Cycling packages helping to promote local products too.

25th March, 2013

Cycling packages helping to promote local products too.

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

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

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

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

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

 Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Malaysians ride to Europe on weak Euro.

22^nd March, 2013

Malaysians ride to Europe on weak Euro.

ESCORTED tours to Europe are seeing healthy growth in demand from the Malaysian market, partly due to the depreciation of the euro and US dollar against the Ringgit.

Insight Vacations reported a 25 per cent year-on-year spike in bookings for Europe for the January to March 2013 period. Insight Vacations regional director, Asia, Sheryl Lim, said: “When the euro and US dollar were strong against the ringgit, an eight- to 10-day tour to Europe would cost about RM10,000 (US$3,207). Now, one can take a 12- to 14-day tour at the same cost.”

According to Lim, popular destinations are Italy, Britain, and a combination of Spain and Portugal. Mature Malaysian travellers are now eyeing Eastern Europe destinations such Croatia and Poland. Destinations such as the Balkans, which were less popular in the past, have also seen a five to eight per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2013, and this upward trend is expected to continue through to 2014.

Likewise, Sedunia Travel’s marketing & community manager, e-commerce division, Hannah Pearson, said her company’s upcoming Cosmos multi-destination holidays for the summer season to eastern European cities of Prague, Vienna and Budapest had been well received by the Malaysian public. Also hot were eight-day itineraries combining Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France.

By: S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur

Copyright@TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2013

5,000 tour packages on offer at Virtual Travel Fair from Wed.

11th March, 2013

5,000 tour packages on offer at Virtual Travel Fair from Wed.

PETALING JAYA: Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd aims to rake in some RM15 million in travel packages enquiries through its Smart Online Travel Assistance's (SOTA) fifth Virtual Travel Fair.

"With the growing maturity of online travel in Malaysia, we believe we will see an even stronger response for this year's virtual travel fair, especially with a bigger variety of travel packages and value-for-money deals offering greater incentives for savvy buyers," said Creative Advances Technology chief executive officer Rohizam Md Yusof.

According to Rohizam, the last Virtual Travel Fair held in September 2012 saw a record-breaking 70,000 online visitors, or about 2,600 online visitors daily. "We expect more than 130,000 online visitors to participate in the upcoming Virtual Travel Fair," he told Business Times on the sidelines of its media appreciation luncheon on Friday.

The fifth Virtual Travel Fair is schedule to kick-off from Wednesday and ends on March 29. Themed "Great Deals, More Choices", it offers 5,000 travel packages and room deals from 150,000 hotels.

Rohizam said bargains include three-day/two-night packages to Universal Studios Singapore and Johor Legoland and seven-day/six-night packages to South Korea and Jeju Island, as well as umrah packages to Saudi Arabia.

"On top of that, travellers who spend a minimum of RM100 will stand a chance to win a a three-day/two-night package to Macau that includes accommodation and flight tickets worth RM7,000 for a contest held throughout the fair," he said.

There are value deals for trips to Beijing, Guilin, Phnom Penh, Bali, Makkah, Madinah, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, among many other exciting travel packages.

SOTA is an online travel platform that caters to both travel providers and travellers.

By: Cheryl Yvonne Achu

Copyright@The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad

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

ASEAN takes second online stab with new travel site.

Date: 21 January 2013

ASEAN takes second online stab with new travel site.

THE highest powers in ASEAN's tourism bodies will debut a new website today to promote intra-ASEAN travel and tour packages, which some say overlaps with a website launched by the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) in 2010.  The brainchild of the region’s tourism ministers, Aseantourism.travel features a commercial component that contains 130 South-east Asian tourism products that have been endorsed by regional leaders.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism secretary-general, Ong Hong Peng, who was also the NTO head for Malaysia and chairman of the Product Development Working Group at the 37th Meeting of ASEAN NTOs on January 18, said the next step of the project would see the creation of tour packages combining two or more ASEAN countries and promotion on the new site. The website also provides information related to the region’s tourism industry such as policies, facts and figures, and marketing initiatives.

Sansern Ngaorungsi, deputy governor Asia and South Pacific Market at Tourism Authority of Thailand and chairman of the Marketing Working Group, said Aseantourism.travel, developed at a cost of US$20,000, allows member countries to log in and update content.

However, some travel trade players regard the new website as a duplicate of ASEANTA’s online portal, SoutheastAsia.org, first promoted at ITB Berlin in 2010. A source close to the SoutheastAsia.org project said the new website would “confuse the public who will not know which is the latest”. The source added: “There are more than 2,000 tour packages on SoutheastAsia.org, while the new website has only 130 (products). (The former) must be promoted further. ASEANTA may lack funds for promotion, so ASEAN NTOs should come in and allocate a budget for support.”

ASEANTA board member, Oudet Souvannavong, admitted that SoutheastAsia.org was not up-to-date as there was a “lack of (manpower) capacity”. He said ASEANTA might consider heeding suggestions from some members to privatise the website. That said, Oudet does not see the new site as competition. He said: “From a business standpoint, the more portals, the better.”

By S Puvaneswary, reporting from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013, Vientiane

Copyright @ TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2013

UPM Launched First University Tour Package.

Date: 19 January 2013

UPM Launched First University Tour Package.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Friday launched their Mother Nature Tour Trail in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY) Promotional Campaign in Bukit Jalil here.

The tour package makes UPM the first university to offer the tourism package by allowing tourists to explore the university's vast natural surrounding located at its campus in Serdang.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Datuk Ir Dr. Mohd Salleh Jaafar, said the package offered was not the usual tour packages in the market. "There are seven locations selected specially for the package that offers from half day tours up to three days and two nights," he said.

Dr Mohd Salled said the packages were priced between RM 99 to RM 370 per person. Three tour agents will start promoting the package, namely TM Tours and Travel, Mitra Kembara and Poto Travel and Tours.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who launched the tour package, said 30 UPM students had been trained for the tour package and this would help expand the tourism industry further by exposing UPM students to the industry.

Copyrights @ BERNAMA

Ferry service to Acheh will boost Penang medical tourism.

Date: 16 January 2013

Ferry service to Acheh will boost Penang medical tourism.

GEORGE TOWN - A new ferry service connecting Penang to Langsa in Acheh, Indonesia is set to boost the state’s medical tourism, according to facilitators Penang Port Sdn Bhd. The service, operated by Langkawi Ferry Services and managed by TYC Resources, will start on February 21 with two trips to and from Langsa each week.

Penang Port managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar said the new service will bring in more medical tourists to Penang as well as foster trade between the locations. “We start with a passenger ferry service but it is hoped that in future there will also be a cargo ferry service to encourage trading ties between Acheh and Penang,” he said.

He said Acheh has a population of around five million and of this, 20 per cent are affluent and expected to travel frequently to Penang for medical treatment and leisure.

PPSB is facilitating the new service, which will operate from Swettenham Pier. TYC Resources executive director Thong Yow Chuan said the company aims to ferry 100 passengers per trip between both cities. The capacity of the ferry is up to 138 passengers and the company will first evaluate the demand for the service in the first three months before increasing the number of trips between Langsa and Penang.

“For now, we target 100 passengers each trip and as demand increases, we may increase the number of trips,” he said in a press conference held at PPSB’s office this afternoon. Tickets for a return trip from Penang to Langsa is RM180 for adults and RM120 for children. The tickets are available for purchase at the Langkawi Ferry Services Ticketing counter.

By Opalyn Mok

Copyright © 2013 The Malaysian Insider

Tour Putrajaya On A Bicycle.

Date: 7 January 2013

Tour Putrajaya On A Bicycle.

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama) - Putrajaya is popular among cyclists these days, with more and more people riding their cycles on weekends in this city. Added with facilities like bicycle lanes, bicycles for rent, a BMX circuit and an off-road cycling track, the administrative capital is an alluring destination for cycling enthusiasts.

Therefore, it is not surprising to see cyclists from Klang Valley and other parts of the country in Putrajaya. In fact, there are a number of cyclists from Singapore and Indonesia too.

Some of the popular cycling events in Putrajaya include the Putrajaya Inter-Park Ride, Putrajaya Critical Mass and MTB Jamboree @ Putrajaya. These events are well received by local and foreign cyclists. During these events, Putrajaya appears as the bicycle capital of the country. Thousands of riders with their colourful bicycles add to the picturesque landscape of Putrajaya.

To increase the number of cycling activities in Putrajaya, two more cycling activities were introduced in December 2012. The two activities are Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia Putrajaya Bike Ride (CC1MPBR) and Paya Indah Wetlands (PIW). After launching the two cycling activities, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen said the Tourism Ministry will promote Putrajaya as a bicycle-friendly city and a green destination. This is in line with the garden city concept promoted by the city's administrator - Putrajaya Corporation.

"Now, the Bike Ride activity is present in almost every state in Malaysia," she said. Currently, about 38 cycling tour packages are available in Putrajaya, with one package extending to Paya Indah Wetlands in Banting, Selangor, about 25 km from Putrajaya. The packages are tailored to meet the requirements of tourists, families and even big groups of visitors. The prices of the packages are fixed for the year 2013. So, visitors can plan their cycling tours without worrying about additional charges during peak hours.

The Paya Indah Wetlands are rich in flora and fauna provide a unique experience for those visiting the place on the cycle. Covering an area of 450,76 hectares, and they are home to many hippopotamuses, crocodiles, 226 species of birds, 63 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians and 14 species of fish. Cycling is permitted on the 18 km off-road track in this nature park, which is part of the 60 km track that links Banting to Putrajaya. Other activities that can be carried out in the Paya Indah Wetlands are bird watching, feeding hippopotamuses and crocodiles, kayaking, and a boat ride to Gibbon Island.

Tour agents are hopeful that cycling programmes will increase the number of tourists to Putrajaya. They also feel that Putrajaya will be known as a green city. Saidinar Mohd Noor, owner of Dinar Holidays Sdn Bhd, said these cycling packages promote a healthy lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Haizan Mohd Nor, General Manager of IMG Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd, said new attractions, including the Paya Indah Wetlands, appeal to the general public. "We are coming up with affordable packages so that everyone can take park in cycling activities," said Haizan, whose agency offers three cycling packages.

Director of Pesaka Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd, Zakiah Yunus, when met noted that her company chose the concept of 'hunt' to promote learning while touring. Cycling packages offered by this company are ideal for students. "Students can learn and have fun at the same time," explained Zakiah.

Last year, Tourism Malaysia Jakarta (TMJ) introduced the 3D/2N Special Package to encourage Indonesians to tour Putrajaya on bicycles. Close to 80 Indonesians took part in the programme. The package was developed by TMJ and Anditar Tour costing USD405 (about RM1,250) includes flight tickets, accommodation, tours and meals.

TMJ's Director, Nor Aznan Sulaiman, said many Indonesians will take part in cycling activities as they love cycling. "So, we approached a local tour agency to take the package to the next level," he said. Janto Hassan, 50, said he was impressed by the event. "The Indonesian government encourages cycling. Certain roads in Jakarta cannot be used by motor vehicles on weekends. Only cyclists can use these roads. This way, the country can overcome energy crisis," he said, adding that Malaysia should come up with similar activities.

For further information about these packages, contact Tourism Malaysia at 1 300 88 5050 or enquiries@tourism.gov.my or visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my.

By Ali Imran Mohd Noordin

Copyrights @ BERNAMA

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.

AirAsia X: No intention to mislead.

Date: 19 December 2012

AirAsia X: No intention to mislead.

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia X has stated that it had no intention to mislead in its website pricing, although it acknowledged that there was a technical breach, resulting in the company being fined A$200,000 (RM643,377) by the Federal Court in Melbourne.

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said in a statement that the Australian court’s fine of A$200,000 compared to the range of A$520,000 to A$650,000 sought by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) “reflects the Court’s acknowledgement of the lack of any intention to mislead on the part of AirAsia”.

“The Court Judgment in this matter reflects that there was no intention to mislead at any time, and that no consumer was misled or had suffered any economic loss as a result of this inadvertence, and that AirAsia had been co-operative throughout. In addition, AirAsia had facilitated a speedy hearing and had also pleaded no-contest to a technical breach.

“Nevertheless, AirAsia X understands the importance of providing consumers with ‘all-in’ pricing and we remain fully committed towards displaying all-in fares on our website. We wish to highlight that all of our advertising has always been on the basis of all-in fares, which are inclusive of taxes and other mandatory charges,” he said.

Azran added that the legal proceedings were related only to fare displays on the airasia.com website for a limited number of “Fly-Thru” routes, which were newly added to its network in 2011.

“The fares in question were manually entered and we took immediate steps to rectify this unintentional oversight, as soon as we were made aware of it. “The process of adding new routes and displaying fares on airasia.com has now been rectified and automated to prevent future recurrence. The airline notes the importance of all-inclusive pricing and of ensuring the accuracy of how the fare is prominently displayed.”

Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

Nip-tuck tourists drawn to Penang for better looks.

Date: 17 December 2012

Nip-tuck tourists drawn to Penang for better looks.

GEORGE TOWN: They are not just coming to this state for the sun and the surf. Affordable surgical procedures in Penang continue to draw “nip and tuck” tourists seeking to enhance their looks.

Consultant plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon Dr Lee Kim Siea said the cost of cosmetic surgery in Malaysia was at least 50% lower than in Singapore. “Surgery in South Korea and China do not come cheap either, although South Korea is cheaper than Singapore. The cost of cosmetic surgery depends on the materials used. All the same, doing a good, proper job is important,” said Dr Lee.

For example, he said a facelift would cost between RM10,000 and RM20,000 in Malaysia while in Singapore the cost could go up to RM50,000.

Dr Lee sees between 150 and 180 patients a month, of which 20% are foreigners. His foreign patients are mainly Indonesians and Japanese expatriates. Dr Lee said among the surgeries offered were for double eyelids, botox injections, liposuction, breast augmentation and enlargement, and facelifts, adding that his foreign patients kept him updated with their new looks by sending him their pictures through e-mail.

Tony Leong, director of Beautiful Holidays, a company that offers combination packages for medical holidays in Penang, said clients would also bring their families for a holiday. He added that 80% of their clients were from Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Leong said the company arranged for lodging and transportation from the airport to the hotel and post-surgery doctor visits.

By JOSEPHINE JALLEH josephine@thestar.com.my

Copyright © 1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd

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

DBKL To Launch Free Heritage Guided Walk At Dataran Merdeka From Dec 15.

Date: 11 December 2012

DBKL To Launch Free Heritage Guided Walk At Dataran Merdeka From Dec 15.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 – Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be offering thrice a week free heritage guided walk around Dataran Merdeka in a move to promote the history and architecture of the city beginning this Saturday. Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said the tour would be jointly organised by DBKL and the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Development Council (KLTDC).

Dataran Merdeka was chosen as the pilot project due to its status as the focal point for the British Administration before the country’s independence, he added when launching the heritage walk and opening the 4th KLTDC Meeting, here, today.

He said the tour would be conducted by professional tour guides every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9.15am for a duration of two and a half hours, covering 11 heritage sites in the area including the Sultan Abdul Samad Building which was built in 1894, former High Court Building (1909), Federated Malay States Railway Station (1905) and the old City Hall (1896).

It also covers the Government Printing Office (1898), Chartered Bank (1919), St Mary Cathedral (1895), Royal Selangor Club (1884) and the field where the British Union Jack was lowered and the flag of an independent Federation of Malaya raised for the first time on Aug 31, 1957.

Ahmad Phesal said tourists who joined the heritage walk needed to register at pelacongan@dbkl.gov.my before taking part in the tour, and they could also log on to www.visitkl.gov.my for details on the walk. He said tourists registered under the walk would also be able to stop at the Royal Selangor Club, which is a private club, for refreshments and be entertained with a cultural dance performance at Panggung Bandaraya.

Ahmad Phesal said the decision by DBKL to organise the heritage walk at Dataran Merdeka was due to the finding of its Tourism Unit that the fascinating history of the buildings around Dataran Merdeka was not well exposed to tourists. He also said that the Dataran Merdeka guided walk programme was part of the Greater KL/Klang Valley National Key Economic Area (NKEA) under the seventh Entry Point Projects (EPP 7) on creating iconic places and attractions.

Touching on Visit Malaysia Year 2014, Ahmad Phesal said DBKL hoped to attract 12 million tourists during that period. Last year, KL attracted nine million tourists, making it the sixth most visited city in the world. “In order to reach the new target, we will look at ways to leverage on existing attractions and enhance them to maximise KL’s potential in providing  better overall ground experience for all visitors,” he said. – Bernama

Copyright © 2012 The Malaysian Insider

KL & Putrajaya - Premium Half Day Tour.

Date: 24 November, 2012

KL & Putrajaya - Premium Half Day Tour.

Due to many request about Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya at our email, we now have the above tours available on daily basis. It is for half a day and will probably takes about 4 to 5 hours depending on the road traffic and weather conditions. It starts from 10.00am until about 2 to 3.00pm. The package is valid from Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya areas and we shall do pick-up from your hotel or at selected stops that we have engaged with.

The tour is using a premium vehicle which comforts your journey together with a driver that will also guide you to the places of interest that we have selected in the package inclusion. The package also include a meal plus mineral water for your journey convenience. The package meant for four (4) persons and suitable for friends and family.

Our advise is to do booking with us at least seven (7) days in advanced to secure your Premium Half Day Tour as we have limited vehicle and has been in demand especially during the school holidays. 

In addition, we also do the above for groups with different arrangement on the transfers using van or coaches at a different rate. We believe that the itinerary is suitable for the visit and with limitation of time for you to explore and visit more destination with activity at Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. We know that many travelers especially international tourists spend about less than a week at Peninsular Malaysia before going to other destination surrounding ASEAN. Therefore, it is best that tourists are able to do a tour to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; and experience the differences between this two cities. We strongly advise that you have a camera with you to take on photos that will entice you to come back!

We are also able to provide you with itineraries and travelling advise for your trip to Malaysia. We offer many more travel and hospitality services and we do it through our license travel and tour company under Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia.   

Finally, do email us for further information on the above packages at tourismservicesmalaysia@gmail.com and we shall reply to your request.

Putrajaya Tours

Date: 22 November, 2012

Putrajaya Tours.

One of our travel services are on the arrangement of 'Putrajaya Tours'. We have been doing tours to Putrajaya since its opening day. Therefore, we have the knowledge and information of this interesting 'Intelligent Garden City' which is also now the new administrative city of Putrajaya. It is actually a must visit destination if you are travelling to Malaysia and if you are already around Kuala Lumpur city centre.

There are many interesting places to be visited at Putrajaya. It is about half and hour from Kuala Lumpur city and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The itinerary can be for half a day (3 hours) or one full day (about 8 hour) tours. If you have limited time, then go for a half a day tour which will provide you with a basic trip and get to know more about the city. It is advisable that you have a minimum of four (4) persons as the transfer require at least one car for the trip. 

Places that we recommend for your visits are to the variety of Parks and Gardens, Bridges, many unique building, the Prime Minister Office, Prime Minister Residence, Mosques, Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Palaces, Wetlands, Maritime Centre, Alamanda Shopping Centre, Zouq Shopping area and probably to have a sightseeing lake cruise of Cruise Tasik Putrajaya.    

Contact us further through tourismservicesmalaysia@gmail.com should you need more information and booking for the above tours. We recommend that you do at least seven (7) days prior booking for your convenience.  

To know more about this city, you can find and read Putrajaya from this blog or browse it at the net. Finally, if you are at Putrajaya, don't forget to purchase some souvenirs too for you and your family.