31, 2013, the KL-Manila route weekly frequency will be increased from 25 to 28 B737-800 services with the  additional flights operating on Monday, Friday and Sunday. With the introduction of the three weekly services, this route's capacity is increased by 12 per cent (480 seats) in each direction.

Effective the same day, the daily Boeing 737-800 return frequencies of the airline's KL-Yangon and KL-Colombo routes will also be increased to ten weekly. The three new weekly services for Yangon will be operated on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, while the similar services for Colombo will be operated on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

Meanwhile from Apr 1, 2013, a new daily B777-200 service will be introduced on the KL-Dhaka route, making it double daily wide-body operations between Malaysia and Bangladesh, with capacity also increased 100 per cent from that date.

The present daily B777-200 and twice daily B737-800 return flights for KL-Denpasar (Bali) will also have a daily capacity increase by 20 per cent when one of the daily B737-800 service is replaced by B777-200 service effective April 1, 2013.

The five times weekly A330-300 daily service for KL-Brisbane route will be increased to daily flights effective June 17, 2013, adding 566 seats in each direction, representing a 40 per cent capacity increase.

Capacity on the KL-Bandar Seri Begawan will be increased by 11 per cent with the existing four weekly B737-400 services replaced by B737-800 flights effective August 15, 2013.

On the Peninsular Malaysia services, the present 42 B737 weekly KL-Langkawi services will be increased to 49 effective June 15, 2013. The KL-Johor Bahru sector, currently served by 27 weekly B737 flights, will be increased by a further five weekly B737-800 flights effective July 15, 2013.

The KL-Kuching route will see the current 49 weekly B737 services gradually increased to 77 weekly services by August 15, 2013. This will be through the mounting of 19 weekly services effective March 31, 2013, eight weekly services from July 15, 2013 and once weekly service from August 15, 2013.

Similarly the KL-Kota Kinabalu route will also be improved from the current 68 weekly B737 services to 82 weekly services by July 15, 2013.

The KL-Miri route, due to an increase in demand, will see the introduction of 11 additional B737 frequencies with a daily service effective April 15, 2013, thrice weekly service effective July 15, 2013 and once weekly service effective

August 15, 2013.

To cope with similar increased demand, the present seven weekly B737 services for KL-Tawau will be increased by another daily service from June 15, 2013. From the same day, the present 14 weekly KL-Labuan B737 service will be increased by another six weekly B737 services to make it 20 weekly flights. - 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

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

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

Date: 4 March 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Karamjit Kaur karam@sph.com.sg

Copyright © 2013. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd .

DRH Set To Attract More International Business Travellers.

Date: 28 February 2013

DRH Set To Attract More International Business Travellers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Copyright @ BERNAMA

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

Johor set to become global movie-making hub.

Date: 29 January 2013

Johor set to become global movie-making hub.

JOHOR BARU: Johor is set to become an international film-making hub in the region with the opening of the Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios (PIMS) in Nusajaya this May.

PIMS chief executive officer Michael Lake said Tuesday that nine film production companies from Australia, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the USA had expressed keen interest in doing their pre-production shooting at the studio.

He said two feature films and three telemovies for international audiences would be produced at the studio in the first year but declined to give more details.

 By ZAZALI MUSA

 Copyright @ 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Inaugural eco-tourism summit attracts 200.

Date: 20 December 2012

Inaugural eco-tourism summit attracts 200.

THE inaugural National Eco-Tourism Summit, held recently at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, here, is going to be an annual event.

JOHOR BARU: Co-organised by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the Malaysian Ecotourism Association (MEA), the three-day event attracted some 200 participants. It is a platform for those in the eco-tourism industry and environmental sector to share ideas on expansion.

IRDA state commissioner, Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim, said the oil and gas hub in Pengerang at the southeastern tip of Johor will not affect the other parts of Iskandar Malaysia. "We will give due care to the Ramsar-gazetted conservation sites of Pulau Kukup, Sungai Pulai and Tanjung Piai," he said, adding that zones have been earmarked for man-made development and eco-tourism.

He said IRDA was focusing on four areas to promote sustainable development in Iskandar Malaysia. These were food and beverage trades, theme parks, heritage and culture, and eco-tourism. "IRDA will also tap into avi-tourism, which is based on attractions involving birding activities, in line with its plan for sustainable development in the growth corridor," he said.

"More than 100 fishermen in Kampung Sungai Melayu, near Sungai Danga, are being roped into a pilot project to develop this niche area of eco-tourism." Badrul Hisham said the fishermen and other villagers would double up as local tour guides for tourists, especially bird lovers who are known to watch the trail of migratory birds.

"There is a trend where several species of migratory birds will make Johor a stopover point during their migratory journey from Siberia to Australia between the months of September and March," he said. "There are die-hard birdwatchers who will follow the flight of the birds. Last April, we launched a training programme for villagers of Kampung Sungai Melayu."

He said villagers were trained to communicate in English and also in being able to identify different species of migratory birds. "We are creating a wider awareness on how to conserve the natural habitats of the birds," he added.

Some 200 participants comprising representatives from environmental agencies and the ecotourism sector attended the summit.

By CHUAH BEE KIM | johor@nst.com.my

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

IRDA To Place Emphasis On Developing Eco-Tourism.

Date: 17 December 2012

IRDA To Place Emphasis On Developing Eco-Tourism.

JOHOR BAHARU (Bernama) - Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) is placing emphasis on developing eco-tourism in Iskandar Malaysia to offer an alternative tourism attraction other than theme parks.

IRDA commissioner Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim said it was committed in achieving a balanced development in Johor's eco-tourism sector alongside the state's man made attractions such as the Legoland Malaysia Theme Park and the Puteri Harbour Indoor Family Theme Park.

"Iskandar Malaysia is currently experiencing vast economic development but it is also important to create a sustainable metropolis," he said at a press conference after launching the Iskandar Malaysia National Eco-tourism Summit at Persada Johor here Monday.

He said IRDA had adopted Kampung Sungai Melayu, popular for its bird watching activities, as their pilot project to develop the eco-tourism sector.

The villagers were given education on how to differentiate local and migratory birds to ensure that they provided correct information to bird lovers as the village was one of the stops for thousands of migratory birds from Russia, annually.

On the summit, Badrul said about 150 domestic and international delegates would be engaged in knowledge-sharing seminars and workshops on ways to develop the industry in Johor.

Copyrights @ BERNAMA

New theme parks, outlet to boost Johor tourism.

Date: 13 December 2012

New theme parks, outlet to boost Johor tourism.

The opening of two theme parks and an international shopping outlet has given the state's tourism industry a huge boost with foreign tourist arrivals recording 29% increase this year. For the first eight month of this year, tourist arrivals touched 14.4 million compared to 11.1 million for the same period last year, said state tourism, domestic trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang. 

On the total number of tourists arrivals in the state annually, Hoo added that in 2011, the state received 16.73 million visitors compared with 16.58 million in 2010. Hoo attributed the drastic increase in tourist arrivals to the opening of the Johor Premium Outlets (JPO) in Kulai; Legoland Malaysia and the Puteri Habour family theme park, both in Nusajaya.

“These attractions will also help ensure tourists spend more time in the state from 1.8 days in 2010 to three days by 2021,” he said in his speech at the state assembly in Nusajaya. He added that tourism was also expected to generate more income as the spending power of a tourist here was also expected to increase from RM450 in 2009 to RM1,030 in 2020.

Hoo added that the state government was aware of the potential from the tourism sector and was committed to developing the support facilities and also ensure the proper management and maintenance of these international class destinations.

“We are also encouraging and motivating our industry players especially through the Johor Tourism Awards which has been held at least two times,” he added.

By NELSON BENJAMIN newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

New Motorsports City fuels Johor's tourism ambitions.

Date: 5 December 2012

New Motorsports City fuels Johor's tourism ambitions.

JOHOR’S Iskandar region will see a RM3.5 billion (US$1.2 billion) motorsports hub emerge by 2016, according to local newspapers.

The Business Times, The Straits Times and Today reported that Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim has partnered with Malaysia’s UEM Land on a 110 hectare plot near the Tuas Second Link that connects the two countries.

FasTrack Autosports (majority-owned by Lim) owns 70 per cent of the joint venture while UEM Land owns 30 per cent. The latter is a subsidiary of state-owned investment company Khazanah Nasional. The hub is expected to be fully completed in 10 to 15 years, with the first phase expected to be ready by 2016.

Besides having a 4.5km double-loop circuit, a 1.2km go-kart track and an off-road circuit, the project will also host various kinds of car and motorcycle races. It will also house car showrooms, a car museum, a driving school, a bonded warehouse where drivers can store tax-free cars and a research and development centre. Additionally, there will also be a clubhouse, weekend homes, F&B and entertainment outlets. 

According to The Business Times, the Singapore Sports Council has not ruled out carrying on with its plans to build a similar race circuit in Changi.

Copyright TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2012

Johor now a tourist magnet.

Date: 4 December 2012

Johor now a tourist magnet.

JOHOR BARU: Johor's latest attractions at Nusajaya have helped triple the number of tourists to the state. “During the current school holidays, we have seen 150 to 250 busloads of tourists coming into the state, compared to about 60 to 70 buses during the same period last year,” Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said.

He said this was due to the lure of Legoland Malaysia and the Puteri Harbour Indoor Theme Park, which houses the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and beloved children's characters such as Barney, Thomas and Friends and Pingu. “The theme parks at Nusajaya cater to children of all ages. Parents can also join the fun. It is no wonder that these places have become the preferred destinations for school holidays,” said Leong, adding that the retail and food and beverage sectors were also reaping the benefits from the large school holiday crowd.

Leong said there had also been a rise over the past six months of Singaporean tourists to these theme parks, the Johor Premium Outlets in Kulaijaya and other shopping complexes in the city. “Because of this, more food outlets are mushrooming,” he said, advising traders against profiteering because there had been a hike in food prices at hawker centres.

Leong said there were now more hotels opening but, he lamented, the council continued to receive complaints regarding the “old issues” of taxi drivers not using meters and slow checkpoint clearance.

By YEE XIANG YUN xiangyun@thestar.com.my

Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

TAR confident of attracting more visitors to its theme park.

Date: 1st December 2012

TAR confident of attracting more visitors to its theme park. 

NUSAJAYA: Theme Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd (TAR) has no plans to issue annual passes to attract visitors to its Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park here. Managing director and chief executive officer Tunku Datuk Ahmad Burhanuddin said the current ticket selling system at the newly opened park worked well for the company.

“We are looking at ways on how to attract more visitors to our park from time to time by working closely with our business associates,’ he said.  Tunku Ahmad said this at the signing of strategic partnerships with eight partners worth RM10mil for the duration of three to five years.

The partners are ASTRO, RHB Bank, Coca-Cola, Canon, Panasonic, Dell, Mini Melts and KPJ Healthcare Bhd. Through these collaborations, the company is well positioned to further enhance visitor’s experience at the theme park.

“Since opening its doors on October 26, we have received 35,000 visitors of which 30% are from foreign countries,’’ he said.  Tunku Ahmad said with continuous promotions and collaborations with travel agents and tour companies, it was confident that the theme park would be able to attract more visitors.

He said with the opening of the Legoland Theme Park Malaysia and the Puteri Harbour Family Indoor Theme, Malaysians from outside Johor also now have good reason to visit the state. Tunku Ahmad said feedback from hotel operators in and around Johor Baru showed that they recorded good room occupancy rates since the opening of the two new theme parks in September and October.

“We also want to work together with other stakeholders to promote Iskandar Malaysia as a tourist destination in the region,’’ he said. Tunku Ahmad said tour agents and hotels could tailor packages to cater for tourists to visit not only the two theme parks but also other tourist attractions in Johor.

Separately, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would be opening the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park on Dec 6. TAR is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd incorporated in 2009 to develop and operate themed attractions and resorts to enhance the leisure and tourism industry in Malaysia.

By ZAZALI MUSA zaza@thestar.com.my 

Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park Draws 15,000 Visitors.

Date: 13 November 2012

Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park Draws 15,000 Visitors.

JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 13 (Bernama) - Iskandar Malaysia's latest attraction, Puteri Harbour family theme park has attracted about 15,000 visitors since it opened last Oct 26.

Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd assistant vice-president (operations) Fahruddin Najumudeen said two theme parks, Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and The Little Big Club received overwhelming response from both domestic and foreign visitors including from neighbouring Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

"The average number of visitors to the four-storey international standard theme parks is 1,000 daily and can reach 2,500 during weekends," he told reporters here today. He said they would be expecting more visitors during the school holidays and good response to another new draw, a restaurant named 'Lat's Place'.

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Johor

Johor Darul Takzim

Johor is the southern gateway to peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia). It's boarder next to Singapore. Johor Bahru or also known for Malaysian as 'JB' is extremely popular to Singaporeans especially for holiday, shopping, entertainment and food. 

Attractions in the state include Endau Rompin National Park which is very famous for its rare flora and fauna species, the mangrove swamps of Tanjung Piai, Kota Tinggi waterfalls and also Gunung Ledang (1,276-metre). 

Johor is also famous for its idyllic islands and marine parks i.e. Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Aur, Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Sibu and etc. 

Johor has two links connecting Malaysia to Singapore. The main causeway link is from the city of Johor Bahru to Woodland of Singapore and the Second Link refers to the bridge that spans the stretch of 44km from Tanjong Kupang in Johor, Malaysia to Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim in Tuas, Singapore that accommodates more than 200,000 vehicles a day.

Finally, its latest attraction today shall be the 'Legoland Malaysia' located at Nusajaya, Johor which opens its gate on 15th September 2012.

Area: 
19,984 sq km

State Capital: 
Johor Bahru

Places to visit:
1. Royal Abu Bakar Museum (Grand Palace Johor)
2. Johor Art Gallery
3. Johor Old Chinese Temple
4. Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque
5. War Memorial
6. Dataran Bandaraya (City Square)
7. Sultan Ibrahim Building
8. Orchid Valley
9. Johor Zoo
10. Kota Tinggi Waterfalls
11. Ayer Hitam 
12. Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang)
13. Muar
14. Endau - Rompin National Park
15. Islands (Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Aur, Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Sibu, etc.)


Source: Tourism Malaysia

Johor Businesses See Better Times With Tourism Boom.

Date: 20 October 2012

Johor Businesses See Better Times With Tourism Boom

JOHOR BAHARU, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Local business operators here are anticipating that 2012 will end on a high note for them with the opening of Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park next month, just two months after the launch of Legoland Malaysia, as they will further boost tourist arrivals in Johor.

Businesses here are happy that Nusajaya, which is just 20 minutes away by road from the state capital, will help attract tourists stay longer with its two theme parks.

The Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park offers attractions such as Sanrio, Hello Kitty Town, The Little Big Club and LAT's Place.

Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd, the operational and management company for Khazanah Nasional Bhd's leisure & tourism division, has projected 500,000 visitors and RM35 million in ticket sales within a year with the opening of the second theme park in Johor.

Restaurant operator Razali Ismail said since Iskandar Malaysia came into being, there has been a 20 to 30 per cent increase in tourist arrivals, in particular from Singapore, to the Danga Bay area.

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