Reaping the benefits of paranormal tourism.

9th March, 2013

Reaping the benefits of paranormal tourism.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By: EUGENE MAHALINGAM eugenicz@thestar.com.my

Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Royal rooms opened to public from Feb 1.

Date: 22 January 2013

Royal rooms opened to public from Feb 1.

KUALA LUMPUR - The main building of the old Istana Negara located along Jalan Syed Putra will be opened to the public on Feb 1.

However, Museums Department director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ismail could not say whether the public will need to pay a fee to see the former official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong. According to him, further details about the old Istana Negara tour would be made known prior to its opening.

"Several educational activities would be carried out for the visiting public to understand the building's historic significance," he told reporters after hosting a two-hour media tour of the former national palace yesterday. During the tour, members of the media were ushered into bedrooms and ceremonial rooms which were never opened to the public previously.

Built in 1928, the old palace had been the residence of 13 Yang di-Pertuan Agongs since independence in 1957. The 14th king, Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah's installation ceremony took place at the new Istana Negara located in Jalan Duta, in November last year.

In March last year, Information Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim told Parliament that the main building of the old palace will be preserved as a national heritage and opened to visitors with its original features and furnishings maintained. He also said the ministry planned to set up a gallery on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as a constitutional monarchy at a building behind the main building.

By Elly Fazaniza newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Copyright @ 2013 Sun Media Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

Night Safari programme in Kota Kinabalu.

Date: 23 December 2012

Night Safari programme in Kota Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu: A new programme called Night Safari, designed to educate on the traditional livelihood of natives and the State's history by experience, is in the making by the State Museum.

In spite of its activities still on the drawing board, a total of four Night Safaris have been held which, according to its Director Joanna Kitingan, were made available for group participation like families and students. She said future programmes would also include bead and handicraft-making sessions.

"The idea to introduce this programme came after I took part in the 'Night at The Museum' activity organised by Melaka Museum in March this year. I and a group of others spent the night in a Portuguese galleon ship, a replica of the Flora Del La Mar, the ship which sank off the Melaka Straits, and is now Maritime Museum," she said, after a Night Safari programme was held on Saturday night.

So far, the Night Safari programme consists of a quiz, whereby participants need to answer questions from gathered information, which is on display inside the Museum Gallery. They have to do it in the dark as the lights will be turned off and torchlight will be the only light source, she said. After the quiz session, the group would be taken for a hike into the Heritage Village Phase II, which is inside the Museum's extended property, located in the former Kota Kinabalu Old Folks Home land.

Bamboo huts have been erected ever since, to allow visitors and Night Safari participants to stay for the night in the area. "During the hike, participants will be made to listen to a recorded natural ambience, as if they were in a jungle. It is a blast from the past experience, a time when electricity is still foreign," she said, adding that it is a back-to-basic affair.

Finally, participants would be entertained with traditional performances while supper is served before turning in for the night in the village.

Meanwhile, a total of 17 participants from Australia's Koonung Secondary School took part in the Night Safari programme, after they had completed their volunteer project to build a tower in the Heritage Village II. They were the second group to be in the Museum, after the first group had completed their programme, building a small bridge weeks ago. On another note, interested groups could contact the Museum, to partake in the programme, Joanna said.

Copyright @ 2012 Sabah Publishing House Sdn. Bhd.

Theme park can woo more Arab tourists to Sarawak.

Date: 16 December 2012

Theme park can woo more Arab tourists to Sarawak.

KUCHING: Sarawak should consider developing a theme park as one of the strategies to attract more big spending tourists from Arab countries to come to the state, Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk James Dawos Mamit said here, today.

Although it already has good museums as well as several Islamic cultural and structural attractions, he said Sarawak would have to develop more tourism products that cater for the Arabs, who spend an average of RM7,000 per person when touring Malaysia, the highest spenders among foreign tourists to the country.

Speaking to reporters after officiating the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Tourism Dance Carnival here, he said while the state enjoyed an increase in the number of tourists with 3.2 million recorded between January and October this year, the number of those from Arab countries was small.

He said Melaka, Johor, Penang and Langkawi were among the destinations most preferred by the Arab tourists, who totalled more than 400,000 last year. 

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

Delightful insights from heritage tour.

Date: 12 December 2012

Delightful insights from heritage tour.

KUALA LUMPUR: UNKNOWN to many, the Royal Selangor Club fronting Dataran Merdeka is nicknamed “The Spotted Dog”. This moniker came about when a pair of Dalmatians belonging to the wife of one of the club’s founders were left to guard the building’s entrance whenever they visited the club. This is among the insights and untold stories that visitors can discover as they take the newly-launched Dataran Merdeka Heritage Guided Tour.

The tour, a collaboration between City Hall and KL Tourism Development Council, will take tourists  on a walk around Dataran Merdeka (once known as Padang), and the historical buildings nearby such as the former High Court, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, National Textile Museum (formerly Federated Malay States Railway station), Victorian Fountain, Restoran Warisan (formerly known as The Chartered Bank), Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, City Library, Cathedral of St Mary, and the City Theatre (Panggung Bandaraya).

During the launch of the tour at Majestic Hotel, Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said although listed as the sixth most visited city in the world (nine million arrivals last year), it was found that those who visited Dataran Merdeka did not know that there are other interesting buildings aged over 100 years nearby.

"They will learn more about the architecture and history of each landmark during this guided walk, which is part of the National Key Economic Area's (NKEA) Greater KL project initiatives for tourism, namely EPP 7 (Entry Point Project): Iconic Places. This tour is being promoted to tourists through flyers available at hotels as well as other efforts overseas with the help of Tourism Malaysia.

"It is to make visiting Kuala Lumpur an enjoyable experience apart from its other attractions such as being a shopping paradise as we are ranked fourth after New York, Tokyo and London," said Phesal. "The city also appeals to foreign tourists for other reasons, including a safe environment and a rich cultural heritage," he said, adding that he hoped there would be more tourism products and services launched in future. He added that upgrading works were already underway for the heritage trail.

The tours will commence on Saturday at 9.15am and last for two-and-half hours. Apart from Saturdays, the tours are available on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tourists can book the tour by sending an email to pelancongan@dbkl.gov.my.

Also present at the launch were KLTDC co-chairman Tunku Datuk Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah, YTL Hotels and Properties Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Mark Yeoh and KL Tour Guide Association vice-chairman Jane Rai.

By NURADZIMMAH DAIM | streets@nstp.com.my

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

Galeria Sri Perdana

Date: 8 December 2012

Galeria Sri Perdana.

Galeria Sri Perdana features the previous residency of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia. It is interesting to know the actual residency of Tun Dr Mahathir and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah with family since 1983 until they moved to Putrajaya in 1999. Most of the important spaces are maintained, while others are made into exhibition space, the building structure and interior decorations are maintained as the original.

Come and see yourself at Galeria Sri Perdana. There’s many more to be view at the Galeria including Tun Dr. Mahathir collection of books, souvenirs, cars and etc.

In addition, you can get more information at this website address: http://www.arkib.gov.my/en/galeria-sri-perdana if you need to find more knowledge with regards to National Archives of Malaysia.  

It is one venue that not to be missed by tourists. It will be an enjoyable place to visit and ask your travel guide more information with regards to the contribution of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia - a man with many talents.


Source: Galeria Sri Perdana


Photos:

Photo 1: Launching of Galeria Sri Perdana.

Photo 2: Cartoon frame about the Sidek's brother.

Photo 3: Another Cartoon frame, it's funny.. read it.  .

Photo 4: Guest room.

Photo 5: Banquet setting for meals. 

Photo 6: A haircut corner.

Photo 7: About the Carpentry Room.

Photo 8: Carpentry Room.

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.

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