Malaysians spread wings to new destinations.

25th March, 2013

Malaysians spread wings to new destinations.

Malaysians are taking advantage of new air links to explore a broader range of tourist destinations, a new study of online bookings has shown.

Travel search site Wego looked at the behaviour of 100,000 travellers using the company’s Malaysian site, www.wego.co.my. The results found that Malaysians searched for 2,500 flight destinations in 2012 – 900 more than in 2011. This trend was matched in terms of accommodation searches, with a rise of 400 hotel destinations taking the total to almost 2,000.

And while Wego noted that regional hubs such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Taipei and Singapore are still most popular, Malaysians appear to be developing an appetite for new destinations, driven by the proliferation of new low-cost air routes being launched from Kuala Lumpur.

“Users are constantly finding new routes with AirAsia, Jetstar, Malindo Air and other carriers which soon become popular, especially if they are seen to be affordable,” said Dean Wicks, Wego’s Chief Marketing Officer. “It’s driving a shift away from the traditional selections of Bali and Phuket in favour of destinations like Bandung, a favourite weekend retreat with Jakarta residents, Hat Yai, Macau and Perth.”

Only a quarter of flight searches on www.wego.com.my are domestic, with Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu trending up, according to Wego, along with Penang and Johor Bahru. And Wicks said he expects Malaysians to expand their horizons further in future, as airlines continued to add new routes.

“AirAsia’s push into India with Chennai as the hub, Malaysia Airlines joining oneworld and teaming up with partners Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Qantas will change the mix again, especially on the mid- to long-haul. Istanbul, for example is another destination gaining share of our Malaysian users’ attention,” he said.

Malaysians are also now moving more up-market. A record 16% searched for five-star properties in 2012, up from less 14% in 2011.

By: Mark Elliott

Copyright@www.traveldailymedia.com

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

Turkish Airlines Sees Malaysia As Top 5 Asian Revenue Contributor.

14th March, 2013

Turkish Airlines Sees Malaysia As Top 5 Asian Revenue Contributor.

KUALA LUMPUR - Turkey's national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, en route to resuming its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul direct flights on April 25, is confident Malaysia will be one of the top five revenue contributors to its Asian operations.

General Manager for Singapore Cengiz Inceosman said the airline discontinued the Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul via Bangkok flights in 2002 as the route was not commercially viable back then.

"We have been planning to resume this service for the past three years but we had a shortage of aircraft back then. We picked Malaysia because we already have a partner here (Malaysia Airlines), and we see a huge potential for this market," he told a media briefing today, adding that Turkish Airlines eyes more than 80 per cent load factor.

Inceosman said the airline would also leverage on the Umrah market here to Jeddah and Madinah via its Istanbul hub, by offering three to four flights daily. The KL-Istanbul service, priced from RM2,000 for return tickets, will kick-start with three flights weekly, increasing to four flights weekly from June 17.

Copyright@BERNAMA

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

Philippine Airlines to start KL-Manila-KL flights.

11th March, 2013

Philippine Airlines to start KL-Manila-KL flights.

PETALING JAYA - Philippine Airlines (PAL) will start four weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur from May 1, 2013 as part of an aggressive route expansion exercise.

Last Friday, the Philippines' flag carrier announced six new destinations out of Manila to cities in Malaysia, Australia, China and the Middle East.

PAL president Ramon S. Ang said PAL's new destinations are Kuala Lumpur (May 1); Brisbane, Darwin and Perth in Australia and Guangzhou, China (June 1); and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (October 1).

"Kuala Lumpur, Australia, and Guangzhou are major destinations for business and leisure. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, has a large concentration of OFWs, making it a prime destination in the Middle East," he explained.

Tickets for Kuala Lumpur and the new Australian routes are now on sale, while tickets for Guangzhou and Abu Dhabi will be sold starting March 15.

The new service to Kuala Lumpur will depart Manila every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:55AM arriving at KLIA 11.40AM and will depart from Kuala Lumpur at 12:50PM arriving Manila at 4:40PM.

By: sunbiz@thesundaily.com

Copyright@Sun Media Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

KLIA2 Terminal Building 80 Per Cent Completed, Says MAHB.

Date: 7 March 2013

KLIA2 Terminal Building 80 Per Cent Completed, Says MAHB.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Kavita Pannir Selvam 

Copyright @ BERNAMA

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

Jetstar Asia looks to boost footprint in Malaysia.

Date: 4 March 2013

Jetstar Asia looks to boost footprint in Malaysia.

  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Bilqis Bahari 

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

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

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

Date: 26 February 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

Copyright @ 2012 Malay Mail Sdn. Bhd.

'High speed rail link to change overall Malaysia, S'pore tourism landscape'.

Date: 22 February 2013

'High speed rail link to change overall Malaysia, S'pore tourism landscape'.

SINGAPORE: Additional connectivity via the High Speed Rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will see overall changes in the tourism landscape of Malaysia and Singapore, said Tourism Malaysia director for Singapore, Noor Ainee Ismail.

She said: "The additional connectivity is foreseen to  change the overall tourism setting of both countries. Especially the Malaysian tourism sector, we are positive of seeing a growth in the number of arrivals. It may also encourage the current day-trippers (to Johor Baru) who have time-constraints to explore further destinations such as Kuala Lumpur itself," she told Bernama.

At the Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat 2013 in Singapore on Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib  Razak and his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong agreed to build the High-Speed Rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, expected to be completed by 2020.

With the new transport system, it is expected to take only 90 minutes to travel from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and vice-versa.

According to Noor Ainee, the high speed train will not just see the increase of arrivals into Kuala Lumpur alone. "We are certain that there will be spill-overs to other nearby states such as Perak, Kedah and Pahang," she said.

When asked whether, the rail link would have an impact to other mode of transport, Noor Ainee replied: "Some travellers’ travelling pattern will definitely change when given the option of the high speed train as it serves as a solution to a few issues that may be encountered in travelling (from Singapore) to Kuala Lumpur or beyond.

Citing travelling via road (coach/self-drive), she said travellers may think of encountering traffic congestion, long travelling hours or safety aspects of self-drive. Travelling via flights, for instance, she said the airport might be far from the city, transfer to airport from the city would take approximately 1.5 hours by road, whilst prices were subject to fluctuation    Quoting a poll conducted by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Noor Ainee said:" CNA in getting viewers’ choice of transportation with the new high speed train being an option, 89 per cent out of 117 respondents preferred the new option.

She pointed out that the rail link could also be an opportunity for local coach companies to explore other business models that could complement the new rail link and expand their services to further destinations in Malaysia. Besides that, she said coach companies would still have an edge over the rest in terms of cost. - BERNAMA

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

Singapore-KL travel to benefit from new high-speed rail link.

Date: 20 February 2013

Singapore-KL travel to benefit from new high-speed rail link.

THE proposed high-speed rail system linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in 90 minutes is set to be a game changer for travel between the two cities, as airlines and bus companies mull over how to remain competitive.

Scheduled for completion in 2020, it will dramatically cut the journey between the two cities, which currently averages eight hours by rail. Ticket prices and end-point station locations have not yet been announced.

The agreement, touted to be the biggest joint infrastructure project by the two countries, was unveiled by Singaporean prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak as they wrapped up their annual leaders’ retreat in Singapore yesterday.

Responding to the development, Sebastian Yap, a committee member of the Express Bus Agencies Association, told TTG Asia e-Daily: "This is a huge blow to our routes between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but this is all part of the developing technology today so we have no choice but to embrace it.”

Yap said that coach operators would have to change the way they operate and added that buses could offer travellers the option of visiting other cities in Malaysia apart from Kuala Lumpur.

Lotus Ooi, general manager, Konsortium Express & Tours, agreed. “We will have to look at new options now to complement each other (in order) to meet changing market demand,” he pointed out.

Logan Velaitham, CEO of AirAsia Singapore, however, felt there would be minimal impact on the LCC. “We compete against our cost at all times and not against others’. In addition to a cost strategy, AirAsia adopts a ‘value innovation’ strategy by carefully studying market relevance and embracing technology to help improve efficiency and stay relevant in the ever-changing market.” (See CAPA's detailed analysis on air traffic impact.)

Apart from the planned fast trains, the two leaders visited joint projects in Johor and broke ground for the first of two wellness projects in Medini Iskandar, reported local broadsheet The Straits Times. The two-hectare Afiniti in Medini North will have a wellness centre, shops, residences, a corporate training centre, as well as a 310-unit serviced apartment managed by CapitaLand's Ascott. The other project, Avira, will be located at Medini Central.

The prime ministers also witnessed the signing between CapitaLand, Temasek Holdings and Iskandar Waterfront Holdings for a waterfront township to be built on a manmade island in Danga Bay, which will have a marina, a shopping mall, office space, homes and recreational facilities.

By Lee Pei Qi, Singapore

Copyright @ TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2013

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

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

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.

PM says Visit Malaysia 2014 is a national mission.

Date: 20 January 2013

PM says Visit Malaysia 2014 is a national mission.

PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Najib Razak said, the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 must be turned into a national mission involving all parties, including the people, in order to achieve the 28 million visitors target. The Prime Minister said the project did not only involve the Ministry of Tourism but every ministry, agency and state government, to ensure its success.

"All of us have a role to play to make Visit Malaysia Year 2014 a success. From the entry point, Immigration officers who stamp the tourists, passports, Customs officers, taxi drivers, hotel staff, business people, tour operators and the Malaysian people. We must show our warm welcome. We must give them the feeling that if they visit Malaysia, they will be treated with warmth and courtesy from all of us.

"So we not only need the physical infrastructure but soft infrastructure as well, which is, Malaysians who are always cheerful, courteous and helpful so that visitors experience a truly memorable time here. This is the meaningful impact we want," he said while launching the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign, here Saturday night.

Also present were the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and wife Datin Seri Maznah Rais and Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and his wife.

Najib said Malaysia has its own unique features which are not found elsewhere, among them its fauna and flora, among the best ecosystem in the world, cosmopolitan cities, fourth best location in the world for shopping and more.

"Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Orang Asli and other cultures can all be experienced here. These are Malaysia's selling-points, which other countries cannot compete with. Furthermore, the peace and stability here make our country very attractive as a travel destination," he said.

He also said the government would continue encouraging the tourism industry which is targetting 36 million visitors by 2020. Najib said the government realised that the tourism industry provided 1.8 million jobs and contributed RM168 billion to the national gross income.

Malaysia's ranking as the 10th friendliest country in the world and the World Bank's recognition as the 12th competitive showed that the national transformation programme implemented by the government has borne fruit and gained global recognition, he said.

"This year, we'll implement all programmes, spruce up, plant trees and prepare everything. We must have all this in place. If we do this, I believe and am confident that 2014 will be a successful year," he concluded. - Bernama

Copyright @ 2012 Malay Mail Sdn. Bhd.

Getting People Ready For Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Date: 19 January 2013

Getting People Ready For Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen tonight hoped Malaysians will be ready to help make the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 a success by projecting a positive image to tourists.

She said 2013 was chosen as the promotion year to ensure that the 28 million Malaysians were ready to warmly welcome visitors, besides taxi drivers providing good service.

"The campaign is a proactive start to get Malaysians ready for the event next year," she said at the launch of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 promotion campaign by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Bukit Jalil Stadium here.

Also present were the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Information Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Ng also said the promotion campaign would not succeed without the support of all government agencies, non-governmental organisations and tourism industry players.

"Culture will be a major component for tourism, while national security and support and cooperation from other ministries are essential to ensure the campaign is a success," she said.

At the ceremony, the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 song titled, 'Celebrating 1Malaysia...Truly Asia' was performed for the first time by local rock queen, Ella.

The launch was celebrated grandly with colours, songs and cultural performances involving more than 3,000 participants.

Copyrights @ BERNAMA

Malaysia rated top Muslim-friendly holiday destination.

Date: 16 January 2013

Malaysia rated top Muslim-friendly holiday destination.

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has been rated the world’s top Muslim-friendly holiday destination in a survey released Wednesday that listed Egypt, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore as runners-up. The study by Singapore-based Muslim travel consultancy Crescentrating  ranked countries on how well they cater to the growing number of Muslim  holidaymakers seeking halal — or Islam-compliant — food and services.

It used criteria including the level of safety in a country, the ease of  access to halal food and prayer facilities, and whether hotels cater to the  needs of Muslim guests. On a scale of one to 10 in which 10 is the best score, Malaysia came out  number one with a grade of 8.3 among 50 nations surveyed.

Egypt was in second place with 6.7, followed by the United Arab Emirates  and Turkey both with 6.6. Saudi Arabia was in fourth place with a score of 6.4  and Singapore was fifth with 6.3. Indonesia, Morocco and Jordan scored 6.1 to tie in sixth place, trailed by  seventh-place Brunei, Qatar, Tunisia and Oman, all with a score of 6.0.

Crescentrating chief executive Fazal Bahardeen said the survey was taken  from the point of view of the traveller, meaning that it measured the ease of  access by Muslim tourists — not locals — to halal food and facilities. “Malaysia is one of the few countries where you can find a prayer place in  almost every location — be it a shopping mall or the airport,” Fazal told AFP.

He said that while Malaysian authorities have been focusing on the market  for several years, Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim nation — has  not done as well. “The main problem for Indonesia is that it’s not straightforward for a  Muslim visitor to find halal food availability. For locals it’s probably not an  issue.”

Saudi Arabia figured as a holiday destination for the first time since the  survey started in 2011 because more Muslims use their holidays to go there to  perform the Umrah, a minor pilgrimage, Fazal said.

Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport  were rated among the friendliest to Muslim travellers.

In terms of cities as a shopping destination, Dubai pipped Kuala Lumpur for  the number-one spot, according to the survey which rated the presence of halal  food and prayer facilities at shopping malls. Istanbul, Jeddah, Singapore, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, New Delhi, London and Doha  completed the top-10 shopping destinations.

Spending by Muslim tourists is growing faster than the global rate and is  forecast to reach $192 billion a year by 2020, up from $126 billion in 2011,  according to a study by Crescentrating and another company released last year. - AFP

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

KLIA2: We Are Ready, Says AirAsia.

Date: 2 January 2013

KLIA2: We Are Ready, Says AirAsia.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - AirAsia Bhd is prepared for its impending shift to the new low-cost airport, klia2, says Chief Executive Officer Aireen Omar. She said the low-cost airline was set and was awaiting the nod from Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd to occupy the new airport, which was slated to start operations in May. Since the commencement of the new airport's infrastructure development, the airline has been gearing itself to move in all areas inclusive of operations, logistics and ground handling.

Aireen said AirAsia, which would be the biggest tenant at klia2, was closely monitoring developments at the airport. "We have an operational team to monitor developments. I am also in the team and we meet quite often to discuss issues pertaining to the new airport. However, we will always make sure that every aspect in klia2 such as the runway and other facilities will be suitable for a low-cost business module. For that, we will have continuous engagement with the airport operator (Malaysia Airports)," Aireen told Bernama.

She also said the current low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) has reached its maximum capacity of 15 million passengers per annum. "Malaysia AirAsia even carried 20 million passengers this year. The LCCT will not offer us and guests the right environment in coming times," she added.

The RM3.6 billion klia2, built to cater for the explosive growth expected in low-cost travel, is sprawled over 257,000 square metres and is envisaged to handle a maximum of 45 million passenger a year. The airport will have 60 gates, eight remote stands, 80 aerobridges, plus a retail space of 32,000 square metres to accommodate 225 retail outlets.

By Prem Kumar Panjamorthy

Copyrights @ BERNAMA