Malaysia Voted Top 5 Tourist Spot By Biggest Guangdong Daily

By Tham Choy Lin

BEIJING, May 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia was voted as one of the five most popular outbound destinations for 2006 in a poll organised by Guangzhou Daily, the biggest newspaper in southern China with a daily circulation of 1.8 million.

Suhaimi Shaharuddin, Tourism Malaysia director in Guangzhou, received the award from the Chinese daily's group vice-president, Ling Jinkeng, last night at the Westin Hotel in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

The other four countries were Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The five winners were not ranked accordingly.

Readers were asked to name their favourite destinations out of 100 countries. The outcome was also decided by the visa numbers from the Chinese immigration and also a poll of selected travel agents.

"I hope this will further boost the interest of more Chinese tourists to choose Malaysia as their favourite destination, given that 2007 is also Visit Malaysia Year," Suhaimi said.

Suhaimi, who was posted to Guangzhou one-and-a-half years ago, thanked travel agents and airlines for their support.

"This is the first time that the Guangzhou Daily has included a category for most popular outbound destination in its readers' poll on tourism.

Among the attractions cited by those who voted for Malaysia are our beautiful islands, beaches, food and shopping. They also find Malaysia a safe place and they can have quality and affordable holidays," Suhaimi said.

South China is the biggest market for mainland tourists to visit Malaysia.

Last year, nearly 450,000 visited Malaysia and two thirds were from the south, mostly from Guangdong province.

-- BERNAMA

Being South East Asia's most visited country, we do deserve this thread! Our tourism campaign surely is a success in the middle east, Indonesia and Singapore based on the rise of their visits.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=183243&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=30067

Malaysia remains top holiday destination

MALAYSIA tops the popularity chart with holidaymakers from Bahrain this year, with Turkey and the US hot on its heels.

Tens of thousands of people fly out of Bahrain to escape the summer heat, or to get home to see their families during the school holidays.

Heavy bookings for airline seats are given, but holiday trends shift with the times.

Malaysia may be the all-time favourite from here, but Turkey is cashing in on stop-over packages for budget travellers, as well as being a holiday destination in its own right.

"Turkey is the hot destination this year," says Vijay Menon, general manager of Dadabhai Travels.

Heavy bookings for the gateway between east and west are also reported by Manama Travel Centre tours manager Pamela Murdoch.

"Turkish Airlines probably boasts the cheapest fares of any carrier flying out of Bahrain into Europe, via Turkey. So people reckon that if they're going via Turkey, they might as well stop off for a few days," said Ms Murdoch.

The US is making a comeback, with the lure of Disneyland in Orlando, Florida and the weak dollar proving major attractions.

"We've had a number of families and honeymooners opt for Orlando and Disneyland this year," says Kanoo Holidays tourism manager Zall Koohpaima.

Orlando and the US have always been popular with outbound tourists from Bahrain, the numbers dwindled after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 with the tightening of entry regulations into the country.

"But now it's popular again," said Mr Koohpaima.

He cites the weak US dollar as another reason for the US' resurgence as a tourist destination for Bahrainis.

"Florida is certainly one of the top destinations this year," said Al Fanar Travels tourism executive Mustafa Moti. But all the travel agents the GDN spoke to stressed that all-time favourite, Malaysia, was still the big draw. The country still remains the top spot for tourists from Bahrain.

But it's not always land-based breaks that court the attention and wallets of travellers.

Cruises are also proving popular.

"We've seen a huge spurt in people going on cruises this year. Especially Caribbean cruises," says Mr Menon.

This is a trend also confirmed by Mr Moti.

"We've had a number of inquiries and bookings for Mediterranean cruises and also some rather unusual ones for Baltic cruises," he said.

Most travellers are sticking to popular destinations, but Ms Murdoch sees a rise in travellers heading into Russia, Belarus and Finland.

So how is everyone getting to where they're going?

Qatar Airways is the airline of choice for those flying out of Bahrain, according to Mr Koohpaima and Mr Moti.

Being South East Asia's most visited country, we do deserve this thread!

i thought it was Thailand?

^^ Mmm... nearly half of visitors to M'sia are Singaporeans.

Anywayz, we should do our parts too as individuals. Invite more tourists personally !

nearly half of visitors are Indonesian

Malaysia and Singapore are blessed to be near with populated country like Indonesia
Just like HK with populated China as their target for tourism

And Indonesia also have cheaper and nearer choices of traveling. This is what we call mutually symbiosis

:)

^^No.. Indonesians made less than 10% of the total tourists, but they are big spenders :)

OIC

Looks like Indonesian still choose Singapore before Malaysia. But I do believe the number will be increased in the future as more Malaysian tourism advertisement broad casted there.

May 30, 2007 15:33 PM

'Malaysia Week' Promises Britons More M'sian Flavours


KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) -- Visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from 66 countries annually, London's Covent Garden Market is definitely the most apt to once again become the stage for Malaysia Week to be held for six days from June 5.

Based on last year's success, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry is bringing a bigger group with 127 delegates to showcase the uniqueness of Malaysian flavours to Britons and foreign visitors to the one of the most visited destinations in London.

"This year we'll make it even special because it is held in conjunction with our 50th independence anniversary, Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and the installation of our 13th king, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin," said the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Zakiah Ahmad.

Last year, the ministry led about 100 delegates, with the festival only occupying part of the piazza. However, this year the display of all facets of Malaysia will take up almost the whole garden.

"We want to make sure Britons and tourists visiting us to have their fill of our diversity, from our cultures to our food, to our flowers and many more," said Zakiah.

With 2,000 Malaysian blooms, including exotic orchids specially brought in by the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) to adorn the garden, it will definitely be a sight to behold," she enthused.

About 700kg of freshly plucked tropical fruits will be also be flown in from Malaysia to tease visitors' taste buds, and this time they can eat as much as they want at a price.

"Last year, we gave the fruits out for free and they asked us why didn't we sell them because they loved the fruits. So, this time we are going to sell them," she said.

To further entice visitors, Malaysian delicacies will be offered by London-based Malaysian restaurants at several booths, and this according to Zakiah, never failed to attract long queues.

"They simply love our food," she said, adding that once they had their plates filled up, they just sat anywhere they could to enjoy the dishes.

As for the activities planned for the week, Zakiah said apart from the usual fashion and cultural shows, visitors would also have the opportunity to participate in daily interactive sessions called `Dance with Us'.

"We are also bringing along a group of young dancers from Tunas Budaya Pahang to perform as the Britons love children's performances. From our past experience, each time young dancers came on stage the crowds would fill up the space to the brink," she said.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see for themselves batik hand-painting, songket-weaving and wood-carving, among others.

Malaysia Week will kick off with a gala dinner on June 5, before the opening by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim the next day. Other activities will include a Travel Fair and Malaysia Film Week.

Seven Malaysia films, namely `Cinta', `Bilut', `Waris Jari Hantu', `The Red Kebaya', `Puaka Tebing Biru', `Cicak Man' and `Jangan Pandang Belakang', will be showcased for four days from June 6 at Odeon Cinema and Malaysia Hall.

-- BERNAMA

OIC

Looks like Indonesian still choose Singapore before Malaysia. But I do believe the number will be increased in the future as more Malaysian tourism advertisement broad casted there.

We should attract their middle class...which are considered more affluent than Malaysia's own.

i read in philippines forum the chief designer for Malaysia Truly Asia ad is a Filipino. She was headhunted from an agency in Manila. Now that's why Malaysia Truly Asia...:)

^^ This could be paying Filipino is much cheaper than paying Malaysian to do the same job.

^^ This could be paying Filipino is much cheaper than paying Malaysian to do the same job.

Maybe he/she is good at it.Its not necessarily cheap.

Maybe the guy also made the Philippine tourism ad I saw in CNN ,especially on Chocolate Hills one,it was good too.

yeah. it may turn out to be expensive, but the ad works.

Chocolate Hill in Bohol, one of their unknown tourist attraction. They have endless white sandy beaches, thousands of islands, and like every country unique experience.

But they lack coordination in promoting their tourism. We should be grateful to have one although there's much room for improvement. :)

Najib: Malaysia can reach tourism target this year

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can achieve the target of 20.1 million tourist arrivals with expected revenue of RM40.5bil this year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said the tourism sector had maintained its position as the second largest foreign exchange earner since 2000, receiving 10.2 million international arrivals with tourism receipts of RM17.3bil before it increased to 17.55 million international tourists with receipts totalling RM36.27bil last year.

The Deputy Prime Minister said last year saw a 6.8% growth rate in tourist arrivals with a 13.5% increase in receipts.

"This year, being Visit Malaysia Year and the 50th Anniversary of our nationhood, we hope to do even better. It is indeed quite a challenge but I believe that it is a target we will be able to achieve," he said at the opening ceremony of the World Tourism Conference here on Monday.

Later at a press conference, Najib said: "We are determined to achieve the target. So far so good. Barring unforeseen developments, we should be on track to achieve our target."

He said the Government was doing many things to achieve the target including having promotions and a strong branding.

"Profiling of Malaysia is at an all time high now and we are trying to reach out to as many markets as possible.

"We are taking the opportunity to bring in people to visit Malaysia by organising conferences as well."

He said local and foreign investors were also encouraged to increase the number of tourism products available.

As of May 10, this year, 8.9 million tourist arrivals had been recorded with an average of two million monthly.

Najib also said countries in the Asia Pacific region must leverage from the experiences of one another to enhance their respective tourism sectors.

"We don't want negative competition. The market is big enough for all of us to share. If we work together, we actually gain much more than if we work against each other.

"So, within the ASEAN governments, the ministers of tourism realise this. We receive closer cooperation between ASEAN countries," he said.

Asked whether the Government would continue with the visa-on-arrival facility, he said: "Of course, it's extended. We will continue with that."

He said the Government would add on more countries to the visa-on-arrival rights list if necessary.

On complaints by some travellers from India on being removed from the list, he said it was a temporary measure with respect to Chennai.

"We are concerned about overstaying and disappearing of these people and we are talking about a large number which is in the thousands, but if they come from other destinations in India, they will enjoy visa-on-arrival."

Themed "Tourism Success Stories and Shooting Stars", the three-day conference was attended by more than 800 participants from 72 countries.

June 04, 2007 18:00 PM

Malaysia Ranked 6th In Choice Of Destinations For Chinese Tourists, Says


KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia ranked 6th in choice of destinations for Chinese travellers after Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand and Korea, a survey by a global market insight and information group indicated.

The study by the Taylor Nelson Soffres (TNS) company also suggested that Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia looked set to gain from the fallout of Hong Kong's as the most popular choice following recent scandals in the territory involving the sale of counterfeit goods to mainland Chinese travellers.

"Tourism industry organisations and travel companies in Hong Kong fear the scandals will result in a drop of up to 30 per cent in tourist arrivals from China," the company said in a statement here Monday.

The one-week survey that involved 300 resondents, aged between 18 to 64 years, also found that shopping was the most popular activity among Chinese travellers followed by relaxation and sightseeing.

TNS (M'sia) Sdn Bhd managing director Siti Norbaya Abdul Manaf said in the statement that although destinations in Asia might be the most popular with mainland Chinese right now, clearly there was a strong desire among them for longer haul travel.

She said the government, especially the Malaysian Tourism Board should take heed of these findings as currently Malaysia ranked high in the travel list of mainland Chinese.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia Positions Itself As Exceptional Tourism Destination, Says UNWTO


KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been able to position itself as an "exceptional tourism destination" since the past few years, at the same time managing the impact of natural calamities to the industry, World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) secretary-general Francesco Frangialli said Monday.

"What I found really exceptional about Malaysia is, while (protecting the industry from the impact of natural disasters), the country is able to position itself on three different markets in regional tourism.

"First, strengthening its position in Asia, followed by the Western and European outgoing market which are the most important ones for Southeast Asia, and thirdly, the new market from the Gulf region. It is a very good image for this market," he told reporters after the third World Tourism Conference here was opened.

In his speech earlier, Frangialli said the tourism industry has become both the victim and the vector of climate change, and yet managed to flourish for the past few years, registering remarkable growth year-on year,

"We have experienced a period of difficulties and crises between 2001 and 2003 marked by conflicts, terrorism, health scares and natural disasters.

"We, however, witnessed not only the strong resilience which retrieved our previous growth trend, but also the birth of a more mature tourism industry which leads to a more moderate, more solid and more responsible growth," he said.

Frangialli said the tourism industry had received a number of shocks in recent years, contributing to "zero growth" from 2001 to 2003, but followed by a sharp rebound in 2004 to 2006.

As a whole, he said, the exceptional period has been marked by a return to traditional rates of growth, about four percent a year.

"On the strength of this growth, international arrivals are poised to reach 1.1 billion by 2010 and nearly 1.6 billion by 2020. By 2020, China, for instance, will have been the world's leading tourist destination for several years, and some 100 million Chinese will be travelling abroad," he said.

To sustain this growth, Frangialli said, there is a need to propose avenues of research and instruments of action that will allow tourism to transform itself, and in so doing, survive climate change and progressively lessen its contribution to it.

The three-day conference, which has gathered industry experts and players from 50 countries, will likely analyse the strategies for success developed by leading destinations and organisations and provide recommendations for future growth in the industry.

-- BERNAMA

But they lack coordination in promoting their tourism. We should be grateful to have one although there's much room for improvement. :)

wowphilippines ad is nice too. but the background 'theme song' is so00o0 dull.

F8MshzZwizg

excellent ads alone is not enough..coordination in promoting the country also important. what's the point of having your ads streaming in major tv channels in various countries if u still make it hard for them to enter the country and stay longer...that's their matter we should be grateful Malaysian tourism agency have well coordinated promotion between various departments and tourism industry.

but still there's much room for improvement.

http://inquirerbloggers.net/talesofthenomad/2007/06/04/first-time-in-kl/

First time in KL
06/04/07
Posted under Malaysia

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

petronas-2.jpg

I REALIZED how high that “thing” was when it became quite a pain the neck — literally.

I can’t say I didn’t have a clue what lay ahead of me during a trip to Kuala Lumpur a few months ago; interestingly, it was my first time in the Malaysian capital, covering a Yahoo! event.

KL is home to the mighty Petronas Twin Towers, and to remind first-timers they won’t miss it is probably best said with a hint of sarcasm. This truth was magnified further — perhaps, literally as well — because I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental, located right beside Petronas, affording me a great view from my hotel room.

I was told they allow visitors to go to the bridge connecting the two towers.

(Remember that heist movie starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones? Yes, loads of cliffhanger shots in there). But I was duly forewarned that I have to be in line as early as 7 in the morning, wait for an hour or so before finally getting a lift.

It was an overnight trip and it would’ve been a stretch in time for my afternoon flight the next day. Plus, I hate missing breakfast on trips so that sealed it. Maybe, I’ll make time for it on my next trip.

The view from my hotel room was fantastic. But outside, it was beginning to haunt me. Walking on the street, I was taking quick glances at those towers. While inside a restaurant having dinner, I found myself lifting my head from time to time looking through clear glass windows. It was begging to be looked at, urging you to go click and take a picture.

Later that morning, while killing some time before checkout, I was lying on the floor looking at it from my window. It was then that I thought of George Orwell’s classic novel 1984. Petronas gives a profound meaning to Big Brother, more than the reality show. That thing out there has a life of its own.

KL on a stick

A Malaysian journalist named Catherine was kind enough to show us a glimpse of the nightlife in KL. After walking around, my first impression of the city was that in some ways it is similar to Singapore — clean, orderly, excellent infrastructure, characteristics of a bustling city.

However, I didn’t find it as cosmopolitan as Singapore. Or maybe, that’s because I was only there for a few hours.

We ended up in a bar whose name escapes me up to now but is probably named Coco Hut or something, one of those places that would belong to a scene like our own Boracay island. And the crowd looks not too different — throngs of white people mingling with, uhm, local bar girls.

I knew about Malaysia’s reputation for having the best street food — in Singapore, they call them hawker stalls or food stalls that literally serve food outdoors. Also, almost synonymous to our own turo-turo (literally “point-point” because you point at the food–Ed.).

We passed by one but apparently things don’t start cooking until 10 in the evening. So after some mingling inside the bar, me and Jing, a fellow journalist and editor for the Manila Times, sneaked our way out and headed for a nearby food stall.

People familiar with isaw or your ordinary barbecue whatever (pig’s ears, chicken innards, etc.) should find the Malaysian version quite interesting.

For one, it has more variety. For one Malaysian ringgit each (equivalent to a little over P13), you choose squid, crab sticks, several shapes of tofu, even more several shapes of fish and even a leafy kind of vegetable they managed to sear with a barbecue stick as well — all laid out neatly on banana leaves.

The most interesting variation, however, is that the food isn’t fried but rather dunked in boiling water until cooked. People like me who prefer their barbecue a bit on the charred, well-grilled side would find it rather strange at first.

The sauces used for dipping, however, make up for it. You have a choice between the sweet satay peanut sauce, chili sauce and a sweet-spicy combo. Afterwards, you wash it down with a drink that’s sort of similar to our own sago’t gulaman, only there’s really no jelly, rather bland, without the sweetness I expected. At this point, I longed for some Coke.

NOT totally lost in translation

Having watched the movie “Babel” recently before I went to KL, the message I got from the excellent movie (it won Best Picture at the Golden Globes but lost to “The Departed” in the Oscars… boo-hoo) was that people, regardless of race or nationality, mean the same thing even when we speak different languages.

It was a lingering thought for me once I stepped into the airport and all throughout the airport. Hearing the Malaysian journalists talk among themselves during the Yahoo! briefing, it was a struggle to even keep up with the words they were saying.

But I saw these signs at the airport and I realized: Hey, aren’t we Filipinos part of the Malay race? Aside from Tagalog, I speak Kapampangan as my local dialect, and some words I found very familiar.

Consider the following examples: keluar in Malaysian means “exit,” in Kapampangan kelual means “outside;” the signboard says pintu translates to “gates,” pinto in Tagalog means “door” (pintu masuk translates to “boarding door;” pasok in Tagalog means “to enter”).

Or salin lampin the sign translates to “nappy change;” in Tagalog, it has the exact literal meaning. Air Minuman translates to “drinking water;” we Filipinos mean we’re thirsty if we say inom. But probably the one I like best is this sign above a toy store that says butik kana-kanak; in Tagalog, anak means child, butik then should refer to the English word “boutique.”

So, even if I can barely understand what Malaysians are talking about, at least I won’t be totally lost at the airport.

Indonesia Takes Cue From Malaysia On Branding

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, June 5 (Bernama) -- The success of the "Malaysia, Truly Asia" tourism branding exercise has prompted Indonesia to create its own national branding, said Indonesian Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.

He said that like Malaysia, many countries had created their respective national branding which promoted a special image that was unique, like a trademark.

"We will create a new branding tagline for tourism, trade and investment so that all ministries will use it to promote the country to the world," Wacik told reporters here today.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said it would take at least one year to create a national concept that was unique to Indonesia.

"The `Malaysia, Truly Asia' tagline for tourism was introduced in 1999 and only now has become bonded to the country. Branding takes a long time to succeed."

Pangestu said that for a start, the government has to change the world's poor perception of Indonesia, especially in terms of security and natural disasters.

"We have to create a national branding that will make Indonesians proud. It has to be unique to Indonesia.

"For this to happen, it will not only need government participation but also that of the people and private sector," she added.

-- BERNAMA

MAS' 250 packages to enrice Asean tourists

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has introduced some 250 travel packages to people from Asean countries to come to the country in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

A joint collaboration between MAS, the Tourism Ministry and selected Asean tour agencies, the initiative is aimed at promoting Malaysia as a value for money destination, said MAS Commercial Director Datuk Abdul Rashid Khan.

He said MAS had made available more than 2.5 million seats until year-end to accommodate the anticipated surge in tourists as a result of the attractive new packages.

"Starting from as low as US$108 (RM380), the packages offer a discounted rate of 10% to 15% from the usual prices to entice more tourist arrivals from Asean countries and even tourists from China, India and Korea.

"These offers would enable more foreigners to better plan their travel to Malaysia and improve the turnover for tourism related services in Malaysia," said Abdul Rashid.

Customised packages include a 3days/2nights Malaysian experience to popular tourist attractions such as Genting Highlands, Penang and Langkawi with accommodation, meals and return flight tickets included.

Abdul Rashid said MAS had been aggressively marketing the packages, investing more than RM6mil in television and print commercials in Asean countries.

"Regionally, we are having short clips of various popular Malaysia destinations in our TV ads which are airing now on ESPN Star Sports and also on the National Geographic channel.

"In addition to these, selected print media in Asean countries are also carrying advertisements of our new packages.

"We are confident of attracting at least 1.7mil tourist arrivals this year from this exercise, especially with the participation of approximately 100 travel agents in the Asean region," he said at a press conference here on Friday.

Singapore Bids To Attract More Malaysian Tourists

From Yai Ban King

SINGAPORE, June 8 (Bernama) -- With discounts of up to 70 per cent at almost all its major shopping centres and a campaign that allows Malaysians to pay half price at many of the government-sponsored tourism sites, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) must have gone into overdrive to attract Malaysians during the mid-term holiday season that will come to an end on Sunday.

From its central shopping belt of Orchard Road and Marina Bay to the various shopping precincts that are participating in the Great Singapore Sale, fantastic value can be found on fashion, watches, jewellery, electronics and many other branded items.

"We know that a lot of Malaysians who come here are from Johor and that's why Johor is an important market for us," said Joan Ng, STB's Manager for Leisure Marketing and Events Management, to a group of Malaysian journalists here recently.

Ng, however, could not specifically identify the actual number of Johoreans who had been there but believes the number could be huge.

Last year, a total of 634,000 Malaysians visited the island state, making Malaysians the fifth largest number of visitors in Singapore.

Of the 9.7 million visitors who arrived last year, Indonesians were the largest by number at 1.9 million, followed by China at 1.03 million, Australians third at 692,000 and Indians fourth at 669,000 visitors.

Ng said that unlike the others, Johoreans were much closer and were more likely to come and enjoy the world-class facilities there.

The Night Safari, a government-sponsored attraction on a 40-hectare park at Mandai Lake Road, scored its 11 millionth visitor on May 29 since it was opened in 1994.

That visitor happened to be Malaysian Hing Siew Ling, 37, from Johor Baharu who had come with her mother, husband and three daughters.

"My daughters have been wanting to see owls. Since it was the school holidays, I thought I would bring them here," she said.

For being the 11 millionth visitor, Hing received a prize package which includes a two-night stay at Siloso Beach Resort, S$200 worth of VivoCity shopping vouchers and a Wildlife unlimited membership, among other things.

-- BERNAMA

I have yet to visit SG's Night Safari :D

ehh Singapore Tourism got connection with Malaysia Tourism meh?? :haha:

New Malaysia tourism offices in Xian and Xiamen
Sunday June 10, 2007
By NG CHENG YEE
TheStar


NINGBO (China): The locals here will be trained on how to promote Malaysia as the Tourism Ministry opens new offices in Xian and Xiamen.

The three to six months training will be conducted in Malaysia or at other tourism offices in China.

The others are now located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong.

“We expect more Chinese to visit Malaysia in the future, but many of them are still not aware of where Malaysia is,” Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said.

“That’s why we need to establish more offices in China,” he said after attending a Tourism and Malaysia My Second Home seminar here on Friday.

Lim is leading a delegation from the ministry and Tourism Malaysia, travel agents, hotel operators and representatives from several state governments to promote Malaysia to the East China market.

Lim said the ministry was also considering opening offices in other places including Quilin, Nanning and Zhengzhou.

“Our main concern is setting up offices in places where there are direct flights that connect Kuala Lumpur to these cities,” he said, adding that more brochures in Chinese would be printed.

Earlier, Lim said the ministry’s promotional efforts and campaigns in China showed signs of success as Malaysia was voted one of the top five most popular outbound destinations for South China residents by Guangzhou Daily.

June 11, 2007 18:28 PM

Malaysia Week Fest In London A Huge Success


From Noor Hayati Muda

LONDON, June 12 (Bernama) -- After five eventful days at Covent Garden Market here, the Malaysian delegation to the London Malaysia Week Festival 2007 wound down operations yesterday with much to cheer about.

For the small and medium enterprise members of the delegation, the products they brought sold like hot cakes while the cultural shows presented received resounding appreciation.

After being such a hit with visitors and the British government, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, which organised the event, is looking at making it an annual affair.

In fact, its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has already drawn up plans for an even greater fest should it be held again next year.

"Overall, I am very pleased as the response has been so much greater than last year. This year, we also had the support of the local Westminster government as well as the British government," he told Malaysian journalists covering the fest, which began on June 6.

This year, the fest was that much more special as besides promoting Visit Malaysia Year'07, the cultural shows also showcased the unique "unity in diversity" that Malaysians of all races hold dear and has been a strongpoint of the country, which is celebrating its 50th independence anniversary.

"I feel we successfully conveyed the message of Malaysia's uniqueness to the people here. Culture and the arts are really good for imparting such a message than politics," said Rais.

He also said the ministry was now busy preparing for the Malaysia Week Festival in Bejing, China to be held at the end of the year.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia Week 07 Covent Garden, London, UK

I was there.

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OMG, one of the booth selling magee,A&W and Milo :nuts: :lol:

I read that the Tagline is now change to Malaysia- Heart of Asia.

June 12, 2007 11:10 AM

Amber Chia For Tourism Malaysia Promo In China


By Tham Choy Lin

BEIJING, June 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian model Amber Chia will be the star attraction of a promotion by Tourism Malaysia in several north China cities this month.

The Ipoh-born pouty-lipped model has been engaged for catwalk shows in Beijing, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Harbin, Dalian and possibly Tianjin.

Michael Tay, Tourism Malaysia director here, said Chia will showcase designs by Malaysian fashion houses, Salabianca and Philosophy, including batik wear.

"We are working together with Parkson department store which has outlets in these cities," he said.

The first show will be on June 22 at the latest Parkson department store in Beijing.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is expected to attend the event. He is arriving next week to open the new Tourism Malaysia office in Beijing and at Awana Beijing restaurant.

Tay said Tourism Malaysia has also prepared 60 lucky draw holiday packages and 30,000 orang utan soft toys for shoppers.

China is the fifth largest source of tourists for Malaysia with nearly 440,000 visiting last year.

-- BERNAMA

why the malaysia weeks got only little crowds..?

why the malaysia weeks got only little crowds..?

The pictures were taken soon after opening in the morning. By the afternoon there were crowds.

Thete will also be a Malaysia Week in Melbourne soon.It will be run mostly by Malaysian students though.:)

I read that the Tagline is now change to Malaysia- Heart of Asia.

I heard about this too... In my opinion, it's just plain stupid. Who the heck has the idea to change it to this one? I still love truly asia better...

Btw, heart of asia was actually a cathay pacific campaign years back. Look at these ads...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D24rzJCf3FQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcgjqwwMQNM

Source : http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=19744

724,137 tourists visit Sabah in first quarter



KENINGAU: Sabah has targeted to attract 2.7 million tourists during the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) deputy chairman Datuk Sari Suhut said for the first four months of this year, 724,137 tourists had visited the State.

“Many of them were from Brunei, South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan and United Kingdom besides locals,” he told The Borneo Post on Wednesday.

To attract more tourists, Sari said the STB would carry out various promotion and marketing campaigns in foreign countries, including using airlines.

“We also invited more members of the media and travel writers for familiarisation tours,” he added.

Sari advised local residents in the State to display their arts and cultures in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

He believes foreign tourists are interested in the unique and attractive local arts and cultures of the various ethnic groups in the State, including local food and drinks, traditional dances, beautiful landscapes and environment as well as village products.

“I hope all the districts will be ready to welcome tourists while the local people should take the opportunity to sell their local products such as handicrafts to boost their income,” he added.

Truly Asia is SO original! It should stay that way. Heart of Asia is a name of a techno song lah

I think they shudn't, I never see ppl not make fun of that title, Malaysia-Truly Asia.

no la heart of asia itu hanya tagline sampingan, sama seperti tagline " Malaysia, ur Asia Profit Center " yang diguna MITI. :)

yang jelas baru 2 hari lepas saya ade mendengar ucapan menteri kesihatan di persidangan kesihatan OIC sedunia di sunway city yg memulakan ucapan nyer dengan kalimah " Malaysia Truly Asia " :)

^ that's a relief!

the malay peninsula does look abit heart-shaped, dont u guys think so? while sumatera and borneo are the lungs hoho

I check the Tourism Malaysia website... and YES there's no change.

June 19, 2007 20:25 PM

Malaysia Among World's Safest Tourist Destinations

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Foreign tourists have no worry coming to Malaysia because the country is among the safest destinations in the world to visit, Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said.

He said the crime rate in Malaysia was still low compared to those in some developed countries in Europe like in Paris, France, where the rate was so high that people had to queue to lodge police reports.

He gave a scenario in Milan, Italy as an example where tourists who lost their luggage were approached by the thieves who demanded payment for the return of the baggage.

"Malaysia is a safe place where even a petty crime gets reported," he told reporters after opening the general meeting of the Association of Malaysian Bumiputera Adventure and Travel Companies (Bumitra) here today.

He was reacting to crime reports by the media, whether they would adversely affect promotions for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia Exploring Religious Tour Package To Boost Tourism


From Alan Ting

URUMQI (China), June 23 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Ministry plans to offer "religious tour packages" that include Umrah and religious rite classes to boost tourist arrivals in the country, said Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said as an early preparation, Malaysia had sought the Chinese government's permission to offer Umrah packages to Muslims from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Malaysia as the transit point.

"They can come to Malaysia for 10 to 15 days for a holiday where they can also undergo a course to refresh them on the Umrah pilgrimage rites.

"After that they can proceed to Mecca to perform their Umrah before returning home," he told Malaysian reporters accompanying him on his week- long visit to China.

However, Tengku Adnan said the proposed "religious tour package" was subject to approval by the Chinese authorities as its citizens must obtain government permission for travel abroad.

"We have brought this matter up with the Chinese National Tourism Administration. However, they told me they would have to refer the proposal to the other government departments as it was not in charge of matters pertaining to religion," he said.

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is China's most western province, covering 16 per cent of the country's total land area and is populated by 13 of China's 55 minority groups. Most of its population are Muslims.

Tengku Adnan said the plan was in line with the ministry's strategy to seek untapped markets such as Xinjiang.

"We are trying to resolve the problem of flight connections," he said, adding that efforts were being make to have flights connecting Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital to Malaysia through cities in Central Asia such as Almaty in Kazakhstan and Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

The flight from Urumqi to Almaty takes about 40 minutes and one can take a connecting flight on Kazakhstan Airlines to Kuala Lumpur, compared with a four-hour flight to Beijing and another six hours to Kuala Lumpur.

Therefore, Tengku Adnan said, efforts were being made to resume chartered flights between Urumqi and Kuala Lumpur which were stopped last year due to low loads.

Meanwhile, the deputy director-general of the Xinjiang Tourism Administration, Chi Chong Qing said about 40,000 tourists from Xinjiang visited Malaysia last year.

"About 10,000 were from Urumqi, and the rest from other cities in the province," he said.

Tourism Malaysia statistics showed that 900,000 Malaysians visited China while 440,000 Chinese visited Malaysia last year.

-- BERNAMA

June 27, 2007 12:06 PM

Malaysia Remains Natural Destination For Chinese Tourists

YINCHUAN (Northwest China), June 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia remains a natural choice for Chinese tourists despite some bad publicity and dubious "zero cost" tour packages offered by Malaysian tour operators.

Tourism Malaysia China Market Advisory Council member Datuk Tan Jing Nam is confident that there are no other markets except Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia where Chinese tourists could feel at home when holidaying abroad.

"Malaysia is their third largest natural destination after Taiwan and Singapore. We have a substantial section of the population who speak Chinese and there is plenty of Chinese food available," he said.

Tan, who is also the group managing director of Tanco Holdings Berhad, said these were among the points discussed by the council since it was established at the end of last year.

"So far, we have had three meetings. We've given our suggestions and feedback to the Tourism Ministry, which is also the council's secretariat," he said.

However, Tan said the 15 council members had also stressed that the practice of "zero cost" tour packages by Malaysian tour operators had to be stopped.

"Apart from that, Malaysian authorities also need to have better understanding of the Chinese market, especially of the growing affluent class travelling abroad.

"Currently, there are about 30 million Chinese travelling abroad for holidays. By 2010, the number is expected to increase to about 100 million. This is a huge market," he added.

Tan said there was also the need for better handling of Chinese tourists to Malaysia in order not to give any bad impression.

"There had been cases of high-ranking Chinese officials such as mayors and vice-governors visiting Malaysia in their private capacity, but ended up being hauled up by our authorities on suspicion of trying to seek employment in the country," he revealed.

Therefore, he said, the council had submitted several proposals and given their feedback to the Tourism Ministry on how to improve the tourism industry.

The council members include several Malaysian top business leaders such as Tan Sri William Cheng, Tan Sri Robert Kuok, Tan Sri Lim Giat Tong and former Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding.

"Most of us have investments in China and we are using our experience and knowledge to help the Tourism Ministry to bring in more tourists to Malaysia," Tan said.

-- BERNAMA

uly 05, 2007 22:36 PM

US$2 Bln Tourism Bank Set Up To Promote Tourism In Arab Countries

By Nor Faridah A. Rashid

DUBAI, July 5 (Bernama) -- A US $2 billion (RM6.8 billion) Arab Tourism Bank has been established to further develop and fund tourism projects in the Arab world.

The agreement for the set-up was signed Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between the Arab Tourism Organisation and Siraj Capital Group, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Siraj Capital chairman Dr Ghassan Al-Suleiman said the bank will contribute positively to the development of the tourism industry in the Arab countries.

The Jeddah-based investment company specialises in developing, sponsoring, seeding and launching innovative investment funds, and investment opportunities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Middle East and North Africa.

Last year, it signed an agreement with Malaysia's Johor Corp (JCorp) to develop and launch US$500 million worth of Syariah-compliant investment funds, namely a real estate investment trust (REIT) and a regional private equity investment fund (RUIF).

The REIT fund will focus on real estate investments related to tourism, education, property, industrial and technology parks while the RUIF will concentrate on investments in strategic private equity sectors like palm oil, biodiesel, oil and gas industry, and other related sectors that have technology-based components.

Both funds will seek investors and investment opportunities in both Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was sealed in conjunction with the visit of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Saud to Malaysia last year.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia, 2nd Most Popular Holiday Destination For Sri Lankans


KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia was the second most popular holiday destination for holiday-makers from Sri Lanka after Thailand, due mainly to value for money deals and regular flight frequencies.

China came in third followed by Singapore.

This was evident from holiday packages bought by Sri Lankans and Indians from SriLankan Holidays, the leisure arm of national carrier SriLankan Airlines.

They contributed over 90 percent to overall growth of SriLankan Holidays, the company said in a statement here today.

The company sold over 10,000 packages during the year and over 50 percent to popular destinations out of the island-nation.

SriLankan Airlines' chief executive officer, Peter Hill, said: "We believe there is still untapped potential in the region for holidays and it will continue its growth momentum this year."

He said SriLankan Holidays is expecting in excess of 100 percent growth this year, led by outbound traffic from India and Sri Lanka, with East Asia continuing to be an important destination.

SriLankan Airlines operates 12 flights a week from KL International Airport (KLIA) to Sri Lanka with immediate connections to Europe, the Middle East, India and Maldives.

-- BERNAMA

July 09, 2007 14:43 PM

Malaysia On Course To Be Among The Top Golfing Destinations In Region

KUCHING, July 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is now among the preferred golfing destinations in the region following an aggressive promotion and publicity blitz for the past few years.

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) Assistant Director Rosli Reshid Mohamed Saini said that in some cases, golfers who had played in Malaysia had returned with their families not to play golf but to spend their vacation in this country.

Speaking at a news conference on the sixth leg of the World Amateur Inter Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) being held here from today until Thursday, Rosli Reshid said the rising number of tourist arrivals in Malaysia every year was a strong indication that the government was on the right track in promoting the sport.

Meanwhile, the WAITGC secretariat said in a statement that the sixth leg of the WAITGC would be played at the Damai Golf and Country Club today and tomorrow and at the Sarawak Golf Club on July 11 and 12.

It said 32 teams would be taking part, including teams from Australia, Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, China and Pakistan.

-- BERNAMA

July 11, 2007 21:22 PM

Shanghai Wants Greater Tourism Links With Malaysia

By Tham Choy Lin

SHANGHAI, July 11 (Bernama) -- Shanghai vice-mayor Tang Dengjie on Wednesday called for greater tourism cooperation with Malaysia to bring the relationship to a new high as the city braces up to host the 2010 World Expo.

He said ties between Shanghai and Malaysia had deepened and expanded over a number of areas including economy, culture and energy over the years.

"We want also to further strengthen our cooperation, in particular, in tourism," he said during a courtesy call by Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on his third city stop in his five-day official visit.

Syed Hamid had earlier visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen. He is due in Beijing on Thursday for a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi and will wrap up his trip by calling on Premier Wenjiao the same day.

The Malaysian minister lauded greater cooperation with Shanghai, China's second biggest city and leading financial hub, saying that the close relations between Malaysia and China provided the opportunity to expand the scope of cooperation.

"The interaction between the two countries and the top leaders has always been positive and constructive and we can broaden our cooperaton for mutual benefit," said Syed Hamid who was accompanied by Malaysian ambassador to China Datuk Syed Norulzaman Kamarulzaman, Foreign Ministry Deputy Secretary-General I Datuk Othman Abdullah and Malaysian Consul-General in Shanghai Jamal Hassan.

In the first half of this year, nearly 78,000 Chinese nationals applied for visas at the Malaysian consulate in Shanghai.

After a luncheon hosted by vice-mayor Tang, Syed Hamid visited the 2010 World Expo Coordination Centre and was briefed on preparations including the area allocated to Malaysia and the other nine Asean member countries which will all participate in the event.

Shanghai is the first Chinese city to organise the exposition in its 156-year history and it has picked the theme "Better City, Better Life".

Exposition deputy director-general Huang Yaocheng said Malaysia had been among the early birds to confirm its participation and he believed that the Malaysian pavilion would be spectacular as in previous expositions.

An area of 3,000 sq metres have been reserved for Malaysia which is among 157 confirmed participants so far. Organisers are targeting entries from 200 countries and a visitor turnout of 70 million.

The sprawling exposition site is spread along both banks of the Huangpu River which features the city's most famous landmark, the Bund.

-- BERNAMA

The cab diver in Singapore had us scared after letting us know how unsafe Malaysia generally was and that "Singaporeans often got stabbed in the heart" when they visited. Great. But we continued on...the bus ride was fine and we took a quick taxi ride to the hostel where we had booked, The Green Hut.:nuts:
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Kuala-Lumpur/blog-182960.html

Kuala Lumpur is modern, crisp and clean with an "old-world" twist thrown in. In just a couple of days, I think we've experienced a sample of almost every religion and culture you can think of. This makes for a unique and facinating culture all of its own! There's loads more of Kuala Lumpur we didn't get to see, but what we encountered was a really great city. Would have loved to stay longer, but we have a pressing engagement with the Orangutans of Borneo!! An uncontrollably excited Lucy will be updating you on those little chappies in the next installment.
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Kuala-Lumpur/blog-182222.html

uly 19, 2007 21:37 PM

Malaysia, Pakistan Ink Tourism Cooperation Pact

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Pakistan Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the tourism industry.

Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Victor Wee signed the MoU with his Pakistani counterpart, Shahid Rafi.

Dr Wee told reporters later that Malaysia would benefit from the cooperation by having more tourist arrivals from Pakistan and the possibility of tapping investment potential in Pakistan's tourism sector.

A total of 20,882 Pakistanis visited Malaysia in the first six months of this year compared to 20,708 in the corresponding period last year, he said.

He attributed the increase to promotional drive carried out by Tourism Ministry.

Dr Wee said both countries could collaborate in research and development, training, promotion, publicity and investment in the tourism industry.

-- BERNAMA

RM22.4b tourist money pours into Malaysia in Jan-June

August 24 2007

A WHOPPING RM22.4 billion! That was the amount of money that foreign tourists spent in this country in the first six months of this year, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said yesterday.

He said 10.7 million visitors came to Malaysia during the period, and each spent an average of RM2,100 (US$600).

“This is within the range of our target of getting them to spend RM45.5 billion (US$13 billion) during Visit Malaysia Year (VMY 2007),” he told reporters after opening the Food and Hotel Malaysia 2007 exhibition.

Tengku Adnan said VMY 2007 would be extended to August 31 next year under a campaign known as “One Golden Celebration”, to capitalise on the country’s 50th Merdeka celebrations starting August 31.

On the reported shortage of hotel rooms in Pahang, Langkawi, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, he said that at a meeting earlier yesterday key industry players agreed to encourage more new players to build hotels as a long-term solution to the problem. Other steps included postponing some major events.

“One of them is the Malaysian International Space Adventure (Misa). We are trying to push it to the end of the year or early next year,” he said. — Bernama

Gearing to become medical tourism hub

By DANNY YAP

Can Malaysia be the preferred healthcare hub in the region? If so, what needs to be done to ensure it becomes a reality and not just wishful thinking?

MALAYSIA has the potential to become the preferred healthcare hub in the region, but players in the industry believe it is not capitalising on the full potential of the medical resources, including expertise available locally.

KPJ Healthcare Bhd chief financial officer Alvin Lee said Malaysia was lagging behind Singapore and Thailand as a healthcare hub for medical tourism in the region.

“Our medical facilities are at least at par with these countries in terms of service and price but we still lose out as a preferred destination for treatment,” he told StarBiz.

KPJ is a leading public-listed healthcare company in Malaysia with 17 hospitals nationwide and six hospitals abroad in Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Middle East.

Lee said 20% to 30% of KPJ's revenue, which was approaching RM1bil this year, was derived from its overseas medical hospitals. The figures are growing fast, indicating that medical services are in great demand in the countries KPJ services.

“Ironically, healthcare services for foreign tourists in Malaysia represented only about 3% of our total revenue, despite us being an established healthcare provider,” he said.

However, Lee said profit margins were attractive in this segment of the healthcare industry.

So what is holding Malaysia back?

To be fair, countries such as Singapore and Thailand had been promoting themselves as a healthcare hub several years ahead of Malaysia and had gained a strong reputation as good service providers, especially for medical tourism.

According to Lee, income generated from health tourism in the more established private hospitals in Thailand were currently contributing about 30% to their total revenue, while some prestigious private hospitals in Singapore managed to achieve 50% revenue contribution.

“Private hospitals there know that many foreigners seeking healthcare service are prepared to pay well if they are satisfied with the service levels,” he said, adding that these hospitals had gained their clients' trust.

“We in Malaysia have to play catch-up with the rest of the players in the region.”

Lee said for the country to develop a competitive edge in medical tourism, it would require a concerted effort by all parties.

The Government (especially the Health Ministry) and private healthcare providers needed to collaborate further to promote, educate and develop delivery systems and logistic channels that directly impact the industry in a positive manner.

“For instance, in Thailand, they have the Green Lane visa issued to foreigners within 24 hours to allow them entry into the country for medical treatment,” he added.

The Singapore government works closely with private healthcare providers participating in overseas exhibitions by sharing a booth and extending their support and network.

A managing director of a local private healthcare hospital said Malaysia also promoted healthcare services to foreigners.

“The website www.malaysiahealth.com was launched a couple of years ago to promote health tourism to Malaysia. It's a one-stop destination or platform for healthcare services as well as a medical and holiday consultant,” he said.

The managing director said the website provided useful information on medical services available here and suggestions on private hospitals for tourists.

“While the collaboration between the Health Ministry and private hospitals is a positive one, we believe more can be done to further promote medical tourism in Malaysia,” he said.

He said based on the number of foreign tourists seeking medical treatment/services here each year, it would probably take at least another five years for the country to reach the current levels of such tourist arrivals in Thailand and Singapore.

On what Malaysia could do to leapfrog ahead, he said: “We need to be much more aggressive with marketing and promotional activities locally and abroad and channel those interest to a platform that delivers what we (the Government and private hospitals) promise.”

He also cited the country's excellent tourism promotional campaign “Malaysia Truly Asia” which benefited many hotels that were affected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

“There was a deliberate focus and action plan to aggressively market the country as a favoured tourist destination. The Government even provided grants to ailing hotels during the crisis period to revive the industry. Now, many hotels are enjoying good occupancy rates,” he added.

He said medical tourism should piggyback on the "Malaysia Truly Asia'' promotional campaign and be included as an optional facility to the whole package.

A medical specialist with Assunta Hospital said Malaysia's healthcare providers were second to none.

“It's unfortunate there are insufficient opportunities locally for many medical practitioners as well as other healthcare providers such as nurses to show their talent and improve their income despite being highly skilled in their profession. This is due to the lack of creativity to increase demand for their services,” he said.

On whether local patients would be sidelined if private medical hospitals treat more foreign tourists, the specialist said there was always a possibility but it was unlikely as medical practitioners were duty bound to help all patients.

The specialist said the Government and private healthcare organisations should work together to ensure local patients were not neglected.

“A workable structure and system can be achieved if the authorities and healthcare providers meet regularly under a consultative approach to find ways acceptable to all parties and possibly have it legislated,” he said.

August 29, 2007 14:40 PM

Foreign Tourists Generate RM24 Billion Revenue For Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Revenue from foreign tourist expenditure rose 45.9 per cent to more than RM24 billion in the first half this year compared with RM16.4 billion for corresponding period last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said tourists from the Asean countries were the main contributors, spending RM15.1 billion, up from RM11.3 billion for the corresponding period last year.

Revenue from tourists from non-Asean countries also saw an increase of 75.2 per cent to RM8.8 billion, from RM5 billion.

"The main contributor to Malaysia's tourism revenue is Singapore with tourists from the country spending RM10.8 billion, followed by Indonesia (RM1.7 billion).

"Brunei contributed RM1.1 billion, Thailand (RM1 billion), China (RM751.9 million), Middle East countries (RM641.9 million), India (RM620.4 million), Australia (RM557 million), United Kingdom (RM488.9 million and Japan (RM392.3 million)," he said in response to Che Azmi Abdul Rahman (BN-Kuala Nerus), who wanted to know the government's expenditure for tourism and revenue earned from the industry.

On expenses of individual tourists during their stay in Malaysia, Lim said it saw an increase of 16.9 per cent from RM1,922.80 between January and June last year to RM2,247.90 over the same period this year.

Lim also said that the Mega Familiarisation Tour organised by Tourism Malaysia generated RM46.8 million in publicity value between January and July this year, involving 3,471 participants.

"The mechanism used to determine revenue from foreign tourists is through studies by Tourism Malaysia at the main entry points into the country and the immigration complex.

"Interviews are held with tourists when they leave the country at the respective locations," he added.

Lim said the tourism sector had indirectly enhanced the socio-economy of other sectors in the country through the creation of employment opportunities and improvement in the living standard of the rural community and the country's image.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.hospitals-malaysia.org/ (http://www.hospitals-malaysia.org/)

malaysia ekspor teroris ke bali & philippines biar memberi kesan bahwa berwisata disana tidak aman dan membawa turis-turis untuk datang ke malaysia..


hmmm...sangat licik....:ohno:

malaysia ekspor teroris ke bali & philippines biar memberi kesan bahwa berwisata disana tidak aman dan membawa turis-turis untuk datang ke malaysia..


hmmm...sangat licik....:ohno:

you dumbass bitch...wtf? you must be silly indon.go the hell with your shitty comment. :bash:

ehe.. :D mane zhehong yg asli ?

malaysia ekspor teroris ke bali & philippines biar memberi kesan bahwa berwisata disana tidak aman dan membawa turis-turis untuk datang ke malaysia..


hmmm...sangat licik....:ohno:

dude, don't make a fool of yourself with half brain comments and put your fellow Indonesians to shame..you are apparently ignorant and got nothing better to do than offending your neighbours..:nuts:

ssshenzoong is a troll
I think you all can recognize it from the number of his post
From now on just ignore him until the real tai ko sze come, delete his posts and banned him

September 06, 2007 09:53 AM

Major Facelift To Turn Kampung Air Into Tourism Product

By Nashir Mansor

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- In Sabah, whenever "kampung air" is mentioned, people are quick to associate it with squatters, garbage, crime and other anti-social elements.

This negative image is like an indelible mark for any settlement built over water -- be it in the north, west and east coasts of Sabah.

The same goes for islands off the state.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his speech when launching the Agropolitan Project at Pulau Banggi last Aug 11, urged villagers not to dump garbage into the sea in the effort to conserve the island's beauty.

This is no exception for Kg Air Tanjung Aru, an over the water settlement located some 15 minutes drive from here. Motorists who use the coastal highway to get to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) would certainly not miss this "floating village".

Despite the scenario that Kg Air Tanjung Aru, which has some 3,000 villagers staying in about 240 dwellings on stilts, is much better off than similar villages in the state, its location of a mere "stone's throw" away from the city centre is like a thorn in the flesh.

GARBAGE

This village, like other water settlements in Sembulan, Likas and Pulau Gaya, is deemed as the main source of dumped garbage which littered the beach that lined the 5-star hotels located nearby.

Everyday, workers at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park that encompasses the resort islands of Pulau Gaya, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Manukan which front Kampung Air Tanjung Aru, have to work extra hard to clear garbage dumped along the beach.

This floating village, came to life long before the existence of the 5-star hotels that flanked it apart from the KKIA which is the second busiest airport in the country after the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

However Kg Air Tanjung Aru is still considered by many as an eye sore.

Villagers there are calling for the government to give the settlement a major facelift for the village to be transformed into a modern traditional village, particularly after 50 years of the country's independence.

SEWERAGE SYSTEM

"There is no regulation that can be enforced to stop villagers from dumping garbage into the sea. That is why the residents like to take the easy way out by simply throwing their refuse into the sea.

"Furthermore, this village has no sewerage system, hence sewage from all the houses here flows direct into the sea," Kg Air Tanjung Aru headman Manap Abdullah told Bernama.

According to Manap, despite the fact that the village is no squatter settlement and has basic facilities like water and power supply, it is still difficult to educate the residents not to throw rubbish into the sea.

This happened despite the countless advice and reminders issued by the authorities to the villagers

However this is set to change via the development programme mapped out by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, to be implemented by the Kota Kinabalu City Council (DBKK).

RM10 MILLION PROGRAMME

The RM10 million programme took off the ground several months back. It is to provide facilities and infrastructure like a jetty as well as sewerage and garbage disposal systems.

"We wish to change the image of Kg Air Tanjung Aru, that is frequently associated with (anti-social) problems to something which can bring benefits to the villagers, Kota Kinabalu city and the whole of Sabah.

"We want to turn this village into an attraction for foreign tourists who have not seen a floating settlement in their respective home country," said DBKK Director-General Dr Chua Kim Hing.

Dr Chua said no villagers are to be relocated under this development programme as the settlement is to remain at its present spot.

He said among the facilities to be built at the village are a handicraft centre and a multi-purpose hall for the staging of cultural performances.

Dr Chua said the residents are expected to economically benefit from the move to make Kg Air Tanjung Aru a tourism product.

According to Manap: "More than 80 percent of the villagers have given their nod for this development programme as it does not involve relocating the residents. It is hoped that the village's negative image can be shed".

LIFESTYLE

"We are used to this lifestyle," said a Kg Air Tanjung Aru resident Reman Serimin, 41.

He agrees that the development programme would make the village more comfortable to live in.

Reman hopes that the changes expected to occur in the village would not burden its residents as many of them are from the low-income group like fishermen and blue-collar workers in the public and private sectors.

Collina Masidin, already has plans to set up a stall selling grilled fish after the development project is completed.

The 36-year-old part-time referee with the Sabah Football Association (Safa) welcomes the implementation of any development programme as long as it benefits the village's residents.

-- BERNAMA

RM858m for Tourism Ministry to 'sell' Malaysia

By Vasantha Ganesan
bt@nstp.com.my


September 8 2007


THE tourism sector has been allocated RM858 million to implement various programmes, including the building and upgrading of tourism facilities as well as diversification of tourism products.

The Ministry of Tourism will allocate part of the amount to Tourism Malaysia to market and promote Malaysia next year.


"What we have done so far has managed to fill up hotel rooms in Kuala Lumpur to the maximum capacity as seen by the occupancy in July, August and (anticipated) this month," director general of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said.


"Next year, Tourism Malaysia will shift the concentration from Kuala Lumpur to other destinations to include Penang, Langkawi and East Malaysia," he said.


Further, some RM200 million has been provided under the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, managed by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd to promote tourism activities in Sabah and Sarawak.


Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Ivo R Nekvapil welcomes the move to introduce a new category of visa that provides easy entry for business travellers and a longer stay.


The move to Indian and Chinese nationals to apply for multiple entry visas (MEVs) from where they reside or work will further spur the tourism industry.


"This is a good sign as it makes it easy for business travellers to do work and visit the country at the same time," he added.


The easing of visa facility will be for a start made available in international financial centres, such as New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore, effective January 1 2008.

ssshenzoong is a troll
I think you all can recognize it from the number of his post
From now on just ignore him until the real tai ko sze come, delete his posts and banned him

Tak payah past tense lah :D

Tulah... disebabkan dua tiga orang Malaysia takkan 27 juta penduduk Malaysia perlu dipersalahkan....Org Malaysia pun sama... mat Indon ni lah mat indon tu lah ..mesti buang sikap ni.

SALAM guys, am planning to visit Malaysia again probably in November this year primarily to watch Sampras-Federrer match scheduled on the 22nd of Nov. Can anybody confirm this?

I usually fly passing by Singapore cause my aunt is a resident there and got some singaporean and malay friends as well. Does anyone know the venue?

Am planning to visit PJ and Genting again too.

Thanks bros for any info regarding the match...:)

SALAM guys, am planning to visit Malaysia again probably in November this year primarily to watch Sampras-Federrer match scheduled on the 22nd of Nov. Can anybody confirm this?

I usually fly passing by Singapore cause my aunt is a resident there and got some singaporean and malay friends as well. Does anyone know the venue?

Am planning to visit PJ and Genting again too.

Thanks bros for any info regarding the match...:)

pls follow this thread abskess http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=523597

i think u should contact fairul. He's a tennis maniac. Too bad i'm overseas by then. Anyhow, have fun...

^^ Thanks a lot bros :)

@ssangyongs, are you from muntinlupa? pinoy?

Hope tosee you all guys soon...:)

pinoy ako rin. pero talaga dont know how to speak fluent tagalog anymore. Have been 12 years here.

Hehehehe, nice to know that bro...:)

RM16b tourism projects for growth region

By Zaidi Isham Ismail
bt@nstp.com.my


September 29 2007

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Saturday/Nation/EASCOS.xml/Article/Current_News/BT/Images/btgraph4/tourism.jpg


TOURISM has been identified as one of the most promising sectors to spearhead growth and development of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

Petroliam Nasional Bhd's (Petronas) vice president of corporate planning and development division, Datuk Nasarudin Md Idris, said the other potential sectors are oil, gas and petrochemical; manufacturing; agriculture; education; and other enabling sectors.


"The ECER is poised to become a tourist and destination hub due to its beautiful mainland, waterfalls, caves, turtles, art and craft, beaches, coastal and island tourism, eco-tourism and others.


"More than half of this region is covered with forest areas, which could also boost cultural tourism and highland activities," Nasarudin told reporters at the Petronas headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.


He said 32 tourism projects and programmes, with an estimated investment value of RM16 billion, had been earmarked, with capacity to generate 40,000 new jobs.


Some of the projects include mainland coastal tourism, eco-tourism, urban and cultural heritage tourism, cross-border tourism, sustainable island tourism and homestay/kampung stay programme.


Nasarudin was unveiling the ECER masterplan, which covers Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Mersing in Johor.


State-owned Petronas has been tasked by the government to prepare the masterplan to develop the ECER, the third high-growth region identified by the government after the Iskandar Development Region and the Northern Corridor Economic Region.


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will launch the ECER in both Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru on October 29 and in Kuantan on October 30.


Nasarudin said foreign tourist arrivals in the ECER are expected to increase, especially from South-East Asian countries and the Middle East.


He said Malaysia is expected to receive 55 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2020,compared with 16.4 million tourists in 2005. Out of the 55 million, 7.4 million tourists are expected to visit the ECER.


"Domestic tourism, however, will remain the highest contributor in the ECER where 21.4 million Malaysians are expected to visit compared with 8.3 million in 2005."


Nasarudin said demand for accommodation in Malaysia and the ECER will increase threefold in the next 15 years. In 2020, ECER will contribute 14 per cent of the 23.3 million projected hotel guests in Malaysia.


For the agriculture sector, Nasarudin said, a palm oil industry cluster will be established at the Kuantan port city to develop an integrated crude palm oil, biodiesel, biofuel and oleochemical activities.


The palm oil industry cluster in Kuantan would comprise bulking facilities and logistics support, and the major investor would be Felda Proctor & Gamble.


In the petrochemical sector, RM1.3 billion worth of investments is expected from the private sector for the Kertih Plastics Park, which will generate 2,000 jobs.


With regard to manufacturing, RM10 billion is expected to be invested in food and halal processed products, boatbuilding and repair, automotive and transport equipment, rubberwood and heavy industries, among others.

long article, VMY is going to be a record year

01-10-2007: Spotlight on Visit Malaysia Year II

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

Visit Malaysia Year 2007 (VMY) got off to a slow start, says CIMB Research, which started promoting the VMY 2007 theme a year ago. It was confident the country could then easily pull off a 15% rise in tourist arrivals to 20.1 million. But the year got off to a bad start as floods in Johor deterred some tourists.


VMY 2007 arrivals
To recap, VMY 2007 is not merely about attracting tourists and their spending power, but also about celebrating Malaysia’s 50th anniversary of independence. The government pulled out all the stops to ensure the event is a success.

It has succeeded by all accounts though earlier in the year, there were serious misgivings about the country’s target of 20.1 million tourists for 2007. Before the start of the year, the target did not seem overly ambitious, being just 15% higher than the estimated 17.5 million arrivals for 2006.

But tourist arrivals in the early part of the year appeared to be somewhat behind expectations, partly because of floods in Johor which were the worst in 100 years. For a while, we were concerned that VMY 2007 would turn out to be a disappointment. Fortunately, our fears were unfounded.

Tourist arrivals have been respectable from the very start of the year, with January arrivals up 12% on-month and 18% on-year. But the real pick-up was seen in May when arrivals surged more than 30% on-year. First half arrivals of 10.7 million were 25% higher on-year, 10 percentage points higher than the government’s target for full-year growth.

Tourist receipts have been even stronger with 1H proceeds rising 46% on-year to RM24 billion or 53% of the full year target of RM45 billion. The jump in tourism is backed by anecdotal evidence of high Kuala Lumpur hotel occupancy of over 90% in July and Aug as tourists packed the capital during the Golden Jubilee Merdeka celebrations.

In fact, tourist numbers for Malaysia recently overtook Singapore’s and are closing in on Thailand’s.


Winning sectors
Many industries are beneficiaries of the higher tourist arrivals — tourism, airlines, tolled highways, hotels, retail and consumer sectors. Transport companies are winners from VMY as air travel makes up 21% of total transport and domestic airfares amount to 3% of tourists spending.


Airlines
AirAsia’s Malaysian passenger traffic soared 42% to 4.5 million in 1H07, driven by strong demand growth which was supported by higher capacity.

MAS is also one of the key beneficiaries of increased passenger traffic into Malaysia. In July, MAS’s international passenger load factor rose to 75.6%, against an average of 70.5% in 2Q, reflecting the onset of summer travel demand and heightened sales initiatives.


Tolled highways
As 75% of tourists coming to Malaysia arrive by road and another 10% of tourism spending goes to local transportation, highway concessionaires will benefit from greater usage. PLUS Expressways’ North South Expressway captures traffic from Singapore and Thailand and is the main highway used for intercity travel.

Traffic on the highway grew 6.9% yoy in the first eight months of 2007 versus growth of only 2.3% in 2006 and 0.3% in 2005. Traffic volume growth on the highway was given a boost this year by the absence of a toll hike and the government’s pledge to maintain petrol prices.

Our forecast of 3% traffic growth for PLUS in 2007 appears to be conservative as the group’s three highways have recorded double that growth in January-August.


Hotels
KLCC Property’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel has enjoyed a jump in occupancy rates from 80%-85% a year ago to 90% recently while room rates have surpassed RM600/night vs RM500-RM550/night last year.

Genting Highlands, which has 10,000 hotel rooms and is a major tourist destination in Malaysia, recorded a 12% on-year increase in arrivals to 10 million in 1H07. This is a record for the highlands, which is an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. As a result of the surge in arrivals, Resort World’s hotel occupancy rates jumped 14% y-o-y to 86% in 1H07.


VMY 2007 extended to Aug 08
Two factors will sustain the momentum of VMY 07 beyond this year. VMY 07, as its name implies, was supposed to end on Dec 31, 2007. But the government extended the event to a year after the 50th Independence-Day celebrations as this year is Malaysia’s Golden Jubilee and celebrations are intended to last an entire year. This means that VMY 2007 will end on Aug 31, 2008.

Also, in the recent 2008 Budget, the Finance Ministry allocated a larger amount of RM858 million for the implementation of various tourist programmes, including the provision and upgrading of tourism facilities as well as the diversification of tourism products. This figure is far bigger than the RM149 million set aside for promotional efforts under the 2007 Budget.

An extended VMY 2007 is certainly good news, not only for sectors that will benefit from continued high inflow of tourists, but also for the overall economy and general sentiment.

As we elaborated in our Nov 6 2006 note, the VMY 2007 programme is not just about economics but also politics. Also, as we explained in the Malaysia Strategy piece we released on June 27, 2007, we are increasingly of the view that general elections will be held later rather than sooner, perhaps in 2H 2008 or even the early 2009 deadline. It is hoped that an extended VMY 2007 will buoy spending, corporate profits and consumer sentiment.

Furthermore, the VMY programme will help put the country on the tourist map, furthering Malaysia’s longer-term tourism ambitions.


Best proxies for VMY 2007
In our view, the best proxies for VMY 2007 include transport companies such as AirAsia, MAS and PLUS Expressways as well as tourism-related companies such as Resorts World and KLCC Prop.

AirAsia’s budget travel business has gained from its capacity expansion that will allow it to accommodate higher demand. MAS has enjoyed a marked increase in its international passenger load factor while PLUS’s traffic volume growth this year is double our expected rate.

A prolonged VMY 2007 will benefit Resorts which is already enjoying record arrivals. KLCC Property’s Mandarin Oriental hotel and Suria KLCC shopping complex are also direct beneficiaries of increased tourism.


AirAsia
AirAsia’s network around Asean will also benefit from the success of VMY 2007, helping the low-cost carrier to fill more seats as more planes are delivered. AirAsia is also increasing its penetration into southern China, where the boom in travel demand is pushing Chinese tourists all across South-East Asia and beyond.

The impending launch of AirAsia X’s long-haul flights to Australia and China will also ride on the success of the VMY 2007 campaign and bring tourists into AirAsia’s shorthaul network. Although fuel prices threaten to spoil the party, AirAsia is extremely leveraged to US$ depreciation and very sensitive to higher fuel surcharges.


KLCC Property
The company owns the best real estate in Malaysia, primarily buildings around the Kuala Lumpur City Centre including the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Other prime assets held by the group include the 5-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel, arguably the best and most popular hotel in Kuala Lumpur, and Suria KLCC shopping mall which is the premier shopping destination in Malaysia.

The Mandarin Oriental and Suria KLCC are both beneficiaries of higher tourist arrivals as profitability of hotels is leveraged to room and occupancy rates while Suria KLCC derives 10% to 15% of its earnings from revenue sharing with tenants.


MAS
As the national airline, MAS is one of the key beneficiaries of increased passenger traffic into Malaysia. On top of that, active yield and load management will begin to show results.

In July, MAS’s international passenger load factor rose to 75.6%, against an average of 70.5% in 2Q, reflecting the onset of summer travel demand and heightened sales initiatives.

High fuel costs are manageable in a strong demand environment as fuel surcharges are raised. The main share price catalyst is a set of strong 2H results, which will increase confidence that MAS is on course for sustained profitability.


PLUS Expressways
We maintain PLUS Expressways as an OUTPERFORM as the company is one of the main beneficiaries of the rise in travel during VMY 2007.

Traffic volume growth for the Jan-Aug period was double our full-year growth forecast of 3%. The three domestic highways, coupled with its existing three overseas highway ventures (one in India and two in Indonesia) and two local highway acquisitions (Elite and Linkedua), will transform the group into a regional player with new recurring income streams.

Dividend yields remain a draw at 5%-6%.


Resorts World
Resorts owns Genting Highlands resort, arguably Malaysia’s largest tourism attraction which is expected to attract 20m visitors this year.

With a 10,000-room inventory, Resorts is hitting 90% average occupancy, pointing to its appeal to both domestic and foreign tourists.

This is undoubtedly positive for its casino gaming operations, which are riding on higher headcount and spending per head. Improving yield management will underpin bottomline growth.

Other catalysts include potential M&A activity, capital management initiatives and likely upward revision in its dividend policy.

SOURCE : THEEDGEDAILY (http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_5a7c25e1-cb73c03a-16f52610-1c51579b)

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_5c0c29df-cb73c03a-16f52610-de922583/1/Spotlight-VMY_2.jpg

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_5c0a92c4-cb73c03a-16f52610-68baa484/1/Spotlight-VMY_3.jpg

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_5c0b81c8-cb73c03a-16f52610-5d6d64df/1/Spotlight-VMY_1.jpg

Tourism M’sia wins triple gold awards

BALI: The Malaysia: Truly Asia campaign has clinched the first triple gold awards at the annual Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) Awards.

It bagged gold in the broadcast media, print media and website categories at the award presentation ceremony on Sept 28.

ISC Group president Austen Zecha said in a statement: “Pata is recognised as the region’s leading travel trade association. To be shortlisted is already an honour in itself; to win an award in not one but three different media categories is simply icing on the cake.”

He noted that there had been a three-fold growth in tourist arrivals and tourism spending since 1999, when the ISC group was awarded the Tourism Malaysia account.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/10/16/business/p6-tourismi.JPG
From left: ISC interactive services deputy COO Jordan Chua, media director Josie Lim, Tourism Malaysia D-G Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg and ISC ad director Zuleika Azizi with the Pata awards

“This and more than 25 international awards won to date bear testimony to the sound strategy and effectiveness of the campaign,” he added.

This year’s competition attracted a record 339 entries from 132 travel and tourism organisations.

Push for edu-tourism in Malaysia

DUBAI, Fri.:

The Malaysian Higher Education Ministry is pushing for edu-tourism where tourists with social visit visas are allowed to take up short-term courses while enjoying their stay in Malaysia.

Prof Datuk Dr Hasan Said, Director-General of the Higher Education Department, said other countries have already come up with such a concept which had indirectly encouraged tourism.

“The ministry too would like to promote this. Come visit our country and please also study there,” he told Bernama here.

Hasan said that short-term courses could benefit tourists from the Middle East, who spend their summer vacation in Malaysia, with some staying for three months.

Normally the Arabs would travel with big families and thus could take advantage of the long stay in Malaysia by sending their children for short-term courses like English courses or those relating to information communication technology (ICT), he said.

Last year, Malaysia attracted more than 186,00 tourists from the Middle East and aims to entice 300,000 this year.

Hasan was in Dubai recently to open the Malaysia Higher Education exhibition and seminar.

He said that after the short courses, they might be attracted by Malaysia’s capability and the quality of the programmes and might want to send their children to study in Malaysia later.

He said that previously, those who went to Malaysia under social visit passes were not allowed to take up courses managed by institutions of higher learning there.

“By allowing them to take up short courses we are indirectly promoting tourism and at the same time encouraging them to return later for longer courses,” he said, added that the ministry was not only targeting the children but also the parents to take up stort courses.

“Maybe they want to learn about religion, we can ask our Islamic university to organise something. Maybe they want to know about Islam Hadhari, we can organise a short course for two or three weeks on that.

said.

“On a smaller scale, some of the colleges have already done this. But now we are going on to the big agenda, We feel that first of all, we want to promote tourism and secondly it will be an initial investment for future higher education,” he said.

He said Malaysia would like to see more students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) studying in the country because currently their number was small.

“When these students go back home they become policy makers or heads of department and thus Malaysia and UAE can stengthen their relationship,” he added.

4th Malaysia International Fashion Week kicks off
by Soo Wern Jun
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


KUALA LUMPUR: The fourth annual Malaysia International Fashion Week 2007 (M-IFW ‘07) — this year’s premier platform for promoting Malaysia’s fashion talents to the world — took off at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.

Organised by the Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (Mifa), M-IFW ‘07 which will be running until Sunday will showcase creations from various renowned designers in Malaysia on runway shows, cocktail events, gala evenings as well as the prestigious Malaysian International Fashion Awards.

The four-day event launched yesterday by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai will also host the revamped mifa8 competition, mifa8 Fashion Forward.

“I believe this fashion week will be a new trade for tourism and will encourage designers to grow to a higher standard. Fashion is not just about beautiful outfits, but at the same time, it is a good marketing platform in promoting Kuala Lumpur as a fashion platform,” said Lim.

“With M-IFW ‘07 being the sole fashion week in Malaysia this year, we have the ideal opportunity to really take our core mission — which is to promote Malaysian fashion designers to the world and to bring the world to our homegrown talent — to the next level as we continue to consolidate Kuala Lumpur’s standing as a major Asia-Pacific capital with a constant flow of innovative fashion leadership and inspiration,” said Mifa CEO Syeba Yip.

Drawing some of the best designers in the region, M-IFW aims to give these designers a platform to showcase their collections to buyers, media and industry heads from around the world.

“Fashion is not just about styles and designs; it is an expression of culture. While models walk down the runway, each of us will be able to see a part of ourselves in these models as what they wear indirectly speaks to us individually,” said Mifa chairman Heah Sieu Lay.

Among the other highlights of M-IFW ‘07 are KL Six — a showcase of the work of Malaysia’s renowned fashion designers presented by The Edge and theSun, a fashion showcase by Carven Ong, an Islamic Fashion Festival and various other runway shows.

How many tourists so far between Jan- Oct '07 ? :D Can we achieve 23 million this year ?

Tak payah past tense lah :D

Tulah... disebabkan dua tiga orang Malaysia takkan 27 juta penduduk Malaysia perlu dipersalahkan....Org Malaysia pun sama... mat Indon ni lah mat indon tu lah ..mesti buang sikap ni.

But I do not understand why they can not be called ‘Indon’. Is there any other bad meaning or funny sound it? Any body can tell me?

I think local news paper usually uses this term. Just like Aussie for Australian, Britton for Britain citizen, Kiwis for New Zealand, and Hongky for Hong Kong. We use this term with regard of our BM language. They should understand this. Just like us don’t care of what ever term is they call us because we understand that is their language.

Malaysia Calls For Cultural Exchange Among Islamic Countries


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Cultural exchange between and among Islamic countries ought to be considered for immediate implementation in the next three years from now, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said today.

He said that since cultural exchange programmes were relatively high in terms of cost, "perhaps we could suggest a few to start with between Islamic countries in the East and those in the Middle East".

"We in Malaysia, for instance, know very little of what are fashionable cultural highlights in the Middle East despite the select and limited satellite broadcasts we receive from brand-name TV stations that in turn have their own bias and prejudices," he said.

Rais was speaking at the Plenary Session of the 5th Conference of Islamic Ministers of Culture in Tripoli, Libya, today. The text of his speech was faxed to Bernama here.

Rais also said that there was a need for a comprehensive listing of all lost treasures of Islam which were now in the possession of various hunters of fortune who obtained these artifacts via dubious and perhaps illegal means.

"I am not of course referring to those items that are already legitimately owned through purchases by various renowned museums and collection houses. What is pinpointed here is the vast pre-war and post-war spree that were effected to loot Islamic treasures," he said.

Rais also said that Islamic nations were now largely poised for change but a few were confronted with issues of uncertain changes.

He said some were able to adjust to these fast changing cultural landscapes while others were sadly left behind in the abyss of strictures on non-conformity.

"It is our view that vast changes within the electronic and media spheres were set to change the way we govern and the way we react domestically and internationally," he said.

-- BERNAMA

But I do not understand why they can not be called ‘Indon’. Is there any other bad meaning or funny sound it? Any body can tell me?

I think local news paper usually uses this term. Just like Aussie for Australian, Britton for Britain citizen, Kiwis for New Zealand, and Hongky for Hong Kong. We use this term with regard of our BM language. They should understand this. Just like us don’t care of what ever term is they call us because we understand that is their language.

I reckon it is very demeaning to the Indonesians. Frankly speaking, you should never address a Hongkonger as Hongkie, a Chinese as Chink, a Japanese as Jap. These were all terms given by the former colonial masters of the west. We certainly don't want to have this colonial syndrome that calls ppl names. ;) other terms such as aussie and kiwi are what they call themselves, they take pride in them. I'm not so sure about "Britton".

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The tourist ringgit is expected to ring Malaysia's coffers to the tune of RM44.5 billion this year.

The figure, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, was based on the targeted 20.1 million tourist arrivals in the country.

He said it constituted an increase of RM8.3 billion compared with last year when the tourism revenue totalled RM36.2 billion.

"I'm confident of the total tourism revenue target, based on what tourists spent on shopping alone for the first six months of the year.

"Between January and June, tourists spent RM6.8 billion in tourist ringgit compared with RM3.6 billion for the same period last year, indicating an 86.3 per cent increase.

"I hope the Malaysia Year End Sale 2007 (M-YES) will help promote the country as a shopping haven," he told a news conference today to announce the month-long sale which will be launched on Dec 1.

The highlights of the sale include "It's a Girl Thing Shopping Fair" and a "Journey Through Time" watch and jewellery exhibition.

Tengku Adnan said: "We are looking at the various shopping trends of tourists to boost the sale.

"For example, tourists from India buy lots of electronic items while those from other countries spend on jewellery."

Singling out The Gardens and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the two newest shopping malls in the city, he said they could enhance a unique shopping experience for tourists.

He also said that a "Best Decorated Mall" contest with the theme "Christmas Magic" would be held on Dec 5-26 to encourage participating malls in the Klang Valley to create the best possible festive shopping ambience.

"We hope the shopping malls will put on a good show to lure more customers as we are working with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to encourage funding for window dressing, among others," he added.

On extending the "late night sales" past midnight for selected malls nationwide during the M-YES event, Tengku Adnan said it would depend on the response of shoppers.

-- BERNAMA:lol:

I reckon it is very demeaning to the Indonesians. Frankly speaking, you should never address a Hongkonger as Hongkie, a Chinese as Chink, a Japanese as Jap. These were all terms given by the former colonial masters of the west. We certainly don't want to have this colonial syndrome that calls ppl names. ;) other terms such as aussie and kiwi are what they call themselves, they take pride in them. I'm not so sure about "Britton".

Shall we ask our local English news paper to not use these colonial terms?

PNB Ready To Help Sabah With Homestay Tourism Product


KOTA KINABALU, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is ready to help Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) establish a homestay tourism product as a franchise business in the state.

Chairman of PNB Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said homestay programme had the potential of becoming a franchise business considering Sabah's powerful and attractive tourism pull.

"Homestay is a good programme and we are ready to work with Secdo to develop it as a franchise business."

Under the concept of a homestay programme, tourists get to stay and enjoy their visits in traditional homes and among people who have opened up their homes to the tourists.

"If tourists are given the assurance that a homestay has quality especially in terms of hygiene, convenient accommodation and food, I feel that the concept can be developed and we can work with Sedco to make it a success," Shahrir told reporters after the launch of a seminar here today on the franchise business by Sabah's Minister of Industry Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.

He said PNB was also ready to help Sabah government market its herbal products through franchising via its newly introduced "Forest Secret" outlets.

"We will repack the herbal products found in Sabah before marketing them through our Forest Secret outlets," he said.

Fashion show kicks off Batik Festival

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Batik Festival kicked off at Kuala Lumpur City Centre here last night with a fashion show by local batik designers.

Organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia under the Malaysia Batik – Crafted For the World movement, the festival will feature daily fashion shows and batik bazaars at various shopping malls here.

The festival, launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, will end with the Grand Final of Piala Seri Endon batik design competition.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/11/24/nation/n_03batik.jpg

Another highlight of the festival is the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition 2007 from Nov 30 to Dec 2 at the KLCC Esplanade.

Yayasan chairman Nori Abdullah urged the public to take part in the festival as it also has family events and children’s programmes.

She also invited the public to join the Batik Fun Walk for Cancer, which will raise funds for Penyayang Pesakit Kanser and the Cancer Link Foundation.

During the launch, Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor also presented a batik shirt that he wore in the International Space Station to Najib.

The shirt will be displayed at the batik exhibition at the KLCC Esplanade.

Red Arrows are back

http://www.nst.com.my/Tuesday/National/2094753/insidepix1


SUBANG: After four years away, the Red Arrows came roaring back across the skies of Malaysia yesterday.

The Royal Air Force's world-famous aerobatics team gave a short preview of what it has in store for this year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima '07) exhibition yesterday when they arrived at the Subang air base.

The nine distinctive red BAE Systems Hawk aircraft flew in arrowhead formation, their trademark as the team's name implies.

This was followed by a sequence of high-speed turns and manoeuvres and the release of colourful smoke from the aircraft.

Such is the discipline of the team members that they even taxied to their positions on the tarmac of the air base in tight formation.

Squadron leader Jas Hawker said the team would do a heart-shape display for the Malaysian crowd at Lima.

"We are doing this as a sign that we love the Malaysian people. The Red Arrows have been well received by the crowd in the past," he said.

Hawker, who is back to perform after an eight-year break, said he and the eight pilots even brought their wives to Langkawi because it was a beautiful place.

Langkawi is the team's final stop after a year-long tour covering the Middle East and Asia.

Those who are unable to visit Langkawi for Lima will be able to catch the Arrows' display on Thursday. The team will perform a 23-minute show over Subang from 3pm.

Included in the display will be the team's famous "Fountain Split" manoeuvre in which the aircraft will fly straight up in formation before splitting in various directions.

Red Arrows has given 4,000 displays in 53 countries since it was formed in 1965.

Royal Malaysian Air Force Air Div 1 commander Maj Gen Datuk Jusof Embong said the appearance of the Red Arrows would further strengthen the ties between Britain and Malaysia.

Joining the Red Arrows in showing off their skills in Langkawi will be the RMAF's own Hawk, Su-30MKM Flanker, MiG-29N Fulcrum and F/A-18D Hornet aircraft pilots as well as the Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran (Hindi for sun- rays) aerobatics team.

The Fulcrum and Hornet aircraft are no strangers to Lima.

November 27, 2007 18:24 PM

Tourism Industry Set To Steam Ahead With Spas


By Azril Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Spas have become the latest trend within the tourism industry, and the country should not let up on this opportunity to steam ahead in the sector.

Spas have become a priority for tourists, in as far as their holiday destination package is concerned, said Asia Spa and Wellness Festival 2007 organizing chairman William Ng.

"The demand for the spa as part of the tourist attraction in the country is increasing. More and more tourists, agencies and tour groups are asking for the spa to be part of their programme when visiting the country.

"Nowadays, spas are as important as theme parks, shopping malls and the transportation system in a country's tourism infrastructure.

"If we do not have these facilities, we will be left behind," Ng told Bernama in an interview Tuesday.

Throughout the Southeast Asia region, he said, tourists were flocking to Indonesia and Thailand, partly because of the attraction of the traditional Balinese and Thai spas.

To expand and improve the spa and wellness facilities in this country, Ng is organising the second Asia Spa and Wellness Festival 2007 in collaboration with the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH).

The three-day festival begins on Friday while the award gala night is on Saturday, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Ng said that as the spa and wellness industry in Malaysia was in its infancy, he hoped that the festival could promote awareness among local and foreign tourists that spas in the country were on par or even better than others in the region.

"To achieve this objective, we have set a strict benchmark for industry players to motivate spa operators to excel and win awards based on international standards," he added.

The festival comprises three components: Asian spa and wellness centre exhibition; products and services, and a professional summit conference for industry players.

This year's theme focuses on creating spas within hotels and resorts to tap the thousands of tourists, as a clear-cut strategy to promote the Malaysian spa as an additional tourism product overseas.

MAH vice-president Shaheen Shah Mohd Sidek said that in collaboration with Ng, the association had invited six travel writers specialising in spas to be judges at the festival.

Amongst the judges is Travel Weekly UK specialist writer David Hutchinson.

With the participation of the judges, Shaheen said it was hoped that the Malaysian spa would thus benchmark itself on an international level.

"People are getting more health-conscious. It has become the latest trend as urbanites want to get away from the hustle and bustle of their daily working lives to relax, recuperate and recover," he said.

-- BERNAMA

The Year End Sale Is about to begin, in fact some stores have already started preview sales for their card holders.
My cousin from Melbourne is coming over just for this, he buys nearly a years supply of clothes and makes his suits here every year. Its the reasonable price, good variety and great shopping environment that makes him come back every year. We don't realise how great KL's shopping is until a guest says "Wow I want to come again"

Sentral: Jawatankuasa khas pantau program promosi Kuala Lumpur


KUALA LUMPUR: Dalam usaha memacu industri pelancongan di ibu negara, Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan Kuala Lumpur (MTPKL) menubuhkan jawatankuasa khas yang ditugaskan memantau serta menyelaraskan program mempromosikan Kuala Lumpur secara lebih bersepadu.

Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur yang juga Pengerusi MTPKL, Datuk AB Hakim Borhan, berkata jawatankuasa yang menghimpunkan wakil agensi kerajaan, badan korporat, sektor pelancongan dan wakil perhotelan itu akan terbabit secara langsung aktiviti yang dilaksanakan.

Beliau berkata, 21 ahli badan penasihat MTPKL akan dibahagikan tugas bagi menyelaraskan tiga jawatankuasa iaitu Zon Pelancongan serta Produk Pelancongan, Acara dan Festival selain Promosi dan Pemasaran.



"Sebelum ini aktiviti atau program berkaitan pelancongan yang dijalankan syarikat atau agensi kerajaan diadakan berasingan dan menerusi jawatankuasa ini, diharap promosi dijayakan lebih efektif.

"Diharap usaha bersepadu semua pihak mampu menjadikan Kuala Lumpur bandaraya pelancongan tersohor dan produk pelancongan unggul setaraf bandaraya utama lain," katanya selepas mesyuarat ahli badan penasihat MTPKL, di sini baru-baru ini.

Pada majlis sama, MTDKL menyerahkan sumbangan 250 jubah kepada Imam Besar Masjid Negara, manakala 100 helai lagi untuk Masjid Jamek Bandaraya bagi kegunaan pelancong yang mengunjungi masjid berkenaan.

AB Hakim berkata, kedua-dua masjid yang menjadi tumpuan pelancong itu mengalami masalah kekurangan jubah hingga menyebabkan kebanyakan pelawat merungut apabila terpaksa menanti giliran terlalu lama.

"Diharap sumbangan ini dapat mengatasi rungutan pelawat luar. Sebagai contoh di Masjid Negara yang dianggarkan menerima 1,000 pelancong sehari sedangkan jubah yang ada hanya 200 helai," katanya.

Sementara itu, beliau berkata, purata penginapan hotel di Kuala Lumpur bagi tempoh Januari hingga Jun tahun ini sebanyak 6.7 peratus menjadikan jumlahnya 75.4 peratus berbanding tempoh sama pada 2006 iaitu 68.7 peratus.

"Jika dihitung, antara Januari hingga Jun tahun ini bilangan pelancong mencecah 10.1 juta dan dianggarkan hingga akhir tahun ini lebih 75 peratus daripadanya memilih Kuala Lumpur sebagai destinasi pelancongan.

"Jumlah penawaran bilik penginapan di Kuala Lumpur merangkumi bilik sedia ada, dalam pembinaan dan sudah mendapat kelulusan adalah 53,773. Mengikut Pelan Struktur Kuala Lumpur 2020, keperluan bilangan bilik penginapan dijangka meningkat kepada 83,755," katanya.

We don't realise how great KL's shopping is until a guest says "Wow I want to come again"

compared with singapore, which one you think better? just ur opinion lah....

compared with singapore, which one you think better? just ur opinion lah....



before.... yes, spore was far better than us, now we are catching up....

cheap stuffs, expensive stuffs, real stuffs and pirate stuffs..we have all...

(i know u ask travellator but i want to butt in also..he he)

Kementerian arah henti tarian barongan, endang
Oleh: HELMI MOHD. FOAD

PUTRAJAYA 3 Dis. – Kementerian Pelancongan mengarahkan semua promosi pelancongan membabitkan persembahan kebudayaan yang berasal dari Indonesia seperti tarian barongan dan endang dihentikan sementara ekoran kontroversi yang ditimbulkan oleh aktivis budaya dari republik itu.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor berkata, ini bagi membolehkan kontroversi tersebut diredakan dan penyelarasan dibuat oleh Kementerian Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan dengan pihak terbabit di republik berkenaan.

‘‘Benda ini (barongan) memang wujud di Johor, kalau lihat sejarah nenek moyang kita menjelajah dari satu pulau ke pulau dengan membawa budaya dan cara hidup seperti tarian tradisional dari Indonesia yang kini menjadi sebahagian seni budaya di negara ini.

‘‘Zaman dahulu mana ada sempadan antara Malaysia, Indonesia, mana ada pasport dan tidak ada pun sistem Imigresen,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan program berkhatan beramai-ramai di Hospital Putrajaya di sini hari ini.

Beliau ditanya mengenai demonstrasi oleh sekumpulan aktivis budaya Indonesia di depan Kedutaan Malaysia di Jakarta baru-baru ini bagi menyatakan bantahan kerana negara ini didakwa ‘mengambil’ tarian barongan atau dipanggil ‘reog ponorogo’ dari republik itu.

Tengku Adnan berkata, semasa negara ini mempersembahkan tarian endang di Osaka, Jepun baru-baru ini, pihaknya juga telah mendapat surat daripada Kementerian Luar dan Kementerian Kebudayaan Indonesia yang mengingatkan bahawa tarian tersebut berasal dari republik berkenaan.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya bersedia untuk duduk semeja dalam satu jawatankuasa membabitkan Menteri Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim dan Menteri Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Indonesia, Jero Wacik bagi menyelesaikan pertikaian itu kerana ia membabitkan tarian nusantara.

Mengulas kesan perhimpunan haram oleh Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) kepada sektor pelancongan, Tengku Adnan berkata, setakat ini tiada sebarang agensi pelancongan membatalkan tempahan pelancong asing.

‘‘Kita telah mengaktifkan unit khas yang bertugas memantau keadaan seperti kejadian tersebut bagi dimaklumkan kepada ejen-ejen pelancongan kita di luar negara.

‘‘Setakat ini kita maklumkan bahawa keadaan adalah selamat walaupun media antarabangsa telah membesar-besarkan kejadian tersebut,” katanya.

Sementara itu, program berkhatan beramai-ramai dianjurkan Pusat Komuniti Parlimen Putrajaya dengan kerjasama Hospital Putrajaya membabitkan sebanyak 150 kanak-kanak akan berlangsung sehingga Jumaat ini.

December 03, 2007 23:25 PM

No More Barongan, Endang Dances At Tourism Promotion Activities


PUTRAJAYA, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Cultural performances originating from Indonesia, such as the "Barongan" and "Endang" dances, are to be shelved from Malaysian tourism promotion activities due to the controversy raised by cultural activists from the republic.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today the decision was taken to ease the controversy while the matter was sorted out by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry with the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

"The (barongan) dance thrives in Johor. If we look at history, our forefathers who migrated here had brought the culture and way of life from Indonesia to be part of our culture.

"In the old days, there were no boundaries between Malaysia and Indonesia, no passports, and not even an immigration system," he told reporters after opening a mass circumcision programme at the Putrajaya Hospital, here.

His announcement came in the wake of a demonstration by Reog Ponorogo (Barongan in Malaysia) activists outside the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia recently, disparaging Malaysia for what it claimed was promoting the dance as part of the Malaysian culture.

Of late, the Indonesian media has also been critical of Malaysian songs and dances performed at official functions and over television which it claimed belonged to the republic.

Tengku Adnan said he had received letters from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Culture and Tourism which pointed out that the Endang dance (which thrives in Negeri Sembilan) performed by a Malaysian entourage in Osaka recently was an Indonesian dance.

He said he was prepared to join a committee involving Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim which would discuss the controversy with Indonesian State Minister for Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.

On the impact of the recent Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) illegal rally on the tourism industry, Tengku Adnan said that so far there had been no cancellation of tour packages to Malaysia.

"We have activated a special unit to monitor the situation and would inform our tour operators overseas of developments. We have told them that the situation is safe despite the foreign media blowing the issue out of proportion," he said.

-- BERNAMA

^^good, let them die with their proud 'holy' cultures.....jenis manusia apa ntah indon-indon ni...!menyombong tak tentu pasal....

pastu pulak, tourism malaysia tu tak tahu malu ke tarian etnik yang paling-paling-paling minoriti pun nak tunjuk? dah takder idea lain dah? sigh....

before.... yes, spore was far better than us, now we are catching up....

cheap stuffs, expensive stuffs, real stuffs and pirate stuffs..we have all...

(i know u ask travellator but i want to butt in also..he he)

thanks...:) i think shopping in singapore (if i were singaporean) is much cheaper, really....short safari pants in singapore just s$50 compared to malaysia rm100++, yes if it is converted to malaysian ringgit, still we got the same price, but we still have to see how much our income compare to them...if for a same job position, singaporean got s$3000 while we got rm3000..?

Persembahan barongan tidak wajar dihentikan

Oleh: NORZAINURA ABDUL MAJID

BATU PAHAT 5 Dis. – Para penggiat tarian barongan di daerah ini berharap agar persembahan tarian barongan tidak wajar dihentikan untuk semua promosi pelancongan kerana ia merupakan tarian warisan yang perlu diketengahkan.

Ketua Barongan Sinar Warisan, Sungai Nibong, Naim Marjani, 66, berkata, selama ini tidak pernah timbul dakwaan menidakkan bahawa tarian barongan berasal dari Indonesia kerana ia sememangnya diwarisi daripada datuk nenek moyang yang berasal dari Tanah Jawa.

Tambahnya lagi, kontroversi yang ditimbulkan oleh aktivis budaya dari republik itu sepatutnya tidak terjadi.

‘‘Sememangnya tarian barongan ini dan legenda mengenainya adalah berasal dari Indonesia kerana nenek moyang kita berasal dari sana dan tarian tradisi ini masih terus diwarisi dari dahulu sehingga kini,” jelasnya kepada Utusan Malaysia.

Beliau berkata, sepatutnya para aktivis budaya itu berasa bangga kerana kebudayaan warisan itu masih terus mendapat tempat di hati para peminat seni di Malaysia.

Beliau yang memimpin kumpulan Barongan Sinar Warisan sejak tiga tahun lalu berkata, minggu lalu dia didatangi oleh serombongan krew daripada stesen Televisyen Republik Indonesia (TVRI) yang membuat rakaman tentang tarian barongan di Johor.

Menurutnya, kedatangan krew tersebut adalah untuk melihat sendiri persembahan barongan yang di persembahkan di sini dan tidak pula timbul mengenai asal usul tarian kesenian tersebut.

‘‘Malah mereka melahirkan rasa kagum dan bangga kerana tarian barongan itu wujud di sini dan mendapat tempat di hati semua peminat seni tradisi tanah air,” jelasnya.

Menurut Naim, kumpulannya telah membuat lebih 50 persembahan tarian barongan di dalam dan luar Johor dengan bayaran antara RM500 hingga RM1,800 untuk setiap persembahan.

Seorang lagi penggiat seni tarian barongan, Jupri Wagimon, 70, juga melahirkan rasa sedih sekiranya tarian barongan ini dihentikan sementara kerana ia adalah merupakan pendapatan sampingan para penggiat barongan.

Beliau mendakwa mewarisi tarian kesenian barongan ini daripada ayahnya, Wagimon Sukiban yang berasal dari Tanah Jawa yang berhijrah ke Tanah Melayu dan telah bertapak di daerah ini sejak 80 tahun lalu.

Tambahnya, persembahan barongan yang mereka buat adalah dalam masa 15 hingga 20 minit sahaja dan masih mengekalkan lagu jawa kuno seperti dahulu.

Beliau yang memimpin kumpulan barongan Nirmala Reyok, Sungai Nibong Darat Semerah dekat sini melahirkan rasa kesal apabila para aktivis budaya Indonesia menimbulkan kontroversi mengenainya.

‘‘Ia sepatutnya tidak berlaku malah mereka patut berasa bangga kerana masih ada lagi tarian warisan yang terus dipertahankan meskipun ia dipersembahkan di Malaysia,” jelasnya.

Tambahnya, kebanyakan penggiat tarian barongan di Johor ini adalah warga emas dan mereka mewarisinya daripada nenek moyang terdahulu dan terus dipertahankan agar warisan seni kebudayaan ini tidak hilang begitu sahaja.

Selama ini katanya, tidak pernah timbul kontroversi mengenai dari mana datangnya tarian barongan ini dan ia sepatutnya terus dipertahankan bukan dijadikan isu yang boleh menjejaskan perpaduan

I just don't understand why our Indoensian counterparts are so petty and stingy, too proud and very argumentative over a very subjective matter. To my knowledge, there are a lot of Malaysian Jawanese in Johor and Selangor...are they saying that these people can't celebrate what is part of their heritage just because they live in malaysia, they are no longer entitle to celebrate the culture of their roots?? This is absolutely ridiculous..gotta say, I heard these on the news in the states..let me tell yah one thing, it was somehtin that was laughed about...and it's not at us!

TMM 2007 catat rekod
Oleh: HASHNAN ABDULLAH

PUTRAJAYA 28 Dis. – Tahun Melawat Malaysia (TMM) 2007 berjaya mencatat rekod apabila jumlah kedatangan pelancong mencecah 20.7 juta orang dengan nilai pendapatan melonjak kepada RM45.7 bilion.

Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor berkata, walaupun tahun ini masih mempunyai tiga hari lagi, namun jumlah kedatangan pelancong telah mencecah 20.7 juta orang berbanding 20.1 juta pelancong yang disasarkan.

Beliau berkata, perolehan pendapatan yang disumbangkan pelancong asing dan tempatan sepanjang TMM 2007 juga melepasi sasaran RM44.5 bilion dengan nilai direkodkan RM45.7 bilion.

‘‘Kejayaan ini adalah hasil kerjasama pelbagai pihak termasuk agensi kerajaan dan media yang bertungkus-lumus mempromosikan aktiviti dan program sepanjang TMM 2007,” katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Karnival itu bermula hari ini bagi mempromosikan pakej dan destinasi pelancongan domestik kepada orang ramai serta pameran kraftangan, kebudayaan dan juadah semua negeri di Malaysia.

Putrajaya adalah destinasi terakhir Karnival Gegar selepas menjelajah lapan lokasi di seluruh negara iaitu Pulau Pinang, Melaka, Teluk Intan, Perak; Kedah, Seremban, Kuantan dan Batu Pahat di Johor.

Pelbagai aktiviti menarik disusun sepanjang karnival ini antaranya klinik drift, pertunjukan ular, gusti lengan, persembahan orang api, uji bakat penyampai berita, pengacara dan pelakon serta diakhiri Konsert Gegar dan sambutan Tahun Baru 2008.

Bagaimanapun, Tengku Adnan berkata, kementerian akan terus berusaha untuk meningkatkan jumlah kedatangan pelancong walaupun sasaran sudah dicapai.

‘‘Ini kerana sebagai salah satu sumber utama pendapatan negara, kami tetap akan meneruskan agenda untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebagai satu destinasi pelancong paling menarik di dunia,” katanya.

Beliau juga berkata, berikutan kempen TMM 2007 dilanjutkan sehingga 31 Ogos 2008, pelbagai program dirancang bagi memastikan sasaran kemasukan pelancong 21.5 juta dengan jumlah pendapatan RM50 bilion untuk tahun depan, mampu dicapai.

‘‘Program 2008 memang tidak sebanyak tahun ini tetapi masih ada beberapa program bertaraf antarabangsa,” katanya.

January 03, 2008 14:25 PM

3,000 Use New Langkawi-Thailand Ferry Service In Two Months


LANGKAWI, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- About 3,000 people, mostly foreigners, have used a new Langkawi-Thailand ferry service since it was launched last November.

The joint venture between Mahsuri Travel & Tour (Langkawi) Sdn Bhd and Tigerline Travel Trang plies daily between Kuah and Trang with a stopover at Lipe (Pulau Adang).

Mahsuri Travel & Tour managing director Che Isa Aji said 95 percent of the passengers are visitors from Thailand and foreign tourists in that country who extend their travel to Langkawi.

"The service is particularly popular with tourists holidaying at Phuket," he told Bernama here.

Two 131-passenger vessels are being used for the service, and the fare for the one hour 45-minute trip is RM95.

Departure from Kuah is 9am daily, with the return trip leaving Trang at 4pm.

Expressing satisfaction with the response so far to the service, Che Isa said it is aimed at promoting Langkawi's duty-free status as well as Visit Kedah Year 2008.

Mahsuri Travel & Tour is a fully Bumiputera-owned tour agency and has 20 tour buses.

-- BERNAMA

I just don't understand why our Indoensian counterparts are so petty and stingy, too proud and very argumentative over a very subjective matter. To my knowledge, there are a lot of Malaysian Jawanese in Johor and Selangor...are they saying that these people can't celebrate what is part of their heritage just because they live in malaysia, they are no longer entitle to celebrate the culture of their roots?? This is absolutely ridiculous..gotta say, I heard these on the news in the states..let me tell yah one thing, it was somehtin that was laughed about...and it's not at us!

indonesian called us Malingsia (Maling means 'thief') coz believing their culture being stolen by malaysian.
not only barongan..they claim others stuff like batik..angklung..etc belong to them.malaysia must says clearly 'this item origin from Indonesia..'

i think they dont know much about malaysia culture and heritage.:)

maybe after this, MAS and SIA kebaya uniform also
be another issue raised by them. :)

Dont forget about food......
Maybe they will claim sate is theirs...

I guess they just TOO PROUD for their own good and quite hostile....instead of trying to get along, they tend to rip apart what little connections that we have between SEA countries, have we heard Thailand claiming some of our culture 'stolen' from them? Blind pide ism usually a reflection of somethin deeper....insecurity and lack of education (not just books and paper qualifications but common courtesy and common sense).

What about other things.
Would they claim theirs as well as these things not only available in Malaysia but in Indonesia.

1) Keris
2) Silat
3) Songket (We have Terengganu songket, theirs Palembang songket)
4) Ketupat

Anything more we want to add on....

BUT I would say this is all about "Jealousy"

Why don't they claim rap & hip-hop as theirs?

I have argue with them a lot! (about cultures). But till now, can't accept the real situation. I stop the arguement after i know that their mind can't be changed!

they've even made their own rasa sayange ad now :nuts:

I have argue with them a lot! (about cultures). But till now, can't accept the real situation. I stop the arguement after i know that their mind can't be changed!

kan aku dah kasik tau awal2 lagi....:lol:

they've even made their own rasa sayange ad now :nuts:

they even make a fake 'anti-indonesia (http://ihateindon.blogspot.com)' blog...kononnya org malaysia yang buat. dia ingat org malaysia ni banyak sgt masa nak layan diaorg..

btw, aku g jakarta 18hb ni.....ada nak pesan apa2 tak?:D

they've even made their own rasa sayange ad now :nuts:

Really?? OMG, what a copycat.:lol:

WOw ,,,, many sentence typed in this thread really show us WHAT TRULY ASIA is ?? :eek: ....

I was expecting to read any tourism campaign, or pics, or maybe nice news .... instead of some kinda un-rellevant discussion :)

WOw ,,,, many sentence typed in this thread really show us WHAT TRULY ASIA is ?? :eek: ....

I was expecting to read any tourism campaign, or pics, or maybe nice news .... instead of some kinda un-rellevant discussion :)

If you want to read or see about the tourism news, you can turn to page 1,2,3,4 or 5.

This one also 4 you. Look, how TRULY ASIA I am right??

Malaysian tourism joining 3rd Bacolod TravelXchange


ISITORS to the 3rd TravelXchange 2008 in Bacolod City on February 1 to 3 will learn first hand of the multi-tourism attractions of Malaysia.

Joining the travel fair for the first time in Bacolod, the Malaysian Tourism Board will provide information on all holiday aspects of this Asean neighbor from accommodation to transportation; from shopping to golfing; from spa to arts; from culture to night life and from meetings to retirement programs.

Also participating for the first time is A' Famosa, a world class resort in Malaysia. The 520-hectare integrated resort has an animal safari, water world, golf course, cowboy town theme park, a resort hotel complex with villas and condominiums.

Malaysia has always been in the forefront of the tourism industry and leads all Asean countries in terms of tourist arrivals and infrastructures. Their presence in TravelXchange 2008 will certainly stimulate travel between western Visayas and Malaysia.

Executives from the Malaysian Tourism Board and A'Famosa will be on hand to present their tourism and travel products and answer and questions.

Meantime, event manager Selrahco Management Services announced that it will be raffling off 3 weekend holidays to Cebu inclusive of airfares and accommodations in deluxe hotel properties. Weekend stays in exotic resorts and five star hotels will also be given away as prizes.

The 3rd TravelXchange 2008 is supported by the Department of Tourism, Pagcir, Provincial Tourism Office, City of Bacolod, Skal International, Cebu Pacific, Panay News, Sikat TV and Robinson's Place.

Other confirmed participants include Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau; Bohol Divers Resort & Convention Center; Microtel Inns & Suites; DOT Region X; Grand Regal Hotels; Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Mactan; White Rock Beach Resort, Zambales; Mountain Woods Resort, Subic; Amadeus; Travel Club; Baron Travel; Sunbee Travel & Tours, Cagayan de Oro; Mallberry Suites, Cagayan de Oro; Royal Caribbean Cruises, Casino Hotel Bacolod and Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

edited

WOw ,,,, many sentence typed in this thread really show us WHAT TRULY ASIA is ?? :eek: ....

I was expecting to read any tourism campaign, or pics, or maybe nice news .... instead of some kinda un-rellevant discussion :)

we are just having a tea break.....:D

WOw ,,,, many sentence typed in this thread really show us WHAT TRULY ASIA is ?? :eek: ....

I was expecting to read any tourism campaign, or pics, or maybe nice news .... instead of some kinda un-rellevant discussion :)

Hello Ilham rj.

Your Indonesian forumers are More TRULY INDONESIA IS.
Haven't you read your Indonesian thread lately.

If u and ur family are planning to visit to Malaysia, you and all Indonesians are always welcomed.
We'll never GANYANG you.

target tahun 2008 = 25.5 Million tourists :cheers:

Ministry to target 'high quality' tourists

By LOH FOON FONG

PETALING JAYA: The Tourism Ministry will be targeting more "high quality" tourists this year in an effort to boost the country's tourism industry, said its deputy minister Donald Lim.

The Ministry hopes to target these tourists who spend RM4,000 to RM5,000 and who do not create problems to the country, he said.

To increase the number of tourists in this category, the ministry hopes to target more tourists from the Middle East, eastern China, Korea and Japan, he said.

Quality tourists also include the 5% of tourists who are here for meetings and it is hoped that the percentage will increase to 8% this year, said Lim after launching the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition by famous artists from China here.

The Ministry hopes to increase tourists from other parts of Asia and the world from 15% in each category to 20% and reduce tourists from South-East Asia from 70% to 60%, he said.

"We are targeting 25.5 million tourists for this year and hope to bring in foreign revenue of RM50bil," he said.

It is also hoped that the average stay will increase to eight nights from last year's 6.7 nights, he said.

By 2010, the ministry hopes to achieve half of the tourists from SEA and the rest from other parts of the world, he said.

WOw ,,,, many sentence typed in this thread really show us WHAT TRULY ASIA is ?? :eek: ....

I was expecting to read any tourism campaign, or pics, or maybe nice news .... instead of some kinda un-rellevant discussion :)

buddy I suggest you do some homework first and figure out where this was instigated. Seems it's okay for Indonesians to come up with ridiculous measures to tarnish it's neighbour but we can't say a word or express how we feel of the ill natured antics by our neighbour? Let me ask you my friend...who has a show that humourised sensitive issues and poke fun at Malaysia? let me remind you...'republik mimpi'..the show is purely of bad taste (distorting facts) and shows disrespect to Malaysia..are we supposed to be immuned from all kinds of issues raised by your country? Bout origins of cultural performances...police brutality etc etc...
So please...don't play angelic my friend. I truly find you a creative and very resourceful contibutor to this forum and we truly appreciate that but try to understand our frustrations. The 'drama' neve ends from across the straits...as much as we'd love to ignore sometimes it does irks us a bit and nudging the nerves. Republik mimpi is a TV show..therefore has a lot of impact on the audience, sadly the facts are twisted, doctored and played into a humour at our cost...your neighbour, Malaysia and NOT MALINGSIA...check out YOUTUBE and you find the attitude of your fellow countryman were VERY hostile towards Malaysia with such words as 'anjing', 'kafir'...and zionist! and Republik Mimpi has a lot to do with it...

it is bit irrelevant...talkin bout Malaysia/Indonesia issue but we don't have a special thread to chat bout the matter...so here we are..and NO we don't have an 'anti-Indonesia' thread here nor YOUTUBE. The one on YT was created by 'non' malaysian. Check it out, pretty obvious.

it is bit irrelevant...talkin bout Malaysia/Indonesia issue but we don't have a special thread to chat bout the matter...so here we are..and NO we don't have an 'anti-Indonesia' thread here nor YOUTUBE. The one on YT was created by 'non' malaysian. Check it out, pretty obvious.

Guys,

We are all Malaysians and MALAYSIAN-MINDED people.
We don't need "anti-Indonesia" thread.
It's really waist of time.

More Brits Making Sarawak Second Home

KUCHING, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- More people from Britain are making Sarawak their second home under the "Malaysia: My Second Home" (MM2H) programme since it was introduced in 2002.

Sarawak Immigration director Datuk Robert Lian said his department had approved 41 applications for social visit passes from Britons under the MM2H programme.

"Last year alone, 17 Britons applied to participate in the programme," he told a press conference here today.

He said until last year, the department had issued 105 social visit passes to MM2H participants, including 45 issued last year.

"Taiwanese formed the second largest number of MM2H applicants, with 18, followed by Indonesians, with 13."

Lian also said that 4.1 tourists visited Sarawak last year with Bruneians comprising the largest number, coming through Sungai Tujuh in Miri, Tedungan and Pandauan in Limbang and Mangkalap in Lawas.

Tedungan is the busiest entry point as the small town, located in northern Sarawak, is nearest to the Brunei district of Temburong.

"Sarawak, especially Miri and Limbang, are popular with shoppers from Brunei as there are many shopping complexes with a wide variety of quality products," said Lian.

"Brunei's stronger currency than the ringgit is another factor that draws Bruneians to spend their money on accommodation and food in Sarawak."

Lian said Indonesians formed the second largest number of visitors to Sarawak, with many looking for job opportunities or visiting their relatives, and Indonesian parents visiting their children studying at the higher learning institutions.

He said to cater to the increasing number of visitor arrivals, the department would build two Immigration complexes at Lubok Antu in Sri Aman and Biawak in Lundu, both at the Sarawak-Indonesian border, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

He added that the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes near Tedungan in Limbang and at Mangkalap in Lawas were expected to be ready this year, while the construction of the CIQ complex in Sungai Tujuh, 38km from Miri, would begin this month and should be completed in two years' time.

edited

[QUOTE=langit;17534246]Guys,

Malaysia do have issues with its neighbour - Singapore,
More hot-issues and still unsolved.

But both Malaysian nor Singaporean didn't fight - hacking server, malingsia.com , flag burning, street demonstration...etc.

I hope any issues arise should be discuss between both leader.


peacee.:) :) :)

Tourism Ministry ups arrivals target from 21.5m to 22.5m
By Kathleen Tan, 11 Jan 2008 7:16 PM
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism Ministry has proposed to the Cabinet committee on tourism to raise this year’s target for tourist arrivals to 22.5 million, based on hotel occupancy rates last year.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said on Jan 11 the targeted tourism revenue for 2008 is RM50 billion compared to last year’s target of RM47 billion. The government estimated 21 million tourist arrivals for last year.

He said the ministry hopes to attract more tourists with higher spending power including those from the Middle East who “spend three to four times more than the average tourist, which is around RM2,300 per person".

Speaking to reporters after the launch of Sunway Pyramid’s “Blossoming of Spring” Chinese New Year celebrations, Lim said the ministry was targeting golfers from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and eastern China. There are 204 golf courses in Malaysia

While shopping malls would still be targeting Middle Eastern tourists, the ministry was also keen to attract tourists from eastern China. The ministry had proposed to Treasury to make more items duty free.

On real estate tourism, he said the government was considering giving permanent resident status to high-worth individuals with expertise in specialised areas where Malaysia is lacking. “However, these are still in the initial stages,” he said.

Lim said the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme was progressing well and would be targeting participants mainly from the UK, Japan and South Korea, who were the bulk of the 1,900 applications approved last year. This year, MM2H hopes to attract 3,000 people.

He said major investment opportunities lie in the island resorts, which were frequented by foreigners.

“Even for this coming Chinese New Year, the three-star to five-star hotel occupancy is insufficient due to the influx of Chinese and Hong Kong tourists. Hotels around KL are so fully booked that Chinese tourists have to stay in Shah Alam hotels,” Lim said.

Tourism players warned over hiring foreigners


By ELIZABETH LOOI & CHOONG MEK ZHIN

KUALA LUMPUR: Stern action will be taken against tourism industry players such as hotels and restaurants if they do not hire locals to serve customers.

“We will blacklist them, we will not grade them and we will ask the authorities not to renew their licences.

“The Cabinet has agreed that we should not have foreign workers as waiters or bellboys,” said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Tengku Adnan, who was at the launching of T-Station, a tourism information electronic booth, at Menara Kuala Lumpur on Monday, added that the secretary-general would send reminder letters to those concerned.

He said he had written to Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad on replacing foreign workers with locals as frontliners at international airports.

“I know the industry players prefer to hire foreign workers so that they do not have to pay EPF (Employees Provident Fund).

“I’ve told them to hire locals but they must increase the salary scale,” he added.

January 14, 2008 23:30 PM

Stern Action Against Employers Hiring Foreigners As Frontliners


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Stern action awaits employers in the services sector, including airports and hotels, should they fail to abide by the government's decision that only locals should serve as frontliners.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the action to be taken against them included disallowing them to bid for new government projects and to renew their licences, blacklisting them, and with regards to hotels, the ministry would cease grading them.

"We need to be firm, not just talk but no action, while the number of migrant workers continues to rise," he told reporters after launching the Travellers Station, a multi-service tourist information booth, at Menara Kuala Lumpur, here today.

The government recently barred foreign workers from serving customers directly at all airports, including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, (KLIA) so as to allow more locals to be frontliners.

Tengku Adnan said the industry players should to be more patriotic and provide more jobs to Malaysians rather then employ foreign workers.

He said the government would issue a letter to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad to ensure that its outsourcing companies would scout for local workers to replace foreign workers at the nation's entry gates.

-- BERNAMA

January 15, 2008 13:13 PM

PM To Rev Up SIC's F1 Promotion Campaign


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will officially kick off its domestic promotion campaign for the 2008 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix on Friday with a unique open-air launch by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the picturesque Esplanade Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur.

Marking the 10th edition, SIC general manager Datuk Azmi Murad said the event would, among others, display the 1999 Red Bull Sauber Petronas F1 car to symbolise the success story of SIC and Petronas in the sport.

"Fans will also be treated to a special video presentation of the official launch of the 2008 BMW Sauber F1 team, which was held in Munich yesterday to give first-hand information on the new car.

"We hope racing fans will join us at the Esplanade to witness this historical event," Azmi, who is also the Senior General Manager (Operations) of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, said in a statement on Tuesday.

First organised in 1999, the 2008 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix marks the 10th edition of the event and will be held from March 21 to 23 as the second round of the World Formula One Championship.

While the launch will feature only the 1999 car, the 2008 Formula One Roadshow, which will kick off at Mahkota Parade in Melaka next weekend, will feature the remaining F1 cars used by Petronas-sponsored racing teams until 2007.

"SIC would like to record its highest thanks and appreciation to Petronas for allowing us to use these F1 cars for the roadshows. It would definitely add more colour and substance to the roadshows," Azmi added.

After Melaka, the roadshow will move to Johor Baharu, Penang, Ipoh and the Klang Valley to woo fans to the race.

The SIC is offering promotional packages for ticket purchases under its 10 Thrilling Offers for the 10th Edition programme, which include one specifically designed for roadshow patrons. It is targeting 125,000 spectators for this year's race.

The 2008 F1 season officially kicks off with the Australian GP on March 14.

-- BERNAMA

Chinese TV network to air Malacca documentary

PETALING JAYA: Malacca gets the spotlight today as Melaka Documentary goes on air at China Central Television (CCTV), which has a few hundred million potential viewers.

Melaka Documentary is an informative show featuring the fascinating history of the city. It will be aired on CCTV4 (Astro Ch 334) until Jan 24.

The documentary is jointly produced by local production house VL Film Productions and CCTV.

VL chief executive officer Datuk Vincent Lye said the documentary was different because it was co-produced by the Chinese, who had hundreds of years of relationship with Malacca.

“We would like to see how the Chinese perceive the state. For many, especially students and educationists, I believe this documentary will answer some of their questions.”

A few key personalities are interviewed in the documentary. Among them are Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

There will be four episodes in the documentary. Each episode is 30 minutes long. It will air at 5pm and repeated at 11pm.

January 20, 2008 20:17 PM

Malaysia Will Push For Single Visa For Asean, Says Tengku Adnan

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will lobby with other Asean countries to adopt a single visa policy valid for all the 10 member states despite Myanmar's reluctance and security concerns of other countries, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Sunday.

He said Malaysia has been pushing for the policy since 2002 and hoped the matter would be taken up at the leaders' level during the Asean Summit.

One of the major hurdles for such a policy was Myanmar's reluctance due to its domestic situation while some other countries like Indonesia have travel restrictions due to security concerns, he said.

"Single visa will allow long-haul travellers to move around the region without much hassle. They usually come for two or three weeks and prefer to travel to more than one country," he told reporters after arriving for the Asean Tourism Ministers' Meeting which starts here tomorrow.

Tengku Adnan also said the US-imposed sanction on Myanmar also complicates matters as long-haul travellers include from the US and Europe.

Furthermore, he said, Myanmar has yet to enforce visa-free travel to Asean citizens despite all member states signing a visa exemption treaty last year which would allow citizens to enter and stay in member countries for a maximum of 30 days.

In 2007, Asean received 60.8 million international tourist arrivals, with the growth rate of 11 per cent.

He also said Malaysia was disappointed with the lack of progress and efforts from other member countries to undertake joint promotions of the region.

"We are not happy with fellow Asean members in promoting the region as a whole. When we go for overseas promotions, we don't only promote Malaysia but also other countries in the region," he said.

Tengku Adnan said many rounds of negotiations were held with other members of Asean to undertake joint promotions but the response has not been good.

"We can benefit more by promoting the region as a whole. There are certain attractions that we have but others don't and vice-versa," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Tourism to help change Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: With its rich natural beauty and mystique, Sabah has great potential to be a world-class tourist destination.

From being home to South-East Asia’s highest peak Mount Kinabalu to the diving haven of Sipadan, Sabah has many untapped natural attractions and with next week’s launch of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), tourism looks set to be the leading economic driver.

To the local industry players, tourism is the most sustainable economic sector compared with manufacturing or agriculture.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, who strongly believes that tourism will always remain a product that will bring in foreign exchange and provide steady income, said: “If you look at it, we have seen factories fold up and investors leave for cheaper labour markets like Vietnam or China, agriculture has its limits in terms of land available and locals hardly benefit from jobs in these sectors, unlike in tourism where the industry is driven by locals, basically in every aspect of the sector.

“This is where tourism will be sustainable and will bring direct and indirect benefits to the people in urban or rural areas,” Masidi said in an interview ahead of the launch of the SDC on Jan 29.

Currently the tourism sector employs 14,000 people directly and with greater focus on tourism under the SDC, the impact would be far reaching and affect other sectors particularly the service industry.

“The sectors that will feel the immediate effects are accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, entertainment and retail .

“The private sector is playing the lead role in developing the tourism sector while the state and federal governments are the facilitator and regulators by providing infrastructure, incentives and policy guidelines,” he said.

He noted that tourism in rural areas like Pekan Nabalu (near Mount Kinabalu) had benefited local folks who sold handicrafts, local fruits and honey. Sales of local handicraft amounted to RM138.7mil last year.

“This is the positive side of unreported expenditure and the money is returned to the local economy with great multiplier effect,” he added.

Remaining buoyant about Sabah’s tourism growth, Masidi said tourist arrivals increased by 14.4% growing from 1.8 million in 2004 to 2.2 million in 2007, he said, adding that they were targeting 2.6 million visitors by 2010.

Sabah has 115 direct flights a week from 15 cities across Asia and is now focusing on increasing the number of flights once the Kota Kinabalu International Airport renovation is completed by May 2009.

The state hopes to make its tourism products sustainable and open up more attractions for visitors to spend more time in the state.

The key challenge will be to increase physical development of appropriate tourism products especially in the rural areas to cater for the anticipated increase in arrivals.

“What is most important in our move to improve and beautify the environment is that we should be careful not to destroy coral reefs, wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

“Sabah’s tourism assets are its environment. We must preserve it for the long-term and we should not undertake environmentally damaging projects like the coal-fired power plant that could damage our coral reefs in Darvel Bay,” he added.

He said the state wanted to see more people investing in eco-tourism products of quality and value which not only protect and conserve the environment but generate employment and spin-off opportunities for the people.

“With the SDC, we are on gear five. We are on our way to become a major tourist destination with the heavy investments identified in the blueprint. We will be able to open up more islands in the east coast.

“There are 42 unexplored islands. We have more to offer than Sipadan,” said Masidi, adding that Sabah’s east coast tourism potential had hardly been exploited over the years.

Among the SDC’s highlights for development is to market Sabah as an exclusive holiday home destination, develop new tourism products anchored by signature resorts, encourage rural participation through community-based tourism, develop a one-district one-product programme, make the state a centre of excellence for tropical biodiversity research and to set up an arts and culture fund.

It has identified areas for immediate action, including providing basic tourism development infrastructure before moving into strengthening Sabah’s position as a premier eco-adventure destination through conservation, research and sustainable development of new tourism products.

The 18-year plan hopes to see Sabah being transformed into one of the most liveable places in Asia – a bustling metropolis in a tropical paradise.

Malaysia Voted Best International Tourism Destination

Written by Ozgur Tore
Thursday, 17 January 2008


For the second time in a row, Malaysia was voted the Best International Tourism Destination by the Global Traveler Magazine.

Malaysia beat other strong competitors including Italy, Spain, Thailand and United Kingdom.Global Traveler Magazine conducted the fourth annual survey of its readers from 1 February to 31 August 2007, with open-ended questions for the best in 49 categories of business and luxury travel. A total of 15,828 completed questionnaires were received. The questionnaires were made available as an insert in subscriber copies of the magazine and online at the Global Traveler website, www.globaltravelerusa.com/readersurvey.


For those who have been to Malaysia, this result comes as no surprise, as the country not only offers excellent nature, dream beaches and interesting sights, but at the same time an outstanding price-performance-ratio. Reisereport 2008, a service website for luxury trips at budget prices compares Malaysia to Italy (in second place): tourists often pay much less than 100 Euro per night for the best hotel in Kuala Lumpur, while in Rome, they easily pay 500 Euro or more for the same. Winners in other categories include Hawaii (Best US Destination), Singapore Airlines (Best Airline), Seoul Incheon Airport (Best Airport), SkyTeam (Best Airline Alliance), Hotel Bel-Air (Best US Hotel), Gleneagles, Scotland (Best International Golf Resort) and Mandarin Oriental (Best Hotel Chain in Asia). Mrs Ivana Trump from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) presented the awards in New York on 16 January 2008. Receiving the award on behalf of Tourism Malaysia was Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director General, Datin Dalilah Ahmad. The ceremony was attended by over 300 travel industry professionals, many of whom have donated to LLS. About Global Traveler
Global Traveler is the only ABC-audited American magazine for the international business traveler, with ABC paid circulation of 69,023. The magazine increased its frequency to12x/year effective with the January 2007 issue. For more information, visit Global Traveler’s website: www.globaltravelerusa.com

Malaysia Will Push For Single Visa For Asean, Says Tengku Adnan
Bernama, 20th January 2008
By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will lobby with other Asean countries to adopt a single visa policy valid for all the 10 member states despite Myanmar's reluctance and security concerns of other countries, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Sunday.

He said Malaysia has been pushing for the policy since 2002 and hoped the matter would be taken up at the leaders' level during the Asean Summit.

One of the major hurdles for such a policy was Myanmar's reluctance due to its domestic situation while some other countries like Indonesia have travel restrictions due to security concerns, he said.

"Single visa will allow long-haul travellers to move around the region without much hassle. They usually come for two or three weeks and prefer to travel to more than one country," he told reporters after arriving for the Asean Tourism Ministers' Meeting which starts here tomorrow.

Tengku Adnan also said the US-imposed sanction on Myanmar also complicates matters as long-haul travellers include from the US and Europe.

Furthermore, he said, Myanmar has yet to enforce visa-free travel to Asean citizens despite all member states signing a visa exemption treaty last year which would allow citizens to enter and stay in member countries for a maximum of 30 days.

In 2007, Asean received 60.8 million international tourist arrivals, with the growth rate of 11 per cent.

He also said Malaysia was disappointed with the lack of progress and efforts from other member countries to undertake joint promotions of the region.

"We are not happy with fellow Asean members in promoting the region as a whole. When we go for overseas promotions, we don't only promote Malaysia but also other countries in the region," he said.

Tengku Adnan said many rounds of negotiations were held with other members of Asean to undertake joint promotions but the response has not been good.

"We can benefit more by promoting the region as a whole. There are certain attractions that we have but others don't and vice-versa," he added.

Malaysia Will Push For Single Visa For Asean, Says Tengku Adnan

yesterday already posted by haze la nazrey.. :)

KL to host international tourism fair in June

KUALA LUMPUR: An international tourism fair will be held in June to bring the tourism industry to a higher level, said Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said.

The Asia International Tourism Fair (AITF) will be a platform for international buyers and sellers to showcase their expertise and products in one place.

“The ministry feels that the country needs an exhibition of this scale to bring our tourism industry to a higher level,” Lim told reporters after launching the Travel Preview Magazine Requisition on Tourism Articles Competition here yesterday.

“This is not like Matta Fair, which is more of a consumer fair.

“This international expo will see people from tourism industries across the world sharing pointers and views while showcasing their products and knowledge.”

Lim said the ministry contributed RM1mil for the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta), Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) and Malaysian Association of Bumiputra Tour and Travel Agents (Bumitra Malaysia) to organise the event in June.

On the competition, Lim said it would allow for feedback from the participants through their writings.

“Only with feedback can the industry and country improve,” he said.

The competition is open to all Malaysians aged 18 and above. Articles are to be written in Chinese in not more than 3,000 characters and involve travel-related issues such as travel experiences and tourists hotspots.

All articles must be submitted to MCTA by March 23. For details, contact 03-9200 5228 / 9578.

January 25, 2008 15:01 PM

Recall For Ineffective Tourism Malaysia Officers


By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- In view of the strong competition from regional countries in attracting tourism dollars, all Tourism Malaysia (TM) officers throughout the world have been told to achieve their respective annual target or face being recalled.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the officers must be on the alert as competition was getting tougher, with new players like Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as traditional rivals Thailand and Indonesia, stepping up their promotional campaigns and attracting large number of tourists.

Asked if it was true that seven TM officers from four countries were given show-cause letter, Tengku Adnan said they were told to explain why they were not able to achieve their target of tourist arrivals from the countries where they were stationed.

"Unless they can give a satisfactory explanation, we will recall them. I don't mind if the number of arrivals is less than targeted but the receipts are good," he said after hosting the Malaysian Night at the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) here Thursday night which was attended by about 1,000 delegates comprising players in the tourism industry and the media.

"If we don't get our act together, we will be left behind," the minister said.

He said that among the reasons cited for not achieving the target was political instability in their targeted countries, lack of flight connectivity and slowdown in the economy.

Tengku Adnan said the overall, he was satisfied with the majority of the 44 TM officers overseas, citing countries like China and India, which did very well and achieved the set target in terms of tourism arrivals and money spent.

He said 20.88 tourists visited Malaysia last year, with receipts increasing to RM46.7 billion while the target for 2008 was 21.5 million tourists and RM50.3 billion in receipts.

On the ministry's focus this year, Tengku Adnan said that while campaign branding like Malaysia Truly Asia would stay with new tagline "The Time is Now, The Place is Malaysia", they would promote destination-based tourism or individual products.

"People know about Malaysia but we need to promote specific locations or attractions. Malaysia is not just about Twin Towers. We can highlight places like Kelantan, Terengganu, Cameron Highlands, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi and Penang with specifics like food, eagle and shark feeding or the world's biggest sleeping Buddha in Tumpat," he said.

Tengku Adnan said more promotions would be conducted through media advertisements in targeted markets while more media familiariasation trips, including for the Thai press, would be arranged this year.

During his six-day stay here for the ATF and Asean Tourism Ministers meeting, Tengku Adnan also met executives from Bangkok Airways, Nok Air and Orient Thai Airlines to request them to fly to several destinations in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Muhammad Taiyab said Malaysia had the second highest tourist arrivals in Asia, after China, and the 12th largest in the world.

He said the various promotions undertaken by the ministry and the TM contributed to the increase in the number of tourists to Malaysia last year, which also coincided with the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

-- BERNAMA

IMO every country in the region should work together not just are competitors. Most of tourists coming to the region are not just going to Malaysia or Thailand,I think, usually they travel a whole region.

30 million visitors expected annually

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GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia expects to attract more than 30 million tourists annually in the next couple of years.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said tourists liked Malaysia as it was safe, the people friendly, the hotels were affordable and the food tasty.

"We want them to come and stay and shop as well.

"Where else can you find a five-star hotel charging less than US$200 (RM650) per night? This can only happen in Malaysia."

He said there was a need to build more hotels to cater to travellers, especially those from China and India.
Nor Mohamed urged Bumiputeras to take advantage of the influx of tourists by building budget hotels to cater to their needs.

Speaking after launching the 26-room D'Feringghi Hotel and Restaurant, Nor Mohamed said Bumiputera entrepreneurs could learn from the owner, JPK Sdn Bhd, how to operate hotels.



He urged those in the private sector and chamber of commerce and contractors' associations to work with JKP to ensure the success of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the state.

Hotel chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Noor Abdul Rahim said the management would construct another 20-bed dormitory to cater to the needs of guests, particularly budget travellers.

He added that new budget hotels would be built at Kompleks Bagan in Butterworth, Teluk Tempoyak in the southwest of the island and Pulau Aman.

Air cargo forum boon to tourism in Malaysia
Published: 2008/01/27


THE 24th International Air Cargo Forum (ACF) and Exposition that will be held in Malaysia in November this year is expected to generate millions of ringgit for the local tourism industry.

The International Air Cargo Association (Tiaca) secretary-general Daniel C. Fernandez said the ACF is the largest air cargo industry gathering in the world and is expected to attract over 5,000 delegates.

Based on the last event held in Asia, it was found that on average each delegate spends US$1,350 (RM4,374) per day.

"The event will give a tremendous boost to the local economy," he told reporters at the Air Cargo India 2008 event held here last week.

Fernandez is confident that Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) will organise the best ACF event ever since its inception in 1962.

MASkargo, the air cargo division of Malaysia Airlines, beat Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Osaka and Melbourne to host the event in Kuala Lumpur this year.

Fernandez said Kuala Lumpur was selected due to the various state-of-the-art facilities and five-star accommodation available at the show venue - the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

He also acknowledged the role played by the Malaysian Government in supporting the event.

This is the second time a South East Asian country has been chosen to host the event, which will be held from November 4 to 6.

It is expected to be attended by senior executives from various airlines, freight forwarders, shippers, airport management, ground handling agents, trucking companies, technology and equipment providers and the media.

Fernanadez said the next ACF event will be held in Amsterdam in 2010, followed by Atlanta in 2012.

May date for Malaysia’s first tourism trade show

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will hold its first international tourism trade show in May.

Themed Asia International Tourism Expo (Aite) 2008, the expo will serve as platform for local and foreign industry players to network and showcase their tourism products.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor said an exposition on such a scale was important in promoting a more efficient market in the travel trade.

“It acts as a catalyst of physical contact and exchange between buyers and sellers,” he said at a news conference here yesterday.

The exposition will showcase not only local but also international tourism products, with buyers and sellers from the Asian and European regions.

“It is the perfect place to explore new marketing trends and learn about foreign tourism products,” he said, adding that there were plans to make the exposition an annual affair.

Malaysian Association of Tour And Travel Agents (Matta) president Ngiam Foon, who was present, said, “Those who attend the expo will definitely have the chance to learn and experience more international tourism products.”

Aite 2008 is expected to be on par with the London World Travel Market, International Tourism Berlin and Arabian Travel Market expositions.

Some 200 buyers and sellers were expected to participated at Aite 2008, including car rental companies, hoteliers, health resorts and spas, ground transportation providers, and cruise lines.

Aite 2008, to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre here, is jointly organised by Matta, the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association, Malaysian Indian Tourism Association and Bumiputra Travel and Tours Association Malaysia.

The show, which will run from May 22 to 25 and includes two days of business-to-business sessions, will be open to public on the last day.

Bukit Besi kembali popular
Oleh Suhana Roslan
Berita Harian

http://www.bharian.com.my/Sunday/Destinasi/20080203093322/mainpix

CANTIK Tasik Bukit Puteri mampu memberi ketenangan kepada pelancong.

Pelbagai tarikan diwujudkan di sekitar kawasan bekas lombong tinggal seperti pembinaan UiTM, galeri, taman rekreasi dan sukan ekstrem

LOMBONG bijih besi yang dijumpai di Bukit Besi, Dungun, Terengganu pada 1916 oleh Ahli Kajibumi Jepun, Kuhara menjadikan kawasan itu terkenal sehingga ke luar negara.

Penemuan hasil galian itu menjadikan tempat berkenaan bukan saja dikenali, malah jumlah penduduk juga meningkat sehingga 6,000 orang termasuk 3,000 pekerja yang bekerja di lombong berkenaan.



Bagaimanapun, permintaan yang kurang terhadap galian itu menyebabkan keputusan muktamad dibuat untuk menutup lombong bijih besi pada 1 Oktober 1970.

Kawasan berkenaan pernah diusahakan kerajaan negeri sebagai produk pelancongan bagi memperkenalkan tempat bersejarah itu dengan menyediakan beberapa kemudahan tetapi agak malap kerana dipercayai kurang promosi.

Menyedari kawasan yang terletak 33 kilometer dari bandar Dungun dan 77 Kilometer dari Kuala Terengganu itu kaya dengan keindahan alam semula kadi dan berpotensi menjadi destinasi pilihan pelancong, beberapa projek termasuk penganjuran acara antarabangsa akan dilaksanakan di kawasan berkenaan.



http://www.bharian.com.my/Sunday/Destinasi/20080203093322/mainpix2



Antara projek mega yang akan dilaksanakan ialah pembinaan Kampus Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) yang mana peletakan batu asasnya disempurnakan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, hari ini.

Pembinaan kampus berkenaan akan menjadikan Bukit Besi sebagai pusat kecemerlangan akademik sekali gus menukar kawasan itu daripada suram, berkembang menjadi kawasan membangun.

Bagi pelancong pula, mereka yang bertandang ke Bukit Besi boleh singgah ke Rumah Nombor 1 iaitu bekas rumah Pengurus Lombong Bukit Besi yang bakal dijadikan Galeri Bukit Besi.

Galeri itu yang ditempatkan sementara di Pejabat Lembaga Kemajuan Terengganu Tengah (Ketengah) di sini, akan dibina semula dalam bentuk asal untuk mengekalkan kesan sejarah yang dikumpulkan sebagai tatapan kepada pengunjung bagi mendapatkan maklumat mengenai sejarah pembukaan Bukit Besi.

Galeri sementara itu dibuka kepada orang ramai dan antara bahan yang dipamerkan adalah maklumat, sejarah, peta, carta, foto, contoh penemuan batu dan peralatan menguji kandungan bijih besi.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kebudayaan, Belia dan Badan Bukan Kerajaan negeri, Datuk Din Adam, berkata pelbagai tarikan akan diwujudkan di kawasan itu dan pembinaan UiTM adalah langkah pertama peralihan keceriaan di tempat berkenaan.

Beliau berkata, Tasik Bukit Puteri yang masih belum dicemari dengan arus pembangunan akan dihidupkan semula menjadi taman rekreasi dan akan diperkenalkan sebagai salah satu tempat wajib singgah kepada mereka yang inginkan ketenangan selepas penat bekerja di bandar.

Katanya, aktiviti air akan diwujudkan di tasik berkenaan antaranya berkayak bagi memberikan impak yang lebih positif dalam memperkenalkan keindahan alam semula jadi itu kepada orang ramai terutama pelancong luar.

"Sebagai permulaan dalam mengetengahkan sukan berkayak, Kejohanan Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 2008 yang bakal berlangsung pada 29 Mei depan, menyaksikan lebih 120 atlit akan berkampung di kawasan itu untuk sukan berkayak sekali gus mempromosikan Tasik Puteri seiring dengan sukan ekstrem berkenaan.

"Bagaimanapun, kita akan pastikan kemudahan sedia ada seperti tandas, restoran dan surau akan dibaik pulih agar semua pihak boleh menikmati kesegaran dan keindahan tasik dengan selesa," katanya.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Bukit Besi, berkata acara itu akan menjana pendapatan penduduk kampung kerana mereka berpeluang berniaga secara kecil-kecilan malah mungkin akan diambil sebagai kakitangan untuk berkhidmat di UiTM berkenaan.

Tidak mustahil Tasik Bukit Puteri suatu hari nanti akan disenaraikan semula dalam destinasi pelancongan Terengganu dan dijadikan sebagai lokasi wajib singgah sekiranya tempat itu diberikan perhatian khusus dan promosi secara berterusan.


Bagaimana ke sana?

Pengunjung dari Kuala Lumpur yang memandu sendiri boleh menggunakan Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) dan masuk ke Jalan Jerangau-Jabor sebelum menuju ke bandar Al-Muktaffi Billah Shah, Dungun.

FAKTA: Bukit Besi

3 Februari peletakan batu asas UiTM Bukit Besi


Festival Air 1 dan 2 November 2008


Sukan berkayak di Tasik Puteri


3,000 penduduk di Bukit Besi


120 atlit sukan berkayak berkampung untuk Sukma


Berhampiran Padang Golf Tasik Puteri


Kebanyakan penduduk bekerja di kilang papan

Cetak artikel

Malaysia second most price competitive country in global tourism
Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has emerged as the second most price competitive country in the world in the travel and tourism (T&T) industry out of a total of 124 countries surveyed, says the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).

The WEF, often noted for its annual top-level meeting and discussions on current affairs and trends in Davos, Switzerland, also gave top marks to Malaysia’s participation at travel and tourism fairs and ranked the country at sixth position, which reflected the government’s strong commitment to promote the industry.

The WEF’s recently-released Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 (TTCR) also applauded the government’s high priority to T&T as well as Malaysia’s good road, railroad, airport and port infrastructure, and its domestic travel network.

It hailed Malaysia’s good ground transport infrastructure and excellent price competitiveness in very low ticket taxes and airport charges, low comparative fuel prices and a favourable tax regime.

Malaysia was also perceived as quite safe for tourists (24th overall) and in terms of the reliability of police services, the country was ranked 19th, on par with the United Kingdom but ahead of other developed countries like Spain (22nd), New Zealand (23rd), Portugal (25th), Ireland (29th), Belgium (32nd) and Italy (40th).

The report listed Indonesia as for the most price competitive country in terms of the T&T industry while the third most price competitive country after Malaysia was Bahrain and Thailand was fourth.

Malaysia gets thumbs up in travel survey
NST Online » 2008/02/10

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has emerged as the second most price competitive country in the world in the travel and tourism (T&T) industry out of a total of 124 countries surveyed, says the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).

The report listed Indonesia as the most price competitive country in terms of the T&T industry, while the third was Bahrain and Thailand was fourth.

The WEF, often noted for its annual top-level meeting and discussions on current affairs and trends in Davos, Switzerland, also gave top marks to Malaysia’s participation at travel and tourism fairs and ranked the country at sixth position, which reflected the government’s strong commitment to promote the industry.

The WEF’s recently-released Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 (TTCR) also applauded the government’s high priority to T&T as well as Malaysia’s good road, railroad, airport and port infrastructure, and its domestic travel network.

It hailed Malaysia’s good ground transport infrastructure and excellent price competitiveness in very low ticket taxes and airport charges, low comparative fuel prices and a favourable tax regime.

Malaysia was also perceived as quite safe for tourists (24th overall) and in terms of the reliability of police services, the country was ranked 19th, on par with the United Kingdom, but ahead of other developed countries like Spain (22nd), New Zealand (23rd), Portugal (25th), Ireland (29th), Belgium (32nd) and Italy (40th).

On another note, Malaysia was ranked relatively high by the WEF in terms of the quality of its educational system which can meet the needs of a competitive economy.

It was placed 10th out of the more than 100 countries surveyed and was behind countries or economies like Finland, Singapore, Iceland, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Hong Kong, Belgium and Taiwan.

Malaysia was ranked 22nd in terms of local availability of special research and training services in a sector dominated by the top five countries of Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States.

In terms of the extent of investment in employee training and development, Malaysia was ranked 17th.

Regarding the government’s efforts to reduce health risks from pandemic or widespread diseases, Malaysia was ranked eighth.

As for the stringency of environmental regulations, Malaysia ranked 25th and was 23rd in terms of clarity and stability of environmental regulations.

The survey covering Malaysia was compiled with the assistance of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia and the National Productivity Corporation.

Prof Klaus Schwab, executive chairman of the WEF, said in the TTCR 2007 that T&T was one of the world’s largest economic activities and it was also the leading industry in many developing countries.

T&T was also the fastest growing economic sector in terms of job creation worldwide and was estimated to have generated 10.3 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product and provided 234 million jobs or 8.2 per cent of total world employment, he said.

Schwab said most new jobs in developing economies were created in the T&T industry as the latter helped to diversify economic activity and created wealth and jobs in rural areas.

The TTCR 2007 also credited Malaysia for its effectiveness in marketing and branding campaigns to attract tourists, ranking it sixth after the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Barbados.



Malaysia was ranked 31st in terms of overall competitiveness in the TTCR 2007 T&T Competitive Index behind three other Asian countries or economies — Singapore (8th), Japan (26th) and Taiwan (29th).

Switzerland, Austria and Germany were the top three countries in terms of overall competitiveness based on the high marks given to their level of safety for tourists, health and hygiene, quality of human resource, transport and travel infrastructure, and rich natural and cultural attractions.

Meanwhile, the WEF will hold its Forum on East Asia in Kuala Lumpur on June 15 and 16 where 300 leaders from more than 20 countries will convene to debate the challenges and priorities that will ultimately shape the region’s future agenda. — Bernama

:):cheers:
Lonely Planet Lists Malaysia Among Top Destinations This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Lonely Planet, a widely read travel guidebook, has picked Malaysia as one of the world's top destinations for this year, with many of the hottest tourist attractions within the East Coast.

These tourist magnets included East Coast's wildlife parks encompassing Taman Negara, Lake Kenyir, elephant sanctuaries in Kuala Gandah as well as the Ma' Daerah Turtle Sanctuary Centre in Kemaman, Terengganu, said a statement issued by the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Secretariat here today.

Referring to the Lonely Planet's website, it said Malaysia was described as one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries to visit in South East Asia.

Malaysia is buoyant and wealthy and has moved towards a pluralist culture based on a vibrant and interesting fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous cultures and customs.

Aside from the gleaming glass towers of the 21st century, Malaysia boasts some of the most superb beaches, mountains and national parks in Asia.

"The jungle at Taman Negara is so dense that you could pass within metres of an animal and never know it," it said.

"The jungle here is claimed to be the oldest in the world: none of the Ice Ages had any effect here, and Taman Negara has eluded volcanic activity and other geological upheavals," it said.

Malaysia joins six other countries as best choice for a holiday.

The six countries include Armenia, Bhutan, Eritrea in East Africa, Montenegro in Serbia, Mozambique and Papua New Guinea.

Lonely Planet has published over 650 titles in 118 countries with annual sales of more than six million guidebooks.

Lonely planet bluelist : http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist/index.cfm?fa=main.viewList&list_id=11429

New mayor wants to beautify Malacca to boost tourism
Wednesday February 13, 2008
TheStar

MALACCA: New Historic Malacca City Council Mayor (MBMB) Yusof Jantan is hoping to make the city an even more cheerful place to enhance the tourism industry.

Yusof, 42, who replaces Datuk Zaini Md Nor who had held the post since April 2003, promised to continue the latter's excellent service.

“This will be a huge challenge for me because under Zaini the MBMB had achieved the Sustainable City Award three years in a row,” he said.

After the swearing-in ceremony witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam in Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh, on Monday, the incoming mayor talked about his vision of enhancing the city’s image.

“Malacca will be made more beautiful and cheerful at night with the installation of more LED rope lights, especially along the Malacca River and historical sites,” he said.

More flowering plants would also be planted around the city, he added.

Yusof holds a B.Acct (Hons) from Universiti Utara Malaysia. He first served as the branch manager of Public Finance Bhd in Johor in 1998, before moving on to become Kumpulan Perbadanan Kemajuan Tanah Adat Melaka (Pertam) general manager and Perbadanan Ketua Menteri Melaka general manager.

Zaini will take up the post of chief executive in National Solid Waste Management Corporation, under the Housing and Local Government Ministry in Kuala Lumpur.

Aga Khan (http://www.akdn.org/) Award for Architecture
Tanjung Jara Resort, Terengganu

http://www.tanjongjararesort.com/images/TJR_landing_01.jpg

Note :
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1977 to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Islamic societies. The Award recognises examples of architectural excellence throughout the Islamic world in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community improvement and development, restoration, reuse and area conservation, as well as landscape design and improvement of the environment. It is presented in three year cycles to multiple projects and is the largest architectural award in the world, with prizes totalling up to US$ 500,000. The Award is also unique in its approach, recognizing projects, teams and stakeholders rather than buildings and personalities.

The Award is associated with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

Spa Village Tanjung Jara scoops Conde Nast Traveller accolades
Kuala Lumpur, February 6, 2008
YTLcommunity

http://www.ytlcommunity.com/common/showimage.asp?imgid=86301

Spa Village Tanjong Jara continued its winning streak last night with the receipt of a prestigious award at the UK’s Condé Nast Traveller Annual Readers’ Spa Awards. The Spa Village was voted Best Hotel Spa in Asia Pacific and the Indian Subcontinent as well as ranking number two in the prestigious “best of the best” list of the World’s Top 26 Spas.

Resort Manager Adrian Chung was in London to collect the prestigious award on behalf of Spa Village Tanjong Jara. The glittering ceremony was held last night at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge and attended by the cream of the world’s spa industry.

Condé Nast Traveller Magazine is widely regarded as the most influential magazine in its field and seen as a bible for the discerning traveller. The Readers’ Spa Awards, now in their fifth year, are based on readers’ votes for spa facilities and services, individual approach, ambience and decor, body and facial treatments, amenities and products, exercise programmes, cuisine and finally quality of service and staff.

Over 14,000 readers voted for their favourite Hotel Spas, Day Spas and Medical Spas. Awards were distributed according to their geographical location, with the highest scoring spas, including Spa Village Tanjong Jara, also listed in The World’s Top 26; positioning the Spa Village brand amongst the world’s most asp rational spa destinations.

Sister property Spa Village Pangkor Laut, a previous winner of the World’s Best category, was also recognised for its excellence, voted in the top ten Overseas Spa Retreats in the world.

Spa Village Tanjong Jara’s accolades are a testament to the unique nature of the Malay healing culture found only in the east coast of Malaysia; Spa Village Tanjong Jara, like the rest of the Spa Village brand, honours the healing traditions of the region in which it resides. This is the second award received by Spa Village Tanjong Jara in recent months with leading luxury lifestyle magazine, Tatler having awarded the accolade of Most Innovative Spa in October 2007.

Spa Village Tanjong Jara set in Tanjong Jara Resort, a luxurious 5-star resort on the east coast of Malaysia, is a complex of elegantly designed structures that echo the intricate architecture of 17th century Malay palaces. The ancient heritage of Malay healing traditions and techniques are combined with oils and scrubs, created from handpicked natural local ingredients, to provide unique authentic spa experiences in this luxury spa retreat.

Dedicated to wellness and rejuvenation, this most innovative of spas seeks to provide spa goers with an individual and authentic encounter rooted in the ancient traditions of Malay healing culture.

For further press information please contact Ming Lee or Choong Chi-Ying on 603 2719 8168 or 603 2719 8366 respectively or minglee@ytlhotels.com.my / chiying@ytlhotels.com.my

Spa Village Tanjong Jara is a sister spa retreat to the world renowned Spa Village Pangkor Laut, Spa Village Cameron Highlands, Spa Village Kuala Lumpur and Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali. In Spa Village Tanjong Jara, as in every Spa Village around the world, each experience embodies the plot of paradise on which it is set. Spa Village Tanjong Jara nurtures traditional local remedies as elemental as the sun, providing ancient Malay treatments as soothing as a falling leaf.

Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand Among Cheapest Vacation Destinations for Scandinavian World Wide

By Gregers Moller
Scandinavian tourists get more for their money in Malaysia than anywhere else in the world. If Denmark is set to index 100, living costs for tourists in Malaysia is only 29.3 percent.

And out of the 10 most cost attractive destinations world wide, four of then are in South East Asia.
The Philippines is the second cheapest vacation destination with living costs set to 39,1 percent of the Danish index 100.
Indonesia is the seventh cheapest tourist destination on the list with index 49.5.
Thailand just made it among the top ten cheapest destinations with 55,4 percent of the cost of vacationing in Denmark.
If you live in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia or Thailand, you can reverse the figures to see how much more it will cost you to go on vacation to Denmark compared to taking a domestic vacation.
Denmark, Sweden and Finland are not so expensive compared to other countries. Japan and Norway are more expensive destinations. And the UK is the most expensive on the list.
If a vacation in Denmark is three times more expensive than a domestic vacation, then a vacation in the UK is four times more expensive than staying in South East Asia. Excluding your ticket to get there.
The index is created by the Scandinavian currency exchange specialist X-change found on http://www.x-change.dk/
The full list goes:
Nr Country Index
1 Malaysia 29,3
2 Fillipinerne 39,1
3 Kenya 41,1
4 Peru 43,7
5 Bulgarien 45,0
6 Colombia 45,7
7 Indonesien 49,5
8 Venezuela 53,4
9 Lithauen 55,1
10 Thailand 55,4
11 Sydkorea 56,3
12 Kina 57,0
13 Tjekkiet 57,1
14 Chile 57,3
15 Bahrain 57,8
16 Mexico 58,1
17 Sydafrika 59,4
18 Indien 60,2
19 Israel 60,4
20 Ukraine 61,0
21 Letland 61,6
22 Taiwan 64,4
23 Rusland 64,8
24 Rumænien 65,6
25 Forenede Arabiske Emirater 66,1
26 Grækenland 68,0
27 Slovakiet 69,0
28 Singapore 69,9
29 New Zealand 70,0
30 Canada 70,4
31 Ungarn 72,6
32 Brasilien 77,7
33 USA 81,4
34 Australien 81,6
35 Polen 81,7
36 Belgien 83,3
37 Luxemburg 84,5
38 Hong Kong 85,8
39 Tyskland 86,4
40 Spanien 87,9
41 Østrig 87,9
42 Estland 88,0
43 Frankrig 88,0
44 Tyrkiet 89,7
45 Holland 90,3
46 Italien 95,6
47 Irland 96,1
48 Sverige 96,8
49 Finland 102,0
50 Schweiz 102,9
51 Japan 115,1
52 Norge 116,2
53 Storbritannien 132,7

^^ malaysia cheaper than kenya...?that the funny one :lol:

Cheaper can attract more tourists to Malaysia:banana:

Growth in Malacca tourism
Tuesday March 11, 2008
By MOHAMAD BAKRI DARUS
TheStar

The tourism industry in Malacca holds huge potential and has generated employment opportunities, more income for businesses and helped improve the livelihood of locals.

And why not, when more than six million people visited the historical state last year and spent RM3bil during their stays. With the present tagline in Malacca’s tourism campaign being “Visiting Historical Melaka Means Visiting Malaysia,” 6.8 million tourists are expected this year with the anticipation that they will spend RM3.4bil.

Malacca is highly optimistic of the tourist numbers and extrapolations indicate the number will reach 8.2 million by 2010.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam noted that, in ensuring the tourism sector progressed for the benefit of the state and its people, the state was in the midst of implementing several new high impact tourism projects.

Among them is the development of Sungai Melaka at a cost of RM320mil as a new growth centre that will parallel San Antonio River in the United States for its beauty and cleanliness.

Several value-added projects are to be established along the banks of Sungai Melaka, among others the Casa Del Rio Boutique Hotel worth RM85mil, a ferris wheel, Viking ship and trampoline bungy worth RM3.3mil, water wheel worth RM1.5mil, the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex valued at RM35mil and a marina worth RM25mil.

The others are the Taming Sari revolving tower in Bandar Hilir worth RM24mil that will begin operations in March, the Planetarium and the Malacca International Bowling Centre each valued at RM20mil and Batik House valued at RM4mil, with all being set up at the Malacca International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh.




http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/3/11/southneast/se_06pristine.jpg

Pristine: Sungai Melaka, which was previously a filthy waterway,
has been cleaned and beautified.



The Malacca government through Tourism Malaysia, the Malacca State Tourism Action Committee and relevant agencies are always working out new ideas to turn Malacca into a compelling tourism centre in the region.

Even now, Malacca is the choice for many national and international events. This helps establish the state in the tourism map.

This year, several tourism itineraries have been lined up, including the Malacca Tourism Street Carnival at Hang Tuah Mall, Malacca International Regatta 2008, Sungai Melaka Fest, Malacca International Air Carnival and Malacca International Tourism Show.

The others are Light Up Celebration, Raptor Watch, Drums of The Malay Archipelago, Malacca Historical City International Run, San Pedro Fest and Songket and Batik Festival.

The state is giving emphasis to tourism events of international stature and is working to have the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) list Malacca as a world heritage site.

With the recognition, Malacca will remain as a tourism destination of choice for local and foreign tourists.

Toward this end, archaeological works on the Malacca Fort walls are being undertaken with an allocation of RM12.8mil from the Federal Government.

Apart from historical themes, Malacca also offers contemporary attractions like recreation centres, Crocodile Park, Mini Malaysia and Asean Park, Butterfly Park, Malacca Peacock and Bird Park, and Malacca Zoo.

There are more than 20 museums under the Malacca Museum Corporation and the private sector that have opened their doors to visitors from all over the world. Malacca is also a shopping heaven with many business outlets catering for the different tastes of the visitors.

Accommodation is of no problem because there are 5,096 hotel rooms, resort hotel rooms (2,458), chalets (484) and homestay rooms (136). Thus Malacca’s tourism industry will continue to prosper, bringing greater prosperity to the state and its people. – Bernama

Sarawak undergoing a tourism revival
Thursday March 13, 2008
TheStar

MIRI: American, European and Asian tourists are visiting Sarawak by the planeloads, sparking off a tourism boom in the Land of the Hornbills.

Tourist arrivals from the United States and Western Europe had gone up by a third, said Sarawak Tourism Board executive officer Gracie Geikie.

The board's latest statistics showed that Sarawak is now enjoying a major tourism revival, following flight connectivity woes in 2006 and early last year that had almost derailed the industry.

“Our international tourism business is back on track. Not only have we regained lost customers, we have also uncovered new markets.

“We have tourists coming from Poland, Russia, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Scandinavian countries; places which are new for us,” she said, adding that the state expected to hit 3.8 million tourist arrivals this year compared to 3.61million last year.

Geikie, who was here to chair a meeting on the Miri International Jazz Festival 2008 to be held on May 9-10, said foreign tourists were getting increasingly drawn to Sarawak not just because of the natural beauty and wonders of the state, but also because of the food, culture and the music festivals.

She said the renowned World Rainforest Music Festival in Kuching and the jazz festival here have become favoured musical destinations.

“The Miri jazz festival is fast becoming popular with global music lovers. Since we opened online ticket sales, more than 2,000 tickets have been snapped up by tourists – both local and from the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and Singapore.

“The World Rainforest Music Festival is already in the list of top 10 global music festivals. We hope the Miri festival can be just as successful.”

Kedah Govt to review all tourism projects
Friday March 14, 2008
TheStar

ALOR STAR: The PAS-led state government will review all tourism projects, especially in the resort island of Langkawi, to avoid adverse effects to the state and the people.

State Tourism and Community Development Committee chairman Mohammad Radzhi Salleh said the new government which took over the state administration on Sunday would study the impact of the programmes planned.

“We’ll not reject everything that has been planned. We’ll proceed with the programmes which are beneficial to the state while the unsuitable ones will be shelved or modified,” he told Bernama when asked to comment on the state government’s tourism plans, particularly for the duty-free Langkawi island.

Mohammad Radzhi said the state government would announce its revised tourism plans later.

Langkawi, Malaysia’s top tourist resort, aims to woo 3.5 million local and foreign tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2008.

The new state government is expected to make changes or modify the tourism programmes, especially in duty-free Langkawi, where there is no restriction on liquor purchase, including by Muslims.

The previous BN government had drawn up 75 programmes for the Visit Kedah Year. The highlight will be the golden jubilee celebrations to commemorate the 50-year rule of the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah.

Mohammad Radzhi said the state government was aware of the tourism sector’s importance to the state economy and would strive to woo more tourists to Kedah.

Penang to review proposed tourism projects
Friday March 14, 2008
TheStar (http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/3/14/north/20639524&sec=North)

THE development of Pulau Jerejak and the Penang Hill cable car project are among the tourism projects to be looked into by the new Penang Government.

State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said the state wanted to check why some of these projects, such as the proposed cable car to Penang Hill, had not been carried out.

But the Batu Lancang assemblyman was making cleanliness his first priority in an effort to attract more visitors to the state.

“If we compare with other tourist spots like Singapore, Hong Kong, Phuket or Bali, their advantage is cleanliness.

“I think the most important thing now is for the rakyat to cooperate to help clear the rubbish,” Law said.

There is currently a resort in Pulau Jerejak which is the first of four phases of development outlined by the previous state government for the island.

The resort was completed in 2005.

The proposed RM200mil cable car link between Penang Hill and Teluk Bahang has not been implemented.

Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh, who was appointed Penang’s Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman, said many issues on health had been neglected for years.

“We need collective effort to achieve good levels of health and the individual plays an important role from our way of life to how we handle our rubbish disposal.

“Aside from that, there are many other outside issues. For example, the influx of foreign workers that have impacted the standard of health in the country. Things like this will have to be addressed as soon as possible,” he said.

Women power was on the mind of Women, Family and Community Development and Youth and Sports Committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, who said Malaysian women needed to be woken up to their potential.

“Women and mothers in particular need to be aware about democracy and human rights to create intelligent new generations.

“I have been working with non-governmental organisations and women’s groups for many years now and I plan to organise them into centres to help bring about awareness and empowerment to women,” Ong said, adding that she was working together with Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik to create a women and youth base in Komtar.

Refreshing Bukit Fraser
Friday March 14, 2008
Story and photos by NIK NAIZI HUSIN
TheStar

With an allocation of RM15.15mil from the Federal Government under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Bukit Fraser will soon have a new look with the upgrading of facilities, basic infrastructure, hotels and bungalows.

With all upgrading works expected to be completed by the end of the year, the hill resort is set to attract more locals and foreign tourists.



http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/3/14/southneast/ms_pg06police.jpg

Central location: This colonial building, built in 1919,
is home to the police station.



Pahang’s tourism agency Bukit Fraser Development Corporation chairman Datuk Maznah Mazlan said all five government-owned bungalows Chini (also known as Hollebeke bungalow), Bentong (also known as Cottage bungalow), Kuantan (also known as Cicely bungalow), Tioman bungalow and The Tavern would be refurbished.

According to Maznah, the Hollebeke (Cini) bungalow was among the earliest building established on Bukit Fraser in the 1920s.

“ It used to be the residence of the Bukit Fraser’s superintendent and later on, the official residence for the Bukit Fraser Development Corporation general manager.

“The word 'Hollebeke' is a name of an English fort during World War I.

She said the Cottage (Bentong) bungalow was the smallest bungalow on the hill.



http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/3/14/southneast/ms_pg06post.jpg

Lovely: The post office looks simply charming, doesn’t it?



“It was formerly used as the site office of an engineer of the golf course on the highlands.

“Later on, the bungalow was used as the resthouse for the British Commisioner,” said Maznah.

Thee Cicely (Kuantan) bungalow is notable for its size.

Cicely was name of the wife of Pahang British Resident Edward John Brewster, said Maznah.

She said The Tavern, with its image of a western eatery, will remain as it is with some upgrades.

She said the restaurant’s operator would be allowed to serve western food including steak and scones to retain the “Little England” image.

“As for Tioman bungalow, it will be refurbished as a bakery cum cafe with the al-fresco concept to attract visitors to enjoy the cool weather.”

Maznah said there would be shoplots in Bukit Fraser to place the current operators in Puncak Inn and other traders

The plan include the construction of four shoplot units, 10 units of food stalls and a unit of a multi-purpose shop.

She said there would be improvements at the tourist complex.

Maznah said historical records showed that the golf course was built on the site of a former tin mine.

She said it was tin mining that brought development to the hill

Bukit Fraser is also rich in flora and fauna; some 260 species of birds have been recorded there.

It is also the venue for international events such as a bird race held every June since 1988.

Other annual events are woodball competition in May, Rainforest Art Contest in July and a photography contest in August.

Starting 2008 with a Bang!
19/03/2008

Malaysia started 2008 with tourist arrivals totalling 1,780,134 in January, up 3.4% from 1,721,786 in January 2007.

Double digit growths were also recorded from many countries including a 29.1% increase from Australia (38,868) when compared to the same period last year.

Director of Tourism Malaysia Sydney, Mr Shahrin Mokhtar, says the tourism board’s promotional efforts around Australia coupled with additional flights to Malaysia via low cost carriers have undoubtedly contributed to the increase in visitor numbers to the country.

“Since Jetstar began its operations from Sydney to KL in September last year, followed by Air Asia X from the Gold Coast in November, tourist arrivals have increased consistently with the additional capacity,” says Shahrin.

“By working closely with all carriers and being creative with various awareness campaigns to showcase the different sides of Malaysia, we are confident that Australian travellers to the country will continue to rise significantly this year.

“For a country so rich in history and made up of such diversity in terms of people, culture, landscape, architecture, adventure, wildlife - and much more – it is often not easily understood or digested by travellers.

“With that in mind, we will embark on new and different approaches this year to provide the public with a broader picture of what Malaysia has to offer,” says Shahrin.
Malaysia’s new visitor target for 2008 is 22.5 million, up 5% from the original target of 21.5 million.

URL : http://www.etravelblackboard.com/index.asp?id=75638

Penang Hill funicular railway
by sierra2u

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Tourists may spend RM30b on shopping by 2010
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2008/03/22
BusinssTimes

Tourism Malaysia has proposed the lifting of duties on more items as this will help promote Malaysia as a duty-free shopping destination

TOURISTS are expected to spend half of their money shopping in Malaysia by 2010, which will give the country its much sought after international shopping heaven status.

Tourism Malaysia calculates that tourists will be spending up to RM30 billion by then to buy anything from apparel and bags to watches and souvenirs.

It plans to promote the country more aggressively to achieve this goal, said Rosly Selamat, general manager of its Shopping Malaysia Secretariat.

"We need to make Malaysia more visible, especially in countries where the people love to shop," he told Business Times in an interview, adding that Thais, Indonesians, Koreans, Indians and Middle Easterners were among those keen to shop.


According to Rosly, Tourism Malaysia has proposed the lifting of duties on more items.

He said this would help promote Malaysia as a duty-free shopping destination and attract more tourists.

"There are still some items like apparel and jewellery ... removal of duties will help boost sales."

Rosly pointed out that Singapore and Dubai have the advantage of being tax-free for tourists.

Malaysia decided in 1999 to brand itself as a shopping heaven, competing against cities like Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai - the long-established shopping destinations in Asia.

The then Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism decided that three nationwide sales would be held annually - in March, August and December - from 2000.

The ministry also gave itself four years, from January 2000 to December 2003, to become Asia's top shopping paradise.

However, eight years have passed and Malaysia has yet to catch up with Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore as a shopping destination.

KL is Aussie paper’s choice of a shopping paradise
NST Online 23/3/2008

MELBOURNE, SUN: Australia’s leading national newspaper has given Malaysia the thumbs up as a shopping paradise.

Under the headline “Bargain shop till you drop in Asia’s best-kept secret”, Lisa Allen, travel writer for The Australian Fiancial Review, says the delights of Kuala Lumpur are “so good maybe it should stay a secret”.

“Kuala Lumpur provides better value for money than other Asian — it’s cheaper than Singapore and it’s cleaner than Bangkok. Its shopping is legendary.” In her full-page report, Allen takes her readers on a shopping spree at Mid Valley Mega Mall “billed as one of Asia’s largest shopping centres”. “Apart from stocking up on Western brands such as America’s Bobbie Brown cosmetics, Spanish women’s fashion chain MNG and luxury bodycare company Crabtree & Evelyn, it is easy to spend days hunting for bargains in this 400-store shopping centre,” she says.

The more than 100,000 titles, including bestsellers at the MPH bookstore, are about one-third the price in Austrlia, Allen says.

The Malaysian-designed Vincci shoes and prescription glasses are at a fraction of the cost in Australia.

She recommends FOS (Factory Outlet Store) to bargain-hunters.

Allen finds the Malaysian delicacies at Madam Kwan’s eatery fantastic and cheap.

Allen cannot believe how cheap hotel accommodation in Kuala Lumpur is compared with other cities around the world. She says the five-star Le Meridien Hotel costs A$151 for a luxury room, including breakfast.

Also, the four-star Cititel Mid Valley is charging just A$70 for a room, including breakfast.

Allen is also impressed with Lot 10 shopping centre. “There’s also the Berjaya Times shopping centre, although many of its shops remain empty even though the mall was completed several years ago,” she says.

Malaysia banks on food to promote tourism
asap News
Posted on: March 25th, 2008 by Andrew Mayer

May 29th is the day KDU College in Petaling Jaya will host the first Malaysian Conference on Gastronomic Tourism. More than 200 industry leaders from all over the world will participate, including members of the food, hospitality and beverage industry, as well as academic and those form the financial side of things. Malaysia is a country with a rich culinary heritage, with ethnic Malay, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern influences living side by side.

Seminars, workshops, talks and feature seminars from industry leaders will feature at KDU College, with speakers such as Dr. Barbara Santich, associate professor and gastronomy expert from the University of Adelaide; Professor David Foskett, London Thames Valley University associate dean.

In a travel industry that hasn’t changed much recently, many see gastronomical tourism as a new way to lure in visitors, that who though may have travelled far and wide, the experience of fresh local food can never be replaced, and can be enjoyed with multiple visits to the same place

Growth in Malacca tourism
Tuesday March 11, 2008
By MOHAMAD BAKRI DARUS
TheStar

The tourism industry in Malacca holds huge potential and has generated employment opportunities, more income for businesses and helped improve the livelihood of locals.

And why not, when more than six million people visited the historical state last year and spent RM3bil during their stays. With the present tagline in Malacca’s tourism campaign being “Visiting Historical Melaka Means Visiting Malaysia,” 6.8 million tourists are expected this year with the anticipation that they will spend RM3.4bil.

Malacca is highly optimistic of the tourist numbers and extrapolations indicate the number will reach 8.2 million by 2010.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam noted that, in ensuring the tourism sector progressed for the benefit of the state and its people, the state was in the midst of implementing several new high impact tourism projects.

Among them is the development of Sungai Melaka at a cost of RM320mil as a new growth centre that will parallel San Antonio River in the United States for its beauty and cleanliness.

Several value-added projects are to be established along the banks of Sungai Melaka, among others the Casa Del Rio Boutique Hotel worth RM85mil, a ferris wheel, Viking ship and trampoline bungy worth RM3.3mil, water wheel worth RM1.5mil, the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex valued at RM35mil and a marina worth RM25mil.

The others are the Taming Sari revolving tower in Bandar Hilir worth RM24mil that will begin operations in March, the Planetarium and the Malacca International Bowling Centre each valued at RM20mil and Batik House valued at RM4mil, with all being set up at the Malacca International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh.




http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/3/11/southneast/se_06pristine.jpg

Pristine: Sungai Melaka, which was previously a filthy waterway,
has been cleaned and beautified.



The Malacca government through Tourism Malaysia, the Malacca State Tourism Action Committee and relevant agencies are always working out new ideas to turn Malacca into a compelling tourism centre in the region.

Even now, Malacca is the choice for many national and international events. This helps establish the state in the tourism map...



by SqueakyMarmot

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what project is that?

by Yus Iazarai

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Panorama buses may boost public transport
Tuesday April 8, 2008
TheStar

MALACCA: The Malacca government-owned Panorama buses may have to step in to handle less profitable routes to provide better public transportation here.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the lack of public transport at specific areas in the city and its outskirts was an issue in the recent polls.

He said this during a dialogue with city planners, local council authorities, Road Transport Authority, taxi associations and bus associations here recently.

State Communications and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman R. Perumal said a possible solution was to check the routes plied by local bus companies.

“After finding out which routes they are not serving, we can get our Panorama buses to go there,” he said.

“It is our priority to see a revamp of the public transport system for the benefit of the rakyat,” he said.

At present, four coaches and two double-decker buses are used by Panorama to ply routes within the city and its outskirts.

Passengers are charged RM2 a day, with tickets usable for rides to other locations.

what project is that?

Thats a water gate project...to control the amount of water flow in and out of the river. Beside it will be a boutique hotel.

Kundasang, Sabah
by faieeez

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Kedah to woo visitors on its own
Sunday April 20, 2008
TheStar

ALOR STAR: The Kedah Government will proceed with the Visit Kedah 2008 (http://www.visitkedah.com.my/home.html) programmes despite not getting any financial aid from the Tourism Ministry.

Kedah Tourism and Community Development Committee chairman Mohammad Razhi Salleh said the state would organise all the activities to woo visitors to the state throughout the campaign.

“We will have our own programmes although the Federal Government is not including Kedah in its tourism programmes,” he said after launching The Search For The One Millionth Visitor Campaign at the Alor Star Tower yesterday.

Alor Star Tower head Mazlin Abdul Malik said the campaign would be held until end of this month and the lucky visitor would receive two air tickets to Gold Coast, Australia, and RM3,000.

The tower conducted colouring and singing contests for students and organised a stairs-climbing competition for uniformed bodies over the weekend.

Shahrul Faizam Mohd Zaini, who climbed the 492-step staircase in just three minutes and 20 seconds, won the competition yesterday.

“I was thrilled when I reached the peak but was shocked when they told me that I had clocked in less than four minutes,” said Shahrul who took home RM1,500.

Penang to set up new tourism council
Thursday April 24, 2008
TheStar

PENANG: A new state-funded tourism council will be formed to take over functions of the Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC).

State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said he would submit a proposal to set up the Penang Tourism Council to the state executive council tomorrow.

“The council will have at least 15 staff members. Five will be from the Penang Development Council (PDC) tourism division and the remaining 10 will be decided once the committee is set up,” he said.

For the time being, he said, the PDC Tourism Division would be carrying out future tourism events and activities that were previously handled by the PTAC, which came under the jurisdiction of the Tourism Ministry.

Law said the ministry's decision to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding with the state government had affected the state’s tourism industry.

“The end of cooperation between us has confused and inconvenienced people in tourism-related businesses.

“They are unclear of whom to approach on state tourism matters. We want them to know that they can contact the PDC Tourism Division from now,” he told at a press conference at the Penang Development Centre (PDC) in Bayan Baru yesterday,

Law said he would seek an appointment to meet with Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to get clarification on funds promised to the state by the ministry for events like the international dragon boat race.

“I also hope to speak to her on possibilities of Penang getting additional funds for other major tourism events and activities,” he said.

He also said the state would try to carry out activities listed in the 2008 tourism calendar, with the exception of those under the Tourism Ministry.

Company Interested In Developing Buffalo Park For Tourism
May 01, 2008 21:12 PM

LANGKAWI, May 1 (Bernama) -- A company is interested in cooperating with the Veterinary Services Department to develop the Buffalo Park in Kampung Nyior Cabang here as a tourist attraction.

Kedah state executive councillor for tourism, community development and human resource development, Mohammad Radzhi Salleh, said the company had forwarded a proposal to the state government.

Building of chalets, a training centre and tourist activities like buffalo riding are among the ideas put forth to attract tourists, he told reporters after a working visit to the park here today.

Also present were Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Dr Dahlan Ismail, Malaysian Hotels Association president Datuk Mohd Ilyas, Kedah Veterinary Services director Dr Abdul Razak Mohd Zailan and Koperasi Usahawan Ternak Ruminan Utara Berhad staff.

The Buffalo Park, mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, began operations early last year and now as 109 buffaloes.

The park produces 1,000 litres of milk a month which is packaged as fresh milk, flavoured milk, curdled milk and ice-cream and sold in the area.

"We want UUM, hotels, corporations, the Veterinary Services Department and the local community to cooperate in developing the park as a tourist attraction," Mohammad Radzhi said.

Juhari Saad, an assistant veterinary officer and park superintendent, said while tourists were attracted to the park they found access to it a problem.

"We are working on that problem," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ilyas, who is also Asean Hotels Association vice-president, said his organisation was ready to help promote the park.

--BERNAMA

stupid, stupid, stupid!!:bash:

what do they expect from nepalese...? another headache to RELA and Immigration department

why don't they promote malaysia to Americans? malaysia is so 'unknown' in the eyes of the world's largest nation!!!

promote malaysia to nepalese....?WTF!

Malaysia Eyes 100,000 Nepalese Tourists In 2008

KATHMANDU, March 3 (Bernama) -- After making an impact in India last year, Malaysia is taking its tourism business to Nepal where it expects to woo about 100,000 visitors from the Himalayan kingdom this year.

There had been a tremendous surge in Nepalese tourists visiting Malaysia, jumping to 38,000 last year from 18,000 the year before, recording almost over 230 percent increase.

"If we can achieve this numbers without major efforts I am sure we can reach 100,000 visitors this year. There is lot of capacity," Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board's director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammed Taiyab Beg, who is leading a trade delegation to Kathmandu, told Bernama.

Last year, a record 422,454 Indians visited Malaysia and this year's target is half a million visitors.

Despite limited connectivity to the world's tiny kingdom, tourism traffic from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur has been on the rise, especially after nearly 300,000 Nepalese began working in Malaysia.

Several leading Kuala Lumpur-based hoteliers and travel operators are participating in the first ever-Malaysian travel market in Nepal, that receives about 400,000 visitors annually from all over the world.

"There is lot of interest in linking Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu, we should come immediately and capitalise on this," Mirza said.

To strengthen its foothold in Nepal, the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board is also showcasing culinary delights of Malaysia at a week-long gourmet festival in Kathmandu.

Stressing on the importance of the tourism industry, Mirza said the sector would continue to remain a pillar in the Malaysian economy, which largely benefited from tourist dollars, after hitting a historic RM45 billion from the 21 million visitors last year.

"Tourism is big in our country and we are keen to develop further," he said, adding that besides the traditional markets, Malaysia would broaden its global horizon from Central Asian to African markets this year.

-- BERNAMA

^^ jgn pandang rendah org lain mcm tue la :ohno:

seriously, ask people in immigration department, how many percent of these nepalese leave when their visa ended? most of them will 'dissapear'...

this has been reported in many article/news already....it is a big issue for national security

seriously, ask people in immigration department, how many percent of these nepalese leave when their visa ended? most of them will 'dissapear'...

this has been reported in many article/news already....it is a big issue for national security

this would not happen if the immigration officers/PDRM do not take bribes in the first place or slacking in law enforcement. If we're strict like Australian immigration/police we'd rid of these illegal immigrants. I mean Australia is obviously big enough but u dun see illegals flooding their country coz the government officials do their job properly.

so, we had identify our problems already. it is the fault of immigration and PDRM. and the problems still not solved yet, so why we add the escalating problems by bringing more potential immigrants?

i don know about australia, but even japan can't do more on their illegal immigrants (mostly mainland chinese and some indonesians/burmese)

UAE Tourists To Malaysia Up By 11.1 Pct In Q1


KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- Accessibility is one of the factors contributing to the increased number of tourists coming to Malaysia from the United Arab Emirates.

For the first quarter this year, the UAE tourist number saw a double digit growth, rising by 11.1 percent to 5,279 visitors compared with 4,749 in the corresponding quarter of last year.

Last year, Malaysia received 38,170 visitors from UAE, a 8.7 percent growth compared with 2006.

Malaysia Airlines now operates seven daily flights between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur (two, via Karachi), said Tourism Malaysia in a statement Tuesday.

It noted that Oman Air is expected to fly five times a week beginning July (during the Arabian summer holiday season), while low cost carrier Air Arabia will also join in promoting Malaysia with daily services from Sharjah.

The carrier, complemented by Air Yeti will also operate services between Katmandu (Nepal) and Kuala Lumpur, it added.

It said Malaysia's participation at the Arabian Travel Mart 2008 to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre is set to attract more tourists to Malaysia from West Asia, which is a growing tourism market.

Other than providing delegates the prospect to meet up with Malaysian business organisations for potential business opportunities, the Tourism Malaysia booth will also give visitors an insight to the many exciting packages and calendar of events plus a cross section of the Malaysian cultural heritage, destinations and other products and services.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, said there were a number of exciting events lined-up for visitors to experience in Malaysia such as the Colours of Malaysia, the Mega sale and the Rainforest World Music Festival.

He said Malaysia will be also emphasizing on ecotourism and the many ecotourism products in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

Penang seeks tourism cooperation with federal govt
by Regina William
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


PENANG: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has expressed confidence that the federal government will not “cut its nose to spite its face” by disregarding cooperation towards promoting tourism in the state, which has stagnated over the past 10 years.

Lim said the sector, which is the second most important revenue generator for the state, needed federal and state cooperation in order to move forward.

“I believe we are all mature leaders and both the federal and state governments will benefit if we promote tourism jointly, so why don’t we work together?

“The state government is committed towards rejuvenating the tourism industry in Penang which has stagnated and is regressing while others are surging ahead,” Lim told reporters yesterday after meeting representatives from Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Penang chapter, Association of Tourism Attractions (ATAP) Penang and other agencies.

“Penang has lost out so much over the past 10 years and the state government is concerned and committed towards revitalising this very important sector of our economy,” Lim added.

He said the Penang Tourism Council (PTC) chaired by him would be set up in two weeks and would work closely with the federal agencies.

Lim said all tourism promotion activities would be housed under the PTC including the tourism promotion unit at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

Lim said Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen, who has been named by the Tourism Ministry to manage the Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC), had pledged to cooperate with the state government.

Law: Tourism body will start operating soon


THE Penang Tourism Council (PTC), a new state-funded tourism council, will be set up within two weeks to handle state tourism administration and events organisation.

Taking over functions of the federal-controlled Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC), PTC will incorporate five members from the Penang Development Corpora-tion tourism division, said state Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang (pic).

“Tentatively, we are thinking about using the Penang Heritage Centre on Armenian Street. PTC will serve our internal administration purposes and also be a tourism information centre for tourists,” Law said.

He added that PTC’s organisa-tional structure and funding were currently being looked into and the state was also sourcing for adminis-trative staff with tourism expe-rience.

“I have met PTAC chairman Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen and we have a good understanding to co-operate in promoting Penang tourism,” he said.

However, funding was always an obstacle in organising tourism acti-vities, so the state was appealing for private companies to get involved.

“One of the first initiatives to raise funds is a Culture and Charity Night with Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas held in conjunction with his birthday on 12 July,” Law said.

The event is planned for July 9 at the Penang International Sports Arena with the proceeds going to the TYT Disaster Fund as well as various state charity organisations and the state tourism and sports funds.

“We’re inviting companies to come in as the event sponsors and we hope that businessmen will see this as an opportunity to treat their staff to a grand dinner plus entertainment.”

Ticket prices have yet to be de-cided but Law said organisers hoped to raise RM2mil.

For enquiries regarding sponsor-ship and the dinner, call Law (012-498 8630 / 04-6505136), state Tou-rism Development Committee de-puty chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo (012-4883571) or Sungai Pinang assemblyman Koid Teng Guan (016-4333038) or 04-5381110.

Tourism plan 'includes all'

DUBAI: The federal government will remain as partners with the five Pakatan Rakyat-run states to promote the tourism industry.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said she would encourage the states to continue with the tourism programmes and policies drawn up by the federal government

"We do not want those who have invested in the Pakatan Rakyat states to become victims of political differences.

"If the direction and objectives of increasing tourist numbers are the same, the federal government will not do anything that will discourage tourists from coming to Malaysia," she said at the Arabian Travel Market Fair 2008 here yesterday.

She was commenting on the proposal to set up a co-ordinating body for tourism among the five Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states.

Last Tuesday, Selangor Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said representatives of the five states would meet soon to discuss the setting up of the body. - Bernama

Number Of Tourists From Oman Expected To Double This Year

From Jumiati Rosly

MUSCAT (Oman), May 10 (Bernama) -- The number of tourists visiting Malaysia from Oman this year is expected to reach 21,000, an increase of 100 per cent from last year with the availability of direct flights from Oman to Malaysia.

Malaysian Ambassador to Oman Datuk Mohd Zamri Mohd Kassim said the direct flights were being undertaken by Oman Air beginning this month.

"I'm confident of achieving the target especially with the announcement by Oman Air which will become the first airline to provide the direct service between Malaysia and Oman," he told Malaysian journalists here Saturday.

Mohd Zamri, who had earlier received a courtesy call by the Malaysia Tourism Director of Promotions (South Asia/West Asia/Oceania/Africa), Azizan Noordin, said the target included Oman students in Malaysia.

"To-date, there are 1,200 students from Oman pursuing studies in Malaysia with the majority studying engineering and information technology," he said.

He said Malaysia was well-known to the people of Oman as a family tourism destination and flights from this country to Malaysia were usually full.

"With political stability, security, scenic tourist spots as well as the lower exchange rate, Malaysia has become the choice of tourists from Oman.

"They also go to Malaysia because of the factor of Islamic religion and some of them told me that they like to go to Malaysia as they can hear the `azan' or the call for prayers just like home," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zamri said Malaysia should intensify promotions on health tourism which was becoming popular among the people of Oman.

He also disclosed that there were now aout 500 Malaysian nationals residing in Oman.

-- BERNAMA

:banana: :banana:

Oman is da best country on earth !

86 Malaysian Organisations Participate In Arabian Travel Market 2008

DUBAI, May 6 (Bernama) -- Eighty-six Malaysian organisations are participating at the 2008 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) launched Tuesday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre to lure more Middle Eastern tourists to Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said this year marked Malaysia's 15th year participation at the largest trade and consumer travel show in the Gulf region.

"We have participated in ATM since a long time ago and as a result, we have witnessed huge growth of tourists from the Middle East to Malaysia.

"Every year, the quality and number of Malaysian delegations also grow," he told reporters here.

The Malaysian delegation comprises representatives from 54 hotels, 24 travel and tour operators, four state governments, Malaysia Airlines (Mas), Malaysia Airport Berhad, Malaysia Travel Bureau Sdn Bhd and KL Tower.

Mirza said Tourism Malaysia Pavilion featured the country’s tourism attractions with luxurious tours aimed to please the Middle East market, with a choice of eco-tourism, medical and health tourism, spa, honeymoon and 'Malaysia, My Second Home' packages.

He said Tourism Malaysia looked forward to leveraging the prestige of the exhibition to showcase Malaysian attractions and strengthen relations with Gulf countries travel players.

“We are working very hard to meet all the Middle East tourists’ requirements. This is the reason Malaysia is able to position itself as one of the Middle East travellers' favourite destinations,” he added.

For this year, Mirza said Malaysia Tourism made various arrangements to attract tourists from the Middle East, especially to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“Arab tourists will be provided with promotional booklets, maps and all the necessary tools that will help them during their holiday in Malaysia. For example, there will be signages and Arabic-speaking staff at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to guide them,” he said.

Last year, Malaysia welcomed 245,302 visitors from the Middle East, an increase of 31.3 percent from the previous year.

“Twenty percent of last year's visitors came from UAE, and we expect this number to increase during the coming summer from June to September,” he said.

Last year, Malaysia received an award for being the ‘No: 1 Holiday Destination for UAE residents’ by Asfaar magazine, a prominent travel magazine in the UAE.

ATM 2008, from Tuesday till this Saturday, is expected to attract over 23,449 industry players from over 100 countries.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysians must do their bit for tourism



http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/15/nation/p4paklah.jpg
Go local: Abdullah and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said at the launch of Zoom! Malaysia, the domestic tourism campaign for 2008 and 2009 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians need to work harder to make the country a first choice destination for tourists around the world, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“All Malaysians must play their role. It is not only the duty of the Tourism Ministry,” he said in his speech before launching Zoom! Malaysia, the domestic tourism campaign for 2008/2009 here yesterday.

He said that by keeping our cities, beaches, and kampung clean, it would help make tourists feel more comfortable.

The thrust of the campaign is also to urge Malaysians to give priority to local holiday destinations and encourages them to look at Malaysia with a new perspective.

different minister...different branding? but does the contents remain same...? :dunno:

'Make country a top tourist destination'
By : Mazlinda Mahmood

http://www.nst.com.my/Thursday/National/2240915/insidepix1
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launching Zoom! Malaysia domestic tourism campaign at the Saloma Bistro yesterday. With him are Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (right), Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng (left) and Datuk Masidi Manjun.


KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants Malaysians to work hard to make the country the first choice in the world's tourism destination.

He said all Malaysians must do everything they could to make the country more beautiful and attractive to tourists.

"Everyone must be tourist-friendly, helpful and cheerful. These are the extras we can offer, besides the country's diverse natural attractions," he said when launching Zoom! Malaysia at Saloma Bistro here yesterday.

The new campaign by the Tourism Ministry and Tourism Malaysia replaces the previous "Cuti-cuti Malaysia" campaign to strengthen and stimulate domestic tourism by motivating Malaysians to plan their holidays within the country.

The campaign also urges Malaysians to give priority to domestic holiday destinations and encourages locals to look at places with a fresh perspective.

Abdullah said during his visit to the Middle East, those who visited Malaysia praised her warmth and hospitality.

"They feel comfortable in our country. There is no discrimination, unlike when they visit other countries.

"We must be grateful, even though our country does not have historical sites like those in the Middle East, we are still blessed with beautiful islands and beaches, forests, flora and fauna."

Therefore, he said Malaysians must ensure that the country's natural treasures were kept clean and preserved.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said through the campaign the ministry would promote lesser known attractions which were more popular among foreigners but unknown to locals.

"The fact is local travellers are the closest market for the country's domestic tourism industry and more focus must be given as this is a market with a huge potential," she said.

Azalina said the number of local tourists staying in hotels across the country jumped 13.7 per cent last year with 36.3 million people, adding that this was a good sign.

Last year, the country received about 21 million foreign tourists, an increase of 19.5 per cent from the previous year, contributing RM44.5 billion to the country's earnings.

Also present were Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, foreign ambassadors and high commissioners.

NILAI KASIH
(literally it means Love’s Worth)
The place is located somewhere in Sepang, not far from DePalma Hotel.
by ~ GAB ~ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/melor/2383758111/in/set-72157603885346354/)

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Berjaya Resort, Tioman Island
by wateverjunk

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Lobby for Berjaya Resort Tioman

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Zooming around Malaysia’s tourist destinations
by Kathleen Tan
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


The new Zoom! Malaysia domestic tourism campaign aims to excite travellers by promoting new holiday destinations instead of focusing on “oversold” places.

This means there will be a fairer distribution of efforts by Tourism Malaysia in promoting interesting places in the country, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“(The previous domestic tourism campaign) Cuti-cuti Malaysia was a kind of concept... that Malaysians were going on vacation but it didn’t target a specific group of Malaysians,” Azalina told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview recently.

She said that while there were plenty of tourism products in the country, there was a tendency to keep selling the same products.

“For example, when you talk about Sabah, it’s always about Mount Kinabalu. We’re not selling Kinabatangan or Maliau Basin (forest reserve). Same thing goes for the Flora Fest — we don’t sell Cameron Highlands and Fraser’s Hill so the occupancy rate is uneven; some destinations are oversold while other equally interesting places have not been promoted. We want to tap into new excitement, new places,” Azalina said.

“Other untapped tourist destinations include Desaru in Johor and Tanjung Impian in Perlis… there are so many others we have not looked at. Basically, the idea is to come up with a list of all the destinations that have not been promoted,” she said.

Azalina said RM12 million has been allocated for the advertising campaign, and that all states would be treated equally. “Our policies on the states run by opposition parties is the same; with regard to promotional programmes, our focus is the same. Anyway, we need the numbers.

“Destinations like Penang and Langkawi are very important to us so I don’t see any difference in the importance of promoting tourism among the states,” she said.

According to Tourism Malaysia’s domestic promotion division director Datuk Idrus Mohamad, Cuti-Cuti Malaysia’s call for action had been ineffective as it was a generic campaign.

“We were looking at Cuti-Cuti Malaysia and we found that more than 50% of the market was untapped, where segments like students, retirees and couples were not reached,” he said.

“The campaign missed out on the 40,000 foreign students in colleges and universities. We also missed out on the 5.5 million schoolchildren. If we can influence them to talk about Zoom!, they can influence the decision of their families on where to go for holiday,” he said.

“Together with Concept Communiations (Tourism Malaysia’s advertising agency), we sat down and discussed (on a name for the campaign) before settling for Zoom! which, in any language, connotes focus and speed. We want Malaysians to Zoom! after the campaign, another term for going on holiday. ‘Zoom!’ transcends not just language but the age barrier as well. Even schoolchildren can talk about Zoom!,” said Idrus.

The Zoom! Malaysia campaign, which will run for two years, will see the introduction of three tailor-made travel packages to reach different segments of the population — Xplore, Xcape and Xperience. The three travel packages comprise three-tier pricing so that “not only the rich can travel”, said Idrus.

“Xcape holidays will be targeted at college students who want to escape from five days of studying and recharge on the weekend while Xplore targets children, students and young executives with activities like jungle trekking, canoeing and mountain climbing. Xperience holidays are for children, youth and families who want different experiences such as scuba diving and homestay,” he said.

The advertising blitz, handled by Concept Communications, involves print, television, radio and digital media. “We’ve started running our print ads and supplements in newspapers. Every month there will be supplements in newspapers of all languages — we are not leaving any segment out in terms of race,” he said.

The ministry would also be promoting the campaign at the Matta fair while a nationwide roadshow is on for the next one month.

Partnering AirAsia, Transnasional and KTM, the ministry has also launched a privilege card for schoolchildren, which can be used to obtain discounts at tourist attractions such as museums and theme parks. The cards, which are being taken nationwide, were already available in Malacca, with Johor the next stop.

“We’ve also proposed for an SMS text messaging service where the public can pay 50 sen to obtain information about holiday packages,” Idrus said.

“Domestic tourism should be made to appeal to the various races and market segments. It must be given more prominence — the local tourist market is more resilient — money stays within the economy so there’s less cash outflow. Also, it instills a sense of patriotism and national integration among Malaysians,” said Idrus.

A nationwide hotel guest survey showed there were 36.5 million domestic hotel guests and 25 million foreign guests last year. Zoom! Malaysia is expected to drive domestic figures up by 10% to 40 million this year.

Tourism Ministry postpones project allocations
by Pauline Puah
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SHAH ALAM: The Tourism Ministry has issued a directive to postpone all allocations for tourism projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for which contractor appointment letters had not been issued by May 5.

Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, who holds the state tourism and environment portfolio, said the directive will cause a delay in tourism projects that had been approved by the federal government.


“In Selangor, 10 (tourism) projects worth RM25.5 million allocated under the 9MP had already been submitted to the (state) tender application panel,” she said.

Winding up the debate on the royal address in the Selangor State Assembly yesterday, Wong revealed that the Selangor Tourism Action Council (STAC) had also received a directive for it not to have a working relationship with the state government.

Reading a letter signed by Hashimah Nik Jaafar, head of secretariat of Visit Malaysia Year, Wong said the respective state tourism action councils had been asked not to list the signature events which would be held in the states governed by Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Kelantan.

“Although the state government is ready to cooperate with the federal government, the federal government was reluctant to accept the situation (that we are the state government). This will jeopardise the tourism industry and ruin the image of Malaysia as a tourist destination,” she said.

At this juncture, Datuk Subahan Kamal (Taman Templer-BN), who has been appointed as the new STAC chair, tried to interject. However, Wong said she would not give way to Subahan.

The state government recently locked horns with the Tourism Ministry as the latter had cancelled the agreements of understanding between the federal government and the five opposition-held states to facilitate tourism management and operation.

Going by convention, the exco in charge of tourism would be chairing the STAC.

Wong also blasted the federal government for not listening to the voice of the people. She noted that the state government would overcome the problem in promoting tourism by working with various parties including the private sector.

“We want to ensure the rice bowl of those who depend on tourism in Selangor will not be affected.

“Although the federal government is still deaf and blind to the voice of the people after the political tsunami, it does not mean that the state government will neglect its people,” she said.

Thanks for bl***y visiting us guys

A reason to celebrate - Australians can't get enough of Malaysia!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

April recorded growth in tourist arrivals from Australia to Malaysia - up a whopping 36.5% - when compared to the same period last year.

Director of Tourism Malaysia Sydney, Mr. Shahrin Mokhtar, says Australia has consistently been in the top 10 countries to visit Malaysia, with a total of 134,778 tourist arrivals in the period of January to April 2008.

“More and more Australians are becoming aware of Malaysia, especially for what it has to offer apart from Kuala Lumpur, the food and shopping,” says Shahrin.

“With a dramatic growth in many niche travel markets, such as ecotourism, wellness, fishing, and war history among others, many Australian travellers are going to Malaysia to not only discover, but rediscover the delights of the country.

“We’re also seeing an increase in families, adventure travellers and retirees visiting – and, again, revisiting the country over the past year.

“There is no doubt that the strength of the Australian dollar, coupled with increased flights, has made Malaysia a more affordable and accessible holiday destination for more and more Australian travellers.

“The average cost of say, a three day weekend away within Australia can easily be the total cost of a week-long 4 to 5-star holiday in Malaysia - and that’s including flights,” says Shahrin.

Cumulatively, tourist arrivals to Malaysia recorded from January to April 2008 totalled 7,102,617 - representing an increase of 0.8% compared to 7,044,962 for the same period in 2007.

The figures give Tourism Malaysia an even better reason to celebrate their recent launch of their Malaysian Food Festival.
Tourism Malaysia teamed up with Bayview Boulevard and Malaysia Airlines to bring the Malaysian Food Festival that is being held at the hotel’s Seasons Cafe from 22nd May to 1 June.

Medical plan for exco village
Monday June 2, 2008
By ELAN PERUMAL and OH ING YEEN
TheStar

THE exco village at Section 7, Shah Alam, could end up as a major medical tourism attraction in Selangor if a proposal by a private firm gets the approval of the state government.

Under the proposal, the colony with 10 luxurious bungalows would be turned into a medical centre.

It is learnt that the state government was giving a serious consideration to the proposal.

State local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu who confirmed that such a proposal had been received, said the state was considering the viability of the plan.






http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/6/2/central/m_16excovillage.jpg

Health plan: Under the proposal, the exco village
would be used for medical tourism.






Liu said the company wanted to turn the enclave into a medical tourism spot to attract foreigners seeking medical treatment in Selangor.

He added that the company felt it was suitable for those seeking a resort-like environment.

“It will suit the tastes of the rich foreigners due to the attractive landscaping,” he said.

Liu said the proposal covered the use of all 10 bungalows and the clubhouse.

The highly controversial exco village also attracted a lot of attention during the second term of the 12th state assembly sitting that concluded on Monday.

During the sitting, Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Swee Lim had even suggested turning it into a tourist attraction.

Ng asked state tourism committee chairman Elizabeth Wong if there were any plans to promote the village as part of tour packages.

Wong replied that the proposal would be considered.

Retiree Lily Ang, 80, who resides in Section 24, Shah Alam, found the idea of turning the exco village into a major medical tourist attraction a joke.

“Why would they (foreigners) come to Malaysia for medical treatment when they have better medical services and facilities in their own country?

“Plus, there is a shortage of doctors in Malaysia,” she pointed out.

Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam, Selangor president Dr Jacob George was also against the idea and preferred that the exco village to be sold to the highest bidder to recover the losses.

“It doesn't make sense to turn it into a medical tourist attraction.

“There is an abundance of similar projects,” he said.

He added the majority of the people in Selangor wanted the exco village to be sold and the funds used accordingly for other causes, such as community-based projects.

Korea targets more Malaysian tourists
Friday June 6, 2008
By THO XIN YI
TheStar


FOR many, Korea becomes a dream holiday destination after they have watched the popular Korean drama series on television.

Most have probably picked up a phrase or two of the tongue-twisting language (“Annyeong-haseyo!” which means “Good morning”, “Good afternoon” and “Good evening”) while indulging in the picturesque scenery and probably secretly falling in love with the attractive Korean stars.

The Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) Theme Park in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province is among the theme parks built at the sites where drama series were filmed.

“Many of the people want to see the places where the series were shot and take a picture,” Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) director Kim Kee-Hun noted.



http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/6/6/central/m_21asthy.jpg

Cultural interest: KTO public relations and marketing manager Asthy Tan
explaining the history of the masks, which are worn by the Koreans when
they perform the mask dance.



Last year, 83,049 Malaysians visited Korea, and most of them favoured the East Gate Market and Everland amusement park in Seoul, according to the statistics provided by KTO.

“Everland is the seventh largest theme park in the world. It is decorated with beautiful blooms and offers adventure rides such as the roller-coaster. There is also a water park,” said Kim.

Renowned also for its fashion, Korea is a shopping heaven for all.

“East Gate Market, West Gate Market, Myung Dong and Itaewon are some of the famous shopping destinations for clothes and accessories,” Kim said, adding that Myung Dong was similar to Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur.

Itaewon is a convenient tourist spot for Muslims as it houses a mosque and many halal restaurants.

Apart from the different scenic and sensual attractions Korea offers during its four seasons, the cultural performances are not to be missed either.

Nanta, Jump and Break Out are comedic performances incorporating percussion music, martial arts and dance.

Food-wise, the royal palace cuisine, bulgogi (beef), bibimbap (rice with mixed vegetable) and ginseng chicken soup are some of the must-try items.

According to Kim, KTO is targeting 100,000 Malaysian visitors to Korean next year, and is going all out to attract the people's attention with an advertising campaign starting in July.

Its office in Wisma Goldhill, which was opened in Dec 2004, will soon be relocated to Mid Valley City.

The new office will comprise an exhibition area to display interesting items such as the traditional Korean costume Hanbok and miniature displays of Korean food, a library and an event room to show Korean movies and host Korean cooking demonstrations, among other things.

“The whole idea is to invite more Malaysians to drop by our cosy office to learn more about Korean culture and tourism,” said Kim. For more information, call 03-2072 2515 or visit http://www.tour2korea.com/.

Call to develop Pulau Pisang for eco-tourism
NST Online » Local News, 2008/06/08

PONTIAN: There are plans to develop Pulau Pisang into an eco-tourism destination as well as a proposal to return the operation of the lighthouse to Malaysia.

Pontian Member of Parliament Ahmad Maslan said the redevelopment of Pulau Pisang would start with the building of a jetty and a surau, which already has a RM50,000 allocation.

An islander has donated a piece of land for the surau near the lighthouse.

Ahmad Maslan said he would also propose to the State Government and the Iskandar Malaysia Development Authority for the island to be promoted to investors and tourists.

"The island is just outside the boundaries of Iskandar Malaysia. They may be interested in extending their investment here as well," he said.

"Tourists would want to enjoy the untouched beauty of Pulau Pisang while activities like motivational seminars would be suitable for corporate organisations."

On the lighthouse issue, he said Malaysia needed to renegotiate the agreement that allowed Singapore to operate it.

"The basis of the agreement was that Singapore wanted to control the lighthouse to guide ships plying the Malacca Straits.

"But there is little relevance to this now as ships now rely on Global Positioning System technology for navigation," he said.

"Even if the lighthouse is still relevant, its control should be returned to Malaysia as we are capable of running it."

On May 25, Ahmad Maslan had called on the government to develop Pulau Pisang to avoid it facing the same fate as Pedra Branca as both have Singapore-controlled lighthouse with no development by Malaysia.

Malaysia’s tourist arrivals dropping
by Asia PulseAdvertisement

Malaysia welcomed 1,819,689 tourists in March 2008, down 4.5 per cent from the same month last year, Tourism Malaysia said on Thursday.

For the first three months of this year, Malaysia´s tourist arrivals edged up 1.2 per cent to 5,342,291 from 5,280,094 for the same period in 2007. In a statement, Tourism Malaysia said Singapore retained its position as the biggest tourist market for Malaysia with 882,787 Singaporeans visiting the country in March 2008. Others in the top ten list are Indonesia (185,537), Thailand (115,868), China (85,542), Brunei (70,829), Japan (40,318), India (39,621), United Kingdom (34,407), Australia (33,500) and the Philippines (30,515).

Most major markets also recorded double digit growth in March 2008. They are Russia (50.8%), Canada (47.5%), South Africa (45.9%), Indonesia (43.6%), the Netherlands (42.6%), New Zealand (40.1%), France (36.0%), Germany (31.7%), the United Kingdom (30.4%), China (including Hong Kong & Macau) (27.8%), Cambodia (19.8%), India (19.3%), Australia (18.9%), the Philippines (12.3%), and South Korea (10.1%).

The top ten tourist generating markets from January to March 2008 were Singapore (2,620,880), Indonesia (510,847), Thailand (351,049), China (including Hong Kong & Macau) (258, 374), Brunei (215,558), India (116,991), Japan (111,959), Australia (100,811), the United Kingdom (96,569) and the Philippines (83,276).

Sabah set to become economic, tourism hub
By Jaswinder Kaur Published: 2008/06/14
BusinessTimes

SABAH is poised to turn into a trade, investment and tourism gateway for Southeast Asia, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman says.

He said the state's economic potential was growing by the day, adding that projects under the 18-year Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) will boost investment opportunities.

"The state will make sure that costs of doing business are kept low by improving the logistics network, which is an important component in attracting local and foreign investors," he said at the launch of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd's new branch in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

"We have a lot of economic growth potential, including in agriculture which can lead to the exploration of food production and high-value crops for the export market. We are currently the highest producer of palm oil globally," he said.

Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, said opportunities are also available in gas processing, petroleum refineries, wood based industries and agro-industries.

He said projects, including those planned under the SDC, will change the economic landscape and will help reduce the incidence of poverty in a consistent manner.

He also said prospects are bright for Bank Islam to offer Islamic banking services to customers in Sabah, and called on the institution to continue providing fresh and consumer friendly products.

Bank Islam managing director Datuk Zukri Samat said the bank is playing a role in the development of a range of activities in Sabah, including shipping, vehicle assembly, supermarkets and wood-based industries.

He said through its upgraded branch, Bank Islam remains committed in supporting the Sabah state government in its effort to develop the state.

Zukri said the bank has already taken proactive steps to reduce the burden of its customers by allowing them to not pay home loan instalments for two months at the end of the year.

"This 'payment holiday' that we have in place to ease the burden of customers who have a lot of expenses at the end of the year, is one of the innovative products that we have on offer and which is even more relevant now when prudent spending is the order of the day with the hike in fuel prices," he said.

This is taken from Orange County Register's travel section. The OC Reg is a local daily in Orange County (duh?), California, a neighboring county to Los Angeles County to the south, but north of San Diego County. It is an suburban/urbanized collection of many incorporated cities of which one of them being the home of Disneyland -- Anaheim. Other main cities in the county are Santa Ana (pop. 450k), Irvine (pop. 200k), with a county-total of 3.1 million.

Rarely is there a write-up about Malaysia in our local papers. It's usually France, the Carribean, Mexico, Italy or other places popular with the Americans that gets the attention. So this is something of a surprise when I opened the papers. Here you go...

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Penang Island just off Malaysia is a diner's paradise
Street hawkers provide a nightly movable feast on the island off Malaysia.
By CAROL PUCCI
The Seattle TimesComments 0| Recommend 0

There's fresh crab, live from the tank, and bowls of miniature clams ready to pop out of their shells for sautéing in a spicy sauce with garlic and lime.

The air smells of roasted duck and skewers of charcoal-grilled chicken. One stall sells herbal soup; another grills seafood on a stick.

Welcome to the Red Garden Food Paradise, my neighborhood hawkers center.

"Hello Dolly" plays on the boom box. We hear it from our hotel room next door. Might as well stop by.

Claim one of the white-plastic tables and take note of the number on the side. Then go from stall to stall, giving the cook your table number and ordering in small, medium or large portions – clams, the oyster omelet, fried rice, stuffed eggplant, chicken satay.

Sit down and put in your drink order to the guy in the red shirt in charge of cleaning off the tables. Try the lime juice spiked with a sour plum to wash away the heat. Then wait for your food to arrive. Pay when it does – maybe the equivalent of $10 to $12 for everything, including beer.

Malaysians seem to be constantly eating. Miss the street food in Penang, the island off Malaysia's west coast known as the cultural and culinary melting pot of Southeast Asia, and you miss a nightly movable feast that takes place on street corners and outdoor food courts like this one called hawkers centers.

Books have been written about Penang's hawkers. Most started out as traveling pushcart vendors hawking their food from portable kitchens with stoves powered by gas canisters.

Lately things became more organized with licensed vendors operating permanent stalls in centers such as Red Garden, where hygiene standards are high.

Malaysia is officially a Muslim country, but the crowds who come out nightly to eat mirror Penang's diverse population, a fusion of ethnic Malays, with roots in Indonesia; Chinese and Indians who joined British colonialists in transforming the island into a center for the spice trade, and later tin and rubber.

A walk though the compact streets of the old port city of Georgetown is literally a religious experience, with Hindu temples and Chinese temples, mosques and Christian churches within blocks of one another.

When it comes to food, locals come together to seek out their favorite hawkers for the best Chinese coconut tarts; Nasi kandar, Indian Muslim fare; or laksa, a Malay noodle soup of fish, tamarind juice, pineapple and mint.

"Penang is food paradise," a local man who was born here told me. Perhaps he's biased, but there is a long list of foods to sample.

Red Garden is a fairly new center with a fun atmosphere, but it's geared more toward tourists from the surrounding hotels than purists.

Real foodies would probably be happier at a local spot such as New Lane Hawkers Centre – crowded and chaotic – with tasty duck-meat noodle soup ($1) and wet spring rolls (also $1) stuffed with tofu and turnip.

Eating this way is an easy way for tourists to meet locals. My favorite for this became the bright and clean Esplanade Food Centre on the seafront at Fort Cornwallis in the old British colonial district.

Malay Muslim families and students from a nearby school gather here in the late afternoons for snacks and drinks.

When I asked one family if they minded if I took their picture, they invited us to sit down with them and sample their Singapore duck.

Following a self-guided tour of traditional craft and food purveyors mapped out in a brochure published by Penang Heritage Trust, we walked along Lebuh Chulia, nicknamed "Lonely Planet Street" for the small hotels that cater to backpackers, and found the Kimguan Coffee Factory.

Ong Kok Weng, the owner, wasn't in, but his helpers were there mixing up a batch of beans to which they add sesame seeds, margarine, salt and sugar.

A few blocks away in Little India, we found Bala Murugan's drink shop, where we went mornings for 25-cent cups of the Tarik, or "pulled tea" sweetened with condensed milk, and nasi lemak, triangle-shaped packets of banana leaves stuffed with rice, coconut and fish.

Penang has many good restaurants, and when we wanted to escape the heat and crowds, we sometimes combined a meal in air-conditioned comfort with a street stop for tea or dessert after.

Our first night in town, as yet uninitiated to hawker-style eating, we wandered through the crowded Gurney Drive food stalls on the seafront, but ended up eating at a big, noisy indoor/outdoor Chinese restaurant called the Bali Hai Seafood Market.

Beer arrived in an ice bucket like expensive Champagne, and we settled in our seats at a picnic table decorated like a beach hut with a thatched awning and twinkling lights.

Sensing that we were a little unsure about the menu, our waiter invited us to "tour the aquarium."

We watched as a boy in shorts climbed atop the fish tanks, and scooped out crab and geoduck clams with a net.

We selected a small fish for two. The waiter wrote down our order in Chinese. "How spicy?" he asked. "Not very." He recommended that we order it steamed with plums and ginger. It arrived on a platter topped with fresh, steamed vegetables. For around $25 for two with beer, it was more than we could eat and one of the best meals of the trip.

Searching for dessert later, we stopped at an Indian cafe a few doors down.

The Pakistani owner waved us in. He hoped we'd order dinner, of course, but all we wanted was the honey ice cream we saw advertised on his sign board.

What we got was a thin pancake filled with warm bananas and topped with ice cream drizzled with honey.

Heaven.

Contact the writer: cpucci@seattletimes.com

New ferry service connects PD to Sumatra
Thursday June 19, 2008
By C.S. NATHAN
TheStar

A NEW ferry service from Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan to the Indonesian town of Bagan Siapi-Api was launched recently aimed at promoting the tourism and health industries.

Situated in the province of Rokan Hilir, Sumatra, Bagan Siapi-Api is a less than four-hour boat ride across the Malacca Straits.

Once a bustling fishing port, the township is home to a majority ethnic Chinese population who settled in the area in the late 1800s.

Ferry operator PD Marine Services Sdn Bhd chairman Yaacob Hussin said the new route would attract more visitors to the state.

“We also want to promote our medical industry as Port Dickson has been declared a wellness zone. They can also study here as there are several institutions of higher learning in Negri Sembilan.

“Some 30 visitors from Bagan Siapi-Api accompanied us back after our maiden trip there. They were quite happy with the reception they received after visiting some hospitals and colleges here.

“Those who can afford better quality medical treatment often make the trip down to Singapore. Why not come here instead?” he said.

Yaacob also said that the opening of the new route would allow locals to visit this little Indonesian town that has quaint traditions.

“The Chinese community there have at least four annual festivals, the largest being the Go Cap Lak or bakar tongkang festival where a specially constructed fishing vessel is set on fire.

“The symbolic ritual attracts visitors from as far as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada and Australia,” he said.

Residents heading to Jakarta, who used to travel long hours to Pekan Baru to catch a flight, have an option to travel via Port Dickson and vice-versa for international tourists headed to Bagan Siapi-Api.

Bagan Siapi-Api mayor H. Annas Maamum said the authorities there would also intensify efforts to upgrade the town’s facilities and infrastructure available to accommodate more tourists.

“We have also embarked on projects to preserve the history of the area,” he said.

The town, which won an award for being one of the cleanest in the country, has an estimated population of about 40,000.

Neat low-rises that line the streets are not only home to the townsfolk but also to swallows, highly-prized for their nests.

Currently, the ferry service to Bagan Siapi-Api runs thrice weekly costing RM125 for a one-way trip and RM230 for a return journey.

If the Arabian News is to be believed, we are Asia's number one city! :cheers:

Asia’s number one city

by ArabianBusiness.com staff writer on Monday, 16 June 2008

Kuala Lumpur is a Gulf traveller summer favourite so agents should now persuade clients to visit the Malaysian city year-round.

Boasting luxury hotels with offerings tailored to their needs, awe-inspiring sights to rival those of the GCC's showiest cities, lush green parks to balance the dry desert sands and bargains to satisfy the most ardent shopaholic, it's no surprise that Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur sales manager Mukhriz Ma'arof calls the city the "number one destination for Middle East travellers".

"Initially they only came in summer - June, July and August - but now it's starting to be year-round," he says.

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board director for UAE, Gulf and Iran, Tuan Razali Tuan Omar, also claims Malaysia is the destination most visited by Middle East travellers.

"It's a good Muslim country so Middle East travellers feel like they are at home. The numbers are increasing year on year, and in 2007 they increased by approximately 30% from the GCC region," he says.

Leisure travellers - mostly families - travel to KL during the summer months according to Omar, with 50% of the yearly total visiting in August.

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur general manager Jonas A Schuermann has also noticed an increase in year-round sales, noting that he has seen more business coming from honeymooners travelling from the GCC, as well as corporate business from travellers working in the Islamic banking field.

Shangri-La's Ma'arof adds that incentive groups from Saudi Arabia are visiting "during the first few months of the year".

The reasons for the city's popularity are manifold, with Schuermann listing easy access through Malaysia's gateway Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the fact that GCC citizens don't require a visa to travel to the country.

He adds: "value for money in Kuala Lumpur is fantastic as the money goes a very long way compared to other countries in Asia, and obviously the US and Europe.

We also do a lot for our Middle Eastern guests in terms of menus and we now have a total of three permanently employed Middle Eastern colleagues, so language is not an issue.

During summer Ma'arof boosts the number of Arabic-speaking staff to 10. Meanwhile, the entire menu at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur is Halal-certified and every year the hotel invites chefs from hotels in either Saudi Arabia or the UAE to KL to cook in the hotel's kitchen and work with its catering staff to produce Arabic-centric menus.

"This year we will also set up tents and shisas by the pool for the Middle East guests," adds Schuermann.

Ma'arof says the best way for agents to learn about KL and his property is to visit the city and "stay in touch" with what the Malaysian capital has to offer. We have three people within the hotel dedicated to the Middle East market, including myself.

He also stresses that because Ramadan falls earlier this year, agents should note that Muslim clients will be travelling to KL earlier than usual this summer.

"We think that they will start coming in mid-June, compared to early July last year, going home at the end of August rather than mid-September," explains Schuermann.

"This year, from a timing point of view, we think there will be a bit of a shift. If you also look at school holidays in the bigger markets, such as KSA, they start a little bit earlier and they have three-and-a-half months this year so we're really trying to capture that market based on school holidays.

Shopping and sights

The Petronas Twin Towers and the 421-metre Menara Kuala Lumpur or KL Tower - are "very romantic spots" according to Shangri-La's Ma'arof with both offering panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur and are perhaps its most famous sights.

"We have been promoting Kuala Lumpur for 10 years already and a lot of people from the Middle East have come to Kuala Lumpur - KL Tower is the landmark they know," says Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board's Omar.

While those looking for nature can find a host of attractions such as KL Lake Gardens, a Bird Park, Butterfly Park, Deer Park, an Orchid Garden and a Hibiscus Garden.

"The main appeal of Kuala Lumpur though is the shopping," says Omar. Famous shopping areas include Kuala Lumpur City Centre next to the Twin Towers for designer and high street goods, Chinatown (Petaling Street) for back street bargains and the art deco Central Market for souvenirs and handicrafts.

"The city is also a family destination and we have many facilities for families such as theme parks, so when a Middle Eastern family comes to Kuala Lumpur the mother can go shopping and the father can take his children to see the attractions," adds Omar.

New market trends

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board is now trying to sell Kuala Lumpur as a gateway into Malaysia, somewhere where Middle East travellers can base themselves while exploring the rest of the country.

"While the number of Middle East travellers to Kuala Lumpur will surely increase, we want them to experience one or two nights outside of the city - on the east coast, for example," says Omar.

Mandarin Oriental's Schuermann says people do come to visit Kuala Lumpur and then go on to Langkarwi, Borneo or Penang afterwards, but shopping and food are aspects of the city's appeal that will keep Middle East travellers returning: "We are also aiming at the ex-pat market - guests who will come for long-weekends and during Ramadan when it gets a bit quieter here," he adds.

But the market with the biggest potential according to Schuermann is medical tourism, especially now the Prince Court Medical Centre has opened its doors: "The new hospital is no more than 10 minutes from our hotel and it's owned by Pertronis and operated by the University of Vienna in Austria.

It is specialising in medical tourism, cardio screenings and cosmetic surgery and it's really doing a fantastic job," he says. "You can go to medical facilities in Thailand or Singapore, but they're big, whereas this is smaller and very affordable.

It's been open now for eight months and the fact that it is run and operated by the University of Vienna really gives it a lot of credibility as well."


Click here (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/522050-asias-number-one-city) to visit the original site.

Fraser’s Hill grows as place for bird watching
Monday June 23, 2008
TheStar

KUANTAN: Efforts taken to promote bird watching in Fraser’s Hill by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and Fraser’s Hill Development Corporation (PKBF) have made the highland area a premier place for the activity.

According to PKBF general manager Hanafiah Abdul Talib, Fraser’s Hill had often been referred to as a first-class bird-watching destination in the region as it was home to more than 250 species of birds.

“Many migratory species, that fly here from places as far as Siberia and islands north of Japan, come to Fraser’s Hill in November and December each year.

“They come here to seek new feeding grounds and escape the freezing winter up north,” he said here recently.

He said these birds stayed around Fraser’s Hill for several months before migrating southwards to Australia and New Zealand.

It was also known that many rare and endangered species were often sighted in the highland and among them were the wreathed hornbills and rhinoceros hornbills, Hanafiah said.

On efforts to promote bird watching, Hanafiah said that MNS and PKBF held their 21st international bird race last weekend at Fraser’s Hill.

“It was the brainchild of the Selangor Bird Group of MNS and PKBF and the first competition was held in 1988 with five teams participating.

“Now, it has become an important annual get-together for bird watchers and nature lovers worldwide,” he added.

The event was featured in bird-watcher maps all over the world, he said.

On the event being called a bird race, Hanafiah said it was a race where teams of three competed in searching, identifying and recording different species of birds within a stipulated time.

Among the objectives were the promotion of Fraser’s Hill as a top bird-watching destination, encourage bird watching as an academic and healthy outdoor activity and creating awareness on the rich flora and fauna in the highland, he added.

“It is important to protect Fraser’s Hill as a bird sanctuary and as part of the country’s rich natural heritage,” he said.

Hanafiah expressed surprise that cash was not the main attraction of the participants and they seemed to prefer prizes in kind such as bird books, binoculars, digital cameras, bush gear and field tents.

For more information, call PKBF at 09-517 1623/1624, e-mail pkbf@streamyx.com or pkbf@tmnet.com.my or visit the website at www.pkbf.org.my or www.pkbf.pahangtourism.org.my

wow, never knew that the Prince Court Hospital is run by University of Vienna! the expension should be done fast as we can have UoV's branch of medical study in KL...

Malaysia tumpuan Arab Saudi

Jeddah, 24 Jun - Kira-kira 4.0 juta rakyat Arab Saudi dijangka bercuti ke pelbagai destinasi di luar negara terutama Malaysia pada musim panas ini, demikian menurut akhbar terkemuka Arab Asharqalawsat hari ini.

Menurut akhbar itu, pelancong Arab Saudi dianggarkan berbelanja 22 bilion Riyal Saudi (RM19.15 bilion) untuk membeli tiket bagi tujuan itu.

Laporan itu yang memetik Pengerusi Al Tayyar Group Nasser Al Tayyar, menyatakan bahawa kebanyakan mereka telah membuat tempahan untuk bercuti di Malaysia sebagai destinasi utama diikuti Mesir, Itali dan Perancis.

"Tempahan agak ketara untuk negara Turki dan Amerika Syarikat yang dianggap destinasi murah berbanding Malaysia, tetapi disebabkan proses mendapatkan visa yang agak sukar, kebanyakan mereka memilih Malaysia," katanya.

Resorts World wins two awards


KUALA LUMPUR: Resorts World Bhd bagged two awards at the 15th World Travel Awards gala ceremony held in Shanghai last Thursday.

Its flagship Genting Highlands Resorts won the Asia's Leading Casino Resort award for the fourth year in a row. It was also named the Asia's Leading Family Resort.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/6/26/business/b_04resorts.jpg
Lee Choong Yan (centre) receiving one of the awards from World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke (left) and Miss World 2007 Zhang Zi Lin

“We are grateful and proud to be recognised by our industry peers and professionals from over 160 countries,'' its president Lee Choong Yan said in a statement yesterday.

Dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as the Oscars of the travel industry, the World Travel Awards is regarded as one of the accolades a travel organisation can achieve.

The statement said Genting Highlands Resort, with its myriad attractions ranging from casino to theme parks, plus international shows and concerts, was a positive contributor to the tourism industry of Malaysia.

Total Of 24.6 Mln Tourists Expected By 2010


KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- A total of 24.6 million tourists are targeted to arrival by 2010 with receipts of RM59.4 billion compared with 21 million with receipts of RM46.1 billion last year.

Earnings from education tourism are expected to touch RM2 billion by 2010.

The government also aims to increase health tourism earnings to RM1 billion, said the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Ministers Department said in its mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) today.

Per capita expenditure of tourist is targeted at RM2,417 as compared with RM2,198 in 2007, it added.

-- BERNAMA

Big tourism plans for Penang
Friday June 27, 2008
By ANDREA FILMER
TheStar

BEING the point man for Penang’s tourism industry is a daunting job, but state Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang has big plans for the future.

Having just passed his 100 days in office, Law is aware that the people are looking for progress and fast implementation of projects.

“Since March 8, I’ve received about 50 proposals from private companies who are interested in embarking on tourism projects in the state.

“Since all of them are private initiatives, they don’t need the funds and in some cases, even the land, from the state government to see their projects through,” Law said.

He said Penang was now studying projects, which include an eco-tourism resort in Teluk Bahang and a 16ha Penang Darling Harbour in Batu Maung.

“There are also proposals for a new marina bay for international cruises to dock, and international standard eco-tourism Asian-style team park with jungle tracking, a crocodile farm and a Cheng Ho Gallery, among many others,” Law said in an interview at his office in Komtar, George Town.

He added that the public would start to see things materialising in the next six months starting with a cable car project and the revamping of Pesta Expo in December.

“We have two options for the cable car project – an RM80mil proposal from Teluk Bahang to Penang Hill and a RM60mil project from Youth Park to Penang Hill.

“We hope to approve and see work start in the next six months,” Law said, adding that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, extensive research as well as land and buildings consultations had to be done before any project was approved.

KL targets 14 million tourists
By FAZLEENA AZIZ


IN AN effort to brand Kuala Lumpur city centre as the destination for holidays, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions as well as sporting activities, KL mayor Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan has unveiled the Visit KL logo.

Hakim said the new logo combined a few main iconic elements of KL.

”The logo has the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower and Sultan Abdul Samad building with a river that takes us back to the making of the city.

“As for the flowers, they represent the rich diversity of KL folks while the sun adds the shine.

“These icons have been merged in a contemporary manner to give a cheerful impression, especially when we are welcoming tourists.

“This branding of KL as a premier destination in the region is a combined effort between the government, the private sector and city folks.

“It is important for us to love and be proud of our city before convincing the tourists,” said Hakim at the launch on Wednesday.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will use the logo officially for the next 10 years to promote tourism-related activities and as an endorsement for private sector events.

Hakim also launched the Picture KL photography contest in conjunction with the new logo.

“This competition is held to promote KL through the camera lens. It requires the people to capture the best essence and sights of the city.

“We want to get people to get out and about, and record the happenings and the multiple facets of the city they may not know,” he said.

Hakim added that the photo contest was chosen for its healthy way of creative expression, especially among youth.

The second KL Samrah Festival 2008 was also announced by Hakim.

“Last year, the festival managed to pull in 40,000 visitors, especially from the Middle East, and we expect more this year.

“A total of 245,302 tourists from the Middle East came to Malaysia last year and about 171,711 of them visited KL.

“The total number of tourists to Malaysia last year was 20.8 million, and KL had about 13.5 million who spent about RM33bil.

“For this year, the number of tourists to Malaysia is targeted at 22.5 million. We are expecting 14 million to visit KL, who will spend an estimated RM35bil,” said Hakim.

The festival will be held from July 4 to 27 and will feature performances by artistes from Indonesia and Singapore, including Kumpulan Orkes Gambus Al-Ikhwan, Nizar Ali Alhaddad, Fahmi Makawi, Ferbri Wilyanti, Rizki Amelia, Iqwal Bamajbur and Mustafa Alhadar.

The free concerts will be held at Bintang Walk from 8pm to midnight on July 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 and 27.

The festival is organised by the KL Tourism Action Council and the DBKL with sponsorship from Celcom (M) Bhd.

The photo competition has three categories – Open, Youth and Junior – with two themes, “KL Sky” and “KL Life/KL Humour”. It will run for 45 days, from June 25 to Aug 15.

The top three winners in the Open category will take home RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM1,500.

In the Youth category, the best three stand a chance to win RM3,000, RM1,500 and RM800.

Junior category winners will take home RM1,500, RM800 and RM500.

For the KL Sky theme, the first prize is RM10,000 followed by RM5,000 and RM3,000 for the second and third placed entries.

Canon cameras will also be given away with the prizes.

Sponsors for the competition are Canon, Soho KL and KL Tower.

The competition is open to all Malaysians, foreign residents and tourists. The prize presentation will be held on Aug 27 in conjunction with the Merdeka Day celebration.

For details on the competition, log on to www.picturekl.com.

Negeri Sembilan Wants Tourists To Stay Than Pass Through
June 28, 2008 10:59 AM

SEREMBAN, June 28 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan government wants tourism industry players in the state to develop tourism packages to entice tourists to stay in the state rather than pass through to the north or south of the country.

State Tourism, Culture, Arts, Heritage and Malay Customs Committee chairman Mohammad Razi Kail said the tourism industry players should be creative in coming up with tourism packages to attract the tourists to stay in the state.

The state government has targeted for 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state to come from the tourism sector by 2015, he said at a function with the media and tourism industry players here last night.

Mohammad Razi quoted Tourism Malaysia statistics to show that 1.6 million tourists stayed in Negeri Sembilan last year, registering an occupancy rate of 51.2 per cent, much lower than that recorded by the other states and the national rate of 68 per cent.

-- BERNAMA

Melaka River Beautification Programme Enters Final Phase
June 27, 2008 23:27 PM

MELAKA, June 27 (Bernama) -- The Melaka river beautification programme is now entering its fourth and final phase with a cost of RM90 million to build and upgrade seven bridges on the river, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said.

He said among the bridges which would be reconstructed were Hang Tuah, Kampung Morten and Tan Kim Seng and scheduled for completion in 2010.

"This is to ease the movement of tour boats from the Melaka river mouth to Melaka Sentral, the town's public transportation hub," he told reporters after inspecting the Hang Jebat bridge reconstruction project at Taman Rempah here.

The river beautification programme is modelled after the San Antonio River in the United States.

The programme is divided into four phases namely the construction of wave breaker, a promenade, sewage system as well as landscaping, boat mooring facilities and the installation of lightings.

-- BERNAMA

Yang Dipertuan Agong Officiates Noor Arfa Craft Complex
June 27, 2008 22:39 PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 27 (Bernama) -- The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, today launched the Noor Arfa Craft Complex in Chendering, as Terengganu's new tourist attraction.

The complex, which was opened to the public on Jan 1, was built incorporating the elements of Terengganu's traditional house and had delicate flower sculptures at each of it roof-ends.

Accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Tuanku Mizan also visited the participants of the mentor-mentee training programme organised by the Coordinating Committee of Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation (SMRF) for Craft Heritage, at the complex.

The programme, among others, offers four training modules, namely the art of wood carving, traditional weapon making, brassware decorating and batik printing.

Upon completing the 19-month programme, the trainees will receive a certificate from Universiti Darul Iman.

-- BERNAMA

Tourism Malaysia to continue with hardsell
Tuesday July 1, 2008
By SIMON KHOO
TheStar

FRASER’S HILL: Tourism Malaysia will continue with aggressive promotional activities in countries which provide high tourist arrivals, its deputy director- general (planning) Amiruddin Abu said.

Amiruddin said, despite the cost-cutting measures initiated by the Government, its planned roadshows overseas would not be called off.

“Instead, we will strategise and prioritise our activities to hit the target of 2.5 million foreign visitors this year.

“I was told, so far, there is a 2% increase in foreign tourists arrival compared to the first five months of last year.

“Our target markets are China, Hong Kong, Europe, Australia, Britain, Russia, the Middle East and, of course, Asean countries,” he told Star Metro when met here recently.

Amiruddin said that tourism was a sectors, which had to march on despite an economic recession.

He said they would have to do some re-branding of certain ecotourism products and activities to lure visitors.

“Political stability is still among the main reason for a high influx of foreign visitors.

“Besides, the warm reception of locals, industry players such as hoteliers, tour agents and guides played an important role,” he said.

Citing the Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race as an example, he said the event attracted participation from all over the world.

“This race has been successful in enhancing awareness and appreciation of Fraser's Hill as an attractive eco-tourism destination.

“Last year, 50,128 visitors were recorded at Fraser’s Hill,” he said.

Amiruddin said they were confident the targeted number of tourist arrival would be met by the end of the year.

Sarawak Records More Domestic Tourist Arrivals
July 06, 2008 10:51 AM

SIBU, July 6 (Bernama) -- Sarawak recorded an encouraging 29 per cent increase in domestic tourist arrivals for the first four months of this year.

Sarawak Minister of Urban Development and Tourism Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said the state received about 430,000 visitors compared to about 400,000 over the same period last year.

However, foreign tourist arrivals had only seen a slight increase, he said when speaking at the grand finale of the week-long Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF), the town's annual and signature tourism event, at the town square here last night.

Wong represented Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the event where cultural troupes from Kalimantan in Borneo and Botswana in South Africa were among the performers.

He said the government would intensify its efforts to lure more foreign tourists to the state, noted for its culture, adventure and nature attractions.

On the BCF, he suggested that a special committee be formed to market and promote it overseas and that seminars and workshops on handicraft, music and art be organised alongside to enhance its image.

Wong said he was confident BCF could became a national and, eventually, an international event with constant enhancement over the years.

"The Rainforest World Music festival, at its inception 11 years ago, was a small event attracting only about 1,000 people initially.

"As we, slowly but surely, improved on it, it has became very popular so much so that we have to cap the number of visitors at 24,000 for its entire three-night shows," he said.

Federal Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew and BCF joint organising chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King were among those present at last night's event.

-- BERNAMA

Penang plans to fly high
Monday July 7, 2008
TheStar

FIREFLY, Tourism Malaysia and the Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC) will embark on a roadshow to promote the state as a tourist destination and northern region air hub for low cost carriers.

The Penang Travel Trade Members Roadshow for inbound and outbound air travel, scheduled from July 9 to July 30, was announced by PTAC chairman Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen recently.

“Penang’s location is very strategic and Firefly will position the state as a gateway to the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). With the arrival of five new ATR72-500 Firefly aircrafts, Penang will soon be connected to Medan and Acheh,” she said.

“We want to promote the state as an air traffic hub. We will be out to establish smart partner-ships with other tour operators in the region to develop packages and marketing strategies,” she said.

The roadshow will be held in Phuket and Koh Samui (Thailand), Medan and Acheh (Indonesia), and Langkawi, Kota Baru, Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur.

“This roadshow is aimed at providing tourism industry players with the opportunity to network and develop their businesses with their counterparts around the region.

“There will be seminars, presentations and a travel mart on the state with 100 participants from travel agencies, hotels, tour operators and educational institutions. I am sure this can help to boost tourist arrivals to the state,” she said.

Kee said that for Penang to be successful, the state must also be promoted alongside other popular tourist destinations in the region.

“We must be pragmatic. Penang can no longer stand on her own. We want more connectivity but can we sustain the passenger load?

“That is why I want to promote closer cooperation with other countries and come up with joint packages that add value for visitors,” she said.

Tourism Malaysia goes for short- and medium-haul travellers
Laviinia Dhanagunan

http://www.nst.com.my/Streets/Tuesday/Stories/2287552/insidepix1
Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab receiving a memento from WITCX 2008 executive chairman, Datuk Dr Raja Mohamad.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia will shift its emphasis to focus on marketing strategies for short and medium-haul travellers.

Its director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said the focus would be on travellers on regional flights not exceeding six hours.

He said Tourism Malaysia would hold discussions with local low-cost carriers as part of its aim to bring in more international tourists.

Mirza, however, declined to elaborate on the strategies, saying they would be revealed at a later date.


He was speaking to reporters after launching the World Islamic Tourism Conference & Expo 2008 (WITCX 2008) at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) yesterday.

WITCX 2008 is a Malaysian effort aimed at promoting Islamic tourism holistically and on an international level.

The inaugural event, to be held from Oct 8-11 at PWTC, will see the participation of the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The four-day WITCX 2008 comprises an exposition, a conference and an exhibition-cum-seminar. It aims to be a platform for global Islamic tourism industry members to meet, interact and network.

Organised by OIC International Business and Donaplus Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with the Malaysian Islamic Trade Chamber, the event also has the support of Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysian government.

WITCX 2008 executive chairman, Datuk Dr Raja Mohamad said the possibility of WITCX 2008 becoming an annual event would depend on the endorsement of the OIC.

Tourism industry players interested in the event can contact the WITCX secretariat at 03-21419495/9496 or e-mail admin@witcx.com for more information.

well here's some bad news....and now i belif we needs to do sumtin urgently.....

Big spender, where art thou?
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2008/07/11

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Friday/Frontpage/20080711013406/Article/Current_News/BTIMES/Images/btgraph9/anil11.jpg

Apart from higher fuel prices, the Middle Easterners, after many trips to Malaysia, are now exploring Thailand and Indonesia, says Matta president


IT’S the Arab tourist season now, but tour and travel agents, hotel operators and shopping complexes say that not many are making their way here.

Middle Eastern tourists, who would only confirm bookings closer to their trip, are shortening their stay and are choosing other destinations in the region, industry players said.

This tourist group is a major market for Malaysia due to their big spending power.

Although their numbers are small, they spend the most on an individual basis.

It was revealed in Parliament recently that their average spending was RM6,070 per person last year, three times higher than the average.

Between January and May this year, Middle Eastern tourists numbers have fallen by 4.4 per cent to 72,884.

“There appears to be a marginal drop. Apart from higher fuel prices, the Middle Easterners, after many trips to Malaysia, are now exploring neighbouring countries like Thailand and Indonesia,” president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Ngaim Foon said.

Dorsett Regency Kuala Lumpur in Jalan Bukit Bintang, which is normally fully booked during the Arab tourist season, is experiencing a decline.

“Generally, the number of Arabs has reduced ... but we don’t know by how many yet. We forecast to finish July at an average occupancy of 90 per cent which is lower than last year,” its general manager Christina Toh said.

The general manager of Holiday Inn Glenmarie Anil Pathak said that the hotel expects occupancy rates to fall by up to 15 per cent compared with 2007 due to the increase in fuel prices which has resulted in higher air ticket prices.

Malls are also feeling the pinch.

“Shopping complexes which focus on Arab customers are seeing a marginal decline from this group as well as the quality of the tourists as their buying power is not as strong as in previous years,” said Joyce Yap, president of the The Association for Shopping Complex and High-Rise Management.

However, Tourism Malaysia expects arrivals to pick up.

“It is still too early to say. We are optimistic that it will pick up during the peak season of July, August and September,” secretary-general of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng said.

Emirates Airlines also expects arrivals to improve. In fact, it added 15 more planes for the Dubai-Kuala Lumpur route, in anticipation of more demand.

“This translates to approximately 6,000 additional arrivals into Malaysia,” said country manager for Emirates in Malaysia Alban Lee.

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Friday/Frontpage/20080711013406/Article/Current_News/BTIMES/Images/btgraph9/middle11.jpg

they spend rm6070 perperson last year....wow!!!

Taylor's College Signs MoU With KPYPJ To Provide Hospitality And Tourism Education
July 15, 2008 18:51 PM

JOHOR BAHARU, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Taylor's College School of Hospitality and Tourism (TCHT) Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kumpulan Pendidikan Yayasan Pelajaran Johor (KPYPJ) to provide hospitality and tourism education and training to students and staff of Institut Hospitaliti Yayasan Pendidikan Johor (IHYPJ).

The MoU was signed by KPYPJ chief executive officer Dr Sa'ari Md Nooh and Taylor's College chief operating officer Pradeep Nair.

Speaking at the ceremony here Pradeep said the partnership with KPYPJ was a testament of Taylor's commitment to grooming future human resources in the hospitality and tourism industry in this country.

"We believe that graduates will be able to contribute significantly to the hospitality and tourism industry both in Malaysia and overseas," said Pradeep.

Sa'ari said KPYPJ was interested in the partnership with Taylor's College because it was a well-established and reputable college in the country.

-- BERNAMA

Ministry To Restore Desaru's Tourism Appeal
July 13, 2008 10:54 AM

KOTA TINGGI, July 13 (Bernama) -- The "Zoom!Malaysia" campaign, launched in May, has given the opportunity to the Tourism Ministry to restore the tourism appeal of Desaru.

Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said the beach and resort area, once a choice destination among tourists, especially those from Singapore, had been losing its popularity over the years due to the development of other tourist destinations.

"But with the Zoom! Malaysia domestic tourism campaign, we can now have programmes to restore Desaru's popularity as a beachside tourist attraction," she said when launching the Zoom! Desaru Carnival and Seafood Nite 2008 at the Tanjung Balau beach.

She said Desaru had many advantages, including its rich marine life as well as white sandy beaches such as Tanjung Balau, regarded as among the most scenic in Malaysia.

Desaru also had strong winds, especially during monsoon seasons, which made it an ideal place for surfing and other sea sports, she said.

Azalina said Johor itself was a state known for its historical sites as well as having rich cultural heritage like the kuda kepang and zapin traditional dance.

Quoting a figure from the Immigration Department, Azalina said last year Johor received 23.9 million foreign arrivals, an increase of 17.6 per cent compared to those in 2006.

She said even though the figure also included day-trippers, it nevertheless an encouraging number in the effort to make Johor a competitive holiday destination.

-- BERNAMA

Visit Negeri Sembilan Year 2010 Postponed
July 16, 2008 19:01 PM

SEREMBAN, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Visit Negeri Sembilan Year planned for 2010 will be postponed to a date that will be announced later, said Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said this would be implemented when the state government is capable of offering products that are attractive to tourists.

"Tourism products in Negeri Sembilan need added value to grab the attention of tourists and they need to be managed by a special organisation to avoid conflict that may cause the product management to be less efficient.

He said the state government had directed the state Economic Planning Unit to study and make suggestions on forming a committee to be named the Tourism Products Board, which would manage all the tourism products in Negeri Sembilan as well as make them attractive.

"Regarding additional tourism products to be introduced in Negeri Sembilan, the state government welcomes any suggestion and help from the public," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Tourist arrivals in Malaysia up 2.6pc in first half
Published: 2008/07/18



THE number of foreign tourists visiting Malaysia during the first six months of this year increased 2.6 per cent from the same period last year, from 10,690,426 to 10,963,120 people, said Tourism Malaysia.

For June, the number of foreign tourists visiting Malaysia rose 8.7 per cent from a year ago, that is from 1,803,594 to 1,961,355, it said in a statement issued yesterday.

It said Singapore maintained its position as the biggest tourist generating market for the first six months with a total of 5,475,930 visitors, followed by Indonesia (1,095,511), Thailand (758,114) and China including Hong Kong and Macau (491,682). — Bernama

Borneo's Oldest National Park, A Popular Choice For Repeat Visitors
July 19, 2008 22:32 PM
By Caroline Jackson

KUCHING, July 19 (Bernama) -- The 'Proboscis Monkey' or 'Orang Belanda', symbolic of Borneo's internationally-renowned and protected animal, is not the only reason why tourists keep returning by the droves for more.

The Bako National Park is another reason.

Borneo's first and oldest national park has long been a popular choice for repeat visitors.

Located on the Muara tebas peninsula and gazetted as a national park, five decades ago, not much of its natural ambience and wildlife has been disturbed.

Only accessible by sea from the Bako fishing village, about a 20-minute drive from here, foreigners account for 70 per cent of the average 30,000 visitors annually.

Park manager Siali Aban attributes the 2,727-hectare park's popularity with foreigners to its privacy and quietness. The Bako Park has been, and still is as it was.

"The absence of illegal logging and fishing and the safeguarding of the native rights of the inhabitants of Bako Village and fishermen are some of the factors which see countless repeat visitors over the years," he told Bernama during a 32-kilometre guided trek of the park today.

Siali is confident that the park's annual revenue would reach the RM1 million mark in five years, from the current RM700,000, through integrated tourism and collaborative conservation and research projects.

The park - named after the mangrove, Rhizophora species or known locally as bakau/bako - is the top revenue earner in Sarawak, followed by the Unesco World Heritage Site of Mulu National Park.

Siali said, however, the park which is currently managed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, was mulling the possibility of imposing a two-tier entrance fee to encourage more domestic visitors so that they would be more aware of biodiversity conservation efforts being undertaken in protected areas.

With its rugged coastline of ancient rock formations and steep cliffs sheltering a few secluded beaches and mudflats, he said, the park was also promoting its sole island, Lankei Island, as a quiet destination for honeymooners. In terms of natural resources, the Bako National Park has over 600 species of flowering plants and 267 species of animals.

There are 196 species of birds, including the migratory ones from Siberia and China.

-- BERNAMA

Luxury Yacht Is Melaka's Latest Tourism Product
July 19, 2008 22:14 PM

MELAKA, July 19 Bernama) -- Tourists to Melaka can now enjoy sailing aboard a luxury yacht and experience five-star dining on the high seas.

The 76.62m 'Lili Marleen' is owned by Halim Mazmin Group chief executive officer, Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, and can take on 50 visitors at a time.

"Its a floating hotel. Besides sailing, tourists can enjoy fine dining," Halim told reporters after a visit by Melaka Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, to the yacht moored near the Melaka Port here today.

He said the yacht with sails and bought from Germany would be a special location for social activities, adding that tourists will be taken to visit islands in the Straits of Melaka.

"We can take tourists who want to sail to Penang, Langkawi or even Sumatra," said Halim, who is also a sailor.

He said tourists can liase with hotels or travel agents. Asked about the rates, he said it would be discussed with the tourism industry.

Halim said the sailing service was in line with Melaka's recent listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

-- BERNAMA

by jyrki`s

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2683581590_fb325148e3_o.jpg

Ferry service revival
Monday July 21, 2008
By FARIK ZOLKEPLI
TheStar

KOTA TINGGI: The Tourism Ministry is in talks with the Transport Ministry over resuming the vehicle ferry service from Changi to Tanjung Belungkor to boost the entry of Singaporeans to Malaysia, especially to Desaru.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said the service was a major factor that enabled Desaru to be developed as a tourist destination but the service was stopped 15 years ago leading to a decline in tourism.

“Entering Malaysia via Tanjung Belungkor is convenient when you take into account the traffic congestion at the Causeway and Second Link,” she said after visiting the Desaru Zoom Carnival 2008 in Tanjung Balau here recently.

Azalina said she had spoken to Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat on aggressively implementing the service again.

On another matter, she said the number of tourist arrivals nationwide recorded an 8.2% increase last month compared to the corresponding period last year.

“The increase is due to efforts of the ministry in promoting tourist destinations in Malaysia.

“We are optimistic of achieving our target of 22 million visitors this year,” she said.

On the Desaru Zoom Carnival, Azalina said it was a concept in promoting tourist destinations creatively.

“Instead of focusing on the destination, we promote the attractions the destination has to offer.

“For Tanjung Balau, we are promoting its seafood and identity as a fishing village,” she said.

Azalina said the carnival targeted domestic tourists and would be held in Desaru each year as there were not plans to organise it elsewhere.

Some 33 stalls were set up to promote seafood and nasi lemak.

Visitors were at hand to witness the longest ikan bakar in Malaysia, which at 450m entered the Malaysia Book of Records.

Golfers spent RM720m in Malaysia last year


MIRI: Some 350,000 foreign golfers spent more than RM720mil in Malaysia last year.

And the tourism ringgit from these financially-powerful spenders is expected to continue in the future.

Tourism Malaysia general manager for advertising Abdul Hani Daud said Malaysia was named last year as the number one golf destination in the Asia-Pacific by the international golf organisation IAGTO, which is made up of 73 countries.

“We (Tourism Malaysia) want to showcase the country’s best golf courses to attract international players.

We have the best facilities and courses for golf in the region, yet we charge the lowest fees,” he said at a dinner to fete some 100 international golfers for Round 5 of the World Amateur Golf Championship 2008.

“Through golf, we will then be able to promote other tourism products, such as our unique food, culture and natural attractions.

“Golf in Malaysia is an all year-round affair because of our good weather, thus the flow of golf tourists is also an all year-round thing,” he said.

The participants included journalist-golfers. They are from the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brunei and Malaysia.

Team USA won Round 5. The teams will proceed to Penang for Round 6.

Holiday in our backyard


It is a known fact – come holiday time, many Malaysians prefer to throng foreign destinations than explore local tourist attractions.

According to the Tourism Ministry, Malaysians made 26 million trips overseas last year and spent billions of ringgit in foreign countries.

Needless to say, the ministry is unhappy about it and has urged Malaysians to give local holiday destinations a chance.

And so they should, as Malaysia is rich with natural wonders, vibrant cultural towns and historical sites.

However, if you ask any Malaysian holidaymaker about their lack of interest in domestic tourism, they will be quick to tell you that the problem is the lack of information available, especially on the Internet.

Most of the websites are outdated while the current ones do not offer good service where travel arrangements and hotel bookings are concerned.

Now the ministry is making sure that this is a thing of the past with their newly launched domestic tourism campaign for 2008-2009 called Zoom! Malaysia at http://travelmalaysiaguide.com/zoom-malaysi

Zoom! Malaysia replaces the previous Cuti-cuti Malaysia campaign.

The website tries hard to sell Malaysia as the first choice for holidaymakers. Available at your fingertips are the most updated travel news, deals and promotions including maps, timeshare details and hotel packages.

Another useful website is http://www.cuti.com.my which is a one-stop Internet travel reservation and information reference gateway for Malaysia. It offers a full range of travel services online, including ticketing, hotel and tour reservation to facilitate research and planning before you reach the destination.

If you prefer to plan your holiday based on the type of activity try http://www.cuti-cuti.com.my. The travel portal provides all the relevant information necessary for a unique holiday experience, be it mountain climbing, jungle trekking, diving, golf, lazing in the sun or shopping.

Another travel portal worth checking out is http://www.malaysia.sawadee.com, especially if you need information on hotels and holiday packages.

Now, if you believe fellow travellers make the best source of travel information, go to http://www.world66.com, a Wikipedia-like website that offers information on over 20,000 destinations in the world.

World66 is an open content travel guide where people from all over the planet write about the places they love, the hotels they stayed in and restaurants they have eaten at. The entries on Malaysia cover a wide range of holiday spots and activities. After your enjoyable holiday, you can contribute your own two sen critique of a particular holiday spot.

Surprisingly, it also provides comprehensive and up-to-date information.

So now, with the mid-semester school break around the corner again, why don't you plan a local holiday trip for your family?

After all, with the soaring price of petrol, going local may be the smarter choice.

Arab factor to boost mega sales


KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia is banking on oil money from Middle Eastern countries to help fuel the Mega Sale Carnival from July 5 to Sept 1.

“This is the Arab season. There will be an influx of tourists wanting to escape the summer heat there. We are expecting 300,000 tourists from Middle Eastern countries,” said Amiruldin Abu, Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (planning).

A number of extra flights are flying in from Jeddah (32), Iran (20), Kuwait (16) and UAE (10).

Last year, the Arab season (until the end of July) brought in 245,302 tourists from the Middle East who spent RM1.4bil.

Statistics showed each tourist stayed an average of eight nights and spent about RM6,000.

Amiruldin said Arab tourists were fond of Malaysia because they felt comfortable here.

However, Malaysian Retailers Association president Eddy Chan said the Arab factor was only applicable to certain malls.

He spoke to a few counterparts and overall, the first weekend sales was not better than last year’s figures.

Chan said locals were more cautious about spending after the fuel hike hit many pockets.

Also, many avoided the city as rumours swirled about a mass gathering in town.

“People don’t want to be caught inside their cars for hours because of traffic jams. This did not help getting customers into our stores over the weekend,” he said.

The lack of extensive media promotion about the Mega Sale ahead of the event was also a damper.

Previously, the publicity hit the electronic and print media as early as two months before the sales.

“This time, maybe the Government was preoccupied with other things,” said Chan.

Retailers hoped the second half of the year - with the fasting month, Hari Raya, Christmas and New Year festivities, would encourage more sales.

Homestay At Renok Baru A Must For Tourists In Gua Musang
July 21, 2008 16:38 PM
By Nor Adila Ali

GUA MUSANG, July 21 (Bernama) -- A group of 14 journalists and photograpers were recently taken on a homestay trip to Kampung Renok Baru here.

After a three-day stay, their hearts cried out in having to leave such a pristine and peaceful life to go back to work, and some, the hustle bustle of city life.

A reporter from Kosmo, Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh, said it was the best homestay village he had ever stayed in Kelantan.

"The place is clean, right from the time we entered the village and to the bedrooms we stayed in," he added.

He was also taken by the hospitality of the villagers.

The New Straits Times journalist, Zalina Mohd Som said the Kampung Renok Baru homestay package should be emulated by other homestay operators.

Zalina, who writes for Travel Times, had been to various homestay programes, including in Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak, said the one at Kampung Renok Baru was the best place.

"I have a few friends who have been here and they are impressed by the hospitality of the villagers and also the village," she added.

Kelantan Tourism director Muhammad Zaki Talib said there were six homestay packages in Kelantan and the one at Kampung Renok Baru was among the popular ones.

-- BERNAMA

RM28 juta untuk pelancongan sepanjang RMK-9


KERAJAAN memperuntukkan RM28 juta untuk semua negeri menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti pelancongan menerusi Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan Negeri (MTPN), sepanjang Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9).

Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib, berkata peruntukan di bawah RMK-9 itu membabitkan sejumlah 119 acara pelancongan yang diluluskan mengikut kesesuaian setiap negeri.

Mengenai pecahan mengikut negeri pula, beliau berkata, Perlis mendapat RM1.58 juta; Kedah (RM1.754 juta), Langkawi (RM1.730 juta), Perak (RM1.956 juta), Selangor (RM1.950 juta), Melaka (RM1,827,564)," katanya menjawab soalan asal Senator Siw Chun Eam.



Sulaiman berkata, sebanyak RM1,872,791 diperuntukkan untuk Negeri Sembilan, Johor (RM1,298,550), Kelantan (RM1.7 juta), Terengganu (RM1.91 juta), Labuan (RM1.335 juta), Sabah (RM1,951,200), Sarawak (RM1.735 juta), Pahang (RM1.737 juta) Kuala Lumpur (RM1.810 juta), Pulau Pinang (RM1,619,572) dan Putrajaya (RM1.2 juta).

Menjelaskan perbezaan fungsi antara MTPN, Tourism Malaysia dan Bahagian Penggalakan Pelancongan di setiap negeri, Sulaiman Abdul Rahman berkata, ketiga-tiga agensi berkenaan bekerjasama dengan kerajaan negeri untuk merancang acara dan produk pelancongan baru.

"Tourism Malaysia diwujudkan untuk mempromosikan setiap acara yang diadakan dan tempat pelancongan di seluruh negara, pihak pelancongan negeri pula akan mengenal pasti atau memberi maklum balas kepada kementerian mengenai apa yang dirancang pihak negeri," katanya.

Sementara itu, menjawab soalan tambahan Senator Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin mengenai sama ada kementerian mempunyai peruntukan khusus untuk menerbitkan filem pelancongan bagi tayangan luar negara khusus menarik pelancong asing datang ke Malaysia, beliau berkata kementerian tidak mempunyai bajet untuk tujuan berkenaan.

Kerajaan belanja RM1.85b tingkat industri pelancongan


KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan akan membelanjakan RM1.85 bilion dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) bagi meningkatkan daya tarikan Malaysia pada mata dunia, sebagai destinasi utama pelancongan, kata Majlis Pembangunan PKS Kebangsaan.

Daripada jumlah itu, 56 peratus akan dibelanjakan khusus untuk penambahbaikan dan penyenggaraan kemudahan berkaitan pelancongan, katanya dalam Laporan Tahunan PKS 2007 yang dikeluarkan hari ini.

Laporan itu menyebut sepanjang tempoh RMK-9, industri pelancongan dijangka mencatat pertumbuhan purata 8.4 peratus setahun, dari sekarang hingga 2010.



Sementara itu, jumlah ketibaan pelancong dijangka meningkat kepada 24.6 juta orang menjelang 2010 berbanding 21 juta orang pada 2007, dengan pertambahan purata pelancongan sebanyak 13.9 peratus setahun kepada RM54.9 bilion, di samping pewujudan kira-kira 520,700 pekerjaan.

Majlis Pembangunan PKS berkata pelancongan merupakan industri penting bagi Malaysia dan telah ditetapkan sebagai sektor keutamaan oleh kerajaan dalam RMK-9.

"Sektor pelancongan telah menjana hasil pertukaran asing kedua terbesar Malaysia sejak tahun 2000, dengan pendapatan sebanyak RM17.3 bilion sebelum meningkat kepada RM46.1 bilion pada 2007," katanya.

Katanya peningkatan dalam aktiviti pelancongan juga menjana kesan pengganda dalam sektor ekonomi yang lain seperti industri perhotelan, perniagaan runcit, restoran dan pengangkutan.

Ketibaan pelancong mula meningkat dengan nyata khususnya selepas tahun 1990, meningkat pada kadar purata 7.5 peratus setahun daripada 7.5 juta orang pada 1995 kepada 21 juta orang pada 2007.

Majlis Pembangunan PKS berkata dalam usaha menambahbaik daya tarikan produk dan perkhidmatan Malaysia yang unik, fokus kerajaan adalah untuk mempromosikan kelebihan tradisional negara, iaitu warisan kebudayaan dan khazanah semula jadinya.

Produk pelancongan lain termasuk aktiviti beli-belah, riadah dan aktiviti kesukanan serta acara berkaitan perniagaan dan ekopelancongan.

Dana yang disediakan bagi perniagaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) dalam sektor pelancongan, termasuk Tabung Khas Pelancongan, yang boleh dimanfaatkan oleh semua syarikat sedia ada dan baru yang sedang melaksanakan atau merancang membangunkan projek pelancongan.

Jumlah pinjaman minimum ialah RM50,000, dengan kadar pinjaman 5.5 peratus setahun dan tempoh pinjaman sehingga 20 tahun. - Bernama

hmm maap menyibuk siket ....pada pandangan aku Malaysia kena belajar beberapa perkara dari Thailand...

1) ada banyak benda boleh dilawati di hampir semua tempat/provinsi di Thailand ..Contohnya di Phuket... hampir setiap bukit dipasang dengan Pelantar Pemandangan, sedangkan di Langkawi & P.Pinang selain Gunung Matcinchang & Bt. Bendera memang payah nak cari menara tinjau.

2) Pulau2 kat Thailand lebih mudah diterokai dan infra lebih maju .. ambik contoh Koh Phi Phi . Ada laluan pejalan kaki menghubungkan hampir semua tempat dalam pulau tu- ditambah lagi dengan kemudahan internet & kedai serbaneka 24 jam berlambak2 ini memudahkan semua pelancong. Tetapi pulau2 setaraf di Malaysia yg aku dah lawat ( Perhentian & Tioman ) susah diterokai sebab laluan pejalan kaki terlalu sikit. Kena naik bot walaupun nak melawat poin berhampiran dalam pulau. Dahlah kena caj mahal. Kemudahan internet pun amat kurang berbanding Koh Phi Phi & Koh Lanta/

3) Untuk backpacker mcm aku ni, nak cari penginapan murah di Thailand jauh lebih mudah dari Melesye. Hostel murah lebih banyak didapati di Thai berbanding di Melesye.

diharap menjadi renungan bersama...:cheers:

Pushing tourism to the forefront
By ELAYNE YEE SIEW LIN

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/7/28/business/p5-tourismch.JPG

TOURISM is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy.

A potent growth catalyst that can create high multiplier effects, tourism helps develop strong linkages in the economy and assists in the spin-off of other industries.

From the macro perspective, it assists in reducing the deficit in the services account of the balance of payments through increasing foreign tourists inflow, and reducing foreign exchange outflows as a result of domestic leisure travel by Malaysians.

The tourism industry is currently Malaysia’s third most important industry in terms of foreign exchange earnings after the manufacturing and palm oil sectors.

Its contribution to GDP growth is about 7.2%, suggesting that the industry is still in its infancy and, hence, offers much scope for future growth.

According to the Malaysia Retail Industry Report 2007, Malaysians and tourists spent nearly RM67.1bil in 2007, a 12.8% growth from 2006, and the fastest expansion in 16 years.

Tourists accounted for 10% to 12% of sales during Visit Malaysia Year 2007. The largest number of tourist arrivals is from Asean countries, followed by Japan, China and Australia. Markets of growing importance include India and the Middle East.

Being a key component of the services sector, the thrust of achieving rapid tourism growth on a sustainable basis can offer the Malaysian economy numerous benefits, particularly now that fuel prices have soared and is taking a heavy toll on the costs of living globally.

But does Malaysia have what it takes to push its tourism sector to the forefront? Attractions are certainly one of the attributes of the tourism industry for a nation with a potpourri of influences and heritage.

The tourism base needs to be expanded and diversified so as to create a distinct and unique image of the country's natural and cultural resources. It should strive to establish an appealing Malaysian identity.

Resources alone are not enough for a successful tourism industry. While it serves as a crucial factor for development in the tourism industry, it also hinges inextricably on the quality of the training and education given to the people who are responsible for the delivery of these services.

After all, they are the frontliners and unofficial “ambassadors” for the country, who are in direct contact with the tourists who visit Malaysia.

As tourism is a people-intensive industry, education and training should be put in the forefront of tourism development.


This would mean that more effort could be expended to promote tourism-related careers, stimulating interest in the industry as a source of employment, not only within the industry but other related service industries, particularly food and beverages, accommodation, transport, entertainment, shopping and other small- and medium-sized industries.

For the tourism sector to reach its full potential, funds allocated should be managed and used for appropriate programmes.

Major agendas such as preservation and conservation of national historical sites and other tourism-related infrastructure must be properly planned and implemented.

Coupled with the bearish sentiments currently prevailing and expected in the near term, aggressive and innovative marketing efforts are necessary to further promote this industry so as to reap the full benefits and potential of this sector, besides giving it a competitive edge against its competitors like Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Being a highly competitive industry, the relevant agencies such as the Tourism Development Corp should also monitor and enhance its products or services vis-a-vis those available elsewhere in the region.

Emphasis should be given to the development of competitive tourism products or services to enhance foreign exchange earnings and savings.

It is imperative that the needs of the tourism industry are matched to that of other economic sectors, particularly the services industries, agricultural production, handicrafts or souvenir products and fisheries, so that they can develop simultaneously, mitigating any negative impact that may arise.

The cost of information is another issue affecting tourism in the country. Tourism is a very information- and knowledge-intensive industry and the search costs pertaining to it is substantial, especially if emerging markets are to be developed.

Experience has shown that promotions have to be continuously conducted before tangible results can be realised. Thanks to modern information technology, this could be easily undertaken jointly by the various relevant agencies instead of each going on its own.

Collaboration could also be jointly undertaken between Malaysia and other Asean countries in the sharing of market research, promotional, media and information supply costs.

Besides being cost efficient, Malaysia can certainly take advantage of the intra-regional tourism flows, and fully exploit this multi-billion ringgit industry.


The writer is a research fellow with the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research

Johor to get tourists to stay the night
Monday July 28, 2008
TheStar

JOHOR BARU: Johor will focus on creating more activities to get tourists to stay longer.

Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said there should be more activities to get tourists to spend the evening and stay the night, and these would include cultural stage shows and markets selling local items.

“There are travellers who only come for a few hours for shopping or food. With the evening programmes, they may decide to stay for the night,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysia International Travel Mart here on Friday.

He said Danga Bay was already planning a night cruise where visitors could have dinner onboard.

“We can also have such night attractions in other places like Desaru and Tanjung Piai,” he said.

Malaysian Borneo, Plane at Mulu
by ethics_gradient

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/247651963_818efd579d_o.jpg

Bako Island National Park
by One more shot Rog

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/140856865_de8550904d_o.jpg

Look into Islamic tourism, says DPM
By IZATUN SHARI


PUTRAJAYA: A coordinating body or a secretariat should be formed to seriously look into the strategies and marketing of Islamic tourism as a niche product, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed that relevant promoters work with international bodies, which subscribed to the same ideals and objectives.

"Malaysia should take the lead in this. I believe the time has come for some concrete efforts to galvanise our joint abilities to work on these initiatives properly," he said Thursday in his speech at the inaugural global Islamic tourism exhibition and conference here.

"But let me also warn you. Pushing a new idea through is not easy. In fact, it is never easy. Herein lies the challenge before all of you.

"If you set mental blocks within yourself, then you will not succeed. If you allow yourself to be sidetracked by petty issues, and be weighed down by baggage of old taboos and unfounded fears, then you will fail," he said in his speech read out by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.

Najib also said promoters needed to adjust accordingly and take into account the global economic environment.

"Your initiative merits careful consideration and meticulous planning. Your initiative to push for Islamic tourism is an idea whose time has come.

"My advice is simple and straight - get your structure in place and come up with a sustainable plan of action. I am quite sure that the Government would want to support such an important initiative. We will see what we can do by way of assistance and support," he added.

Azalina said her ministry and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is in charge of religious affairs, had agreed to form a joint committee to discuss strategies to promote Islamic tourism.

She said the committee would also communicate with relevant tourism councils and state tourism committees to come up with better strategies for it.

She said strategies applied in 2007 did bring up great output in view of tremendous tourist arrivals including Muslim tourists.

Last year, she said 20.9 million tourist arrivals were recorded with tourism receipts of RM46bil.

"I was told recently that this year tourist arrivals will be affected due to the fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays in the Middle East but I assure you next year we will come up with much better strategies."

Islamic tourism is the 'new frontier'



PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia should take the lead in the growing market for Islamic tourism, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

He said the tourism industry should always be on the lookout for "new frontiers" or niches to stay competitive.

Efforts to draw Middle Eastern tourists since the 1990s have proven successful and the concept of Islamic tourism was now ripe for further expansion.

Najib proposed the formation of a coordinating body to develop marketing strategies for Islamic tourism.

He also welcomed non-governmental tourism bodies to initiate such efforts.

"Islamic tourism is a niche market which is growing in volume and significance. In challenging times, we need to adjust accordingly and take into account the global economic environment.

"Your initiative to push for Islamic tourism is an idea whose time has come," Najib said in his speech at the launch of the Global Islamic Tourism Conference and Exhibition (GITC) yesterday.

His speech was read by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, who represented Najib.

GITC defines Islamic tourism as an economic concept which includes development of new tourist destinations, as a cultural concept focusing on Islamic topics and heritage, and as a religious concept by including gender-segregation, alcohol-free venues and Islamic-financed and-organised tourism.

Azalina said the Tourism Ministry and the Islamic Affairs Department under the Prime Minister's Department had set up a joint committee to develop strategies for Islamic tourism.

Agoda’s Top 10 Boutique Hotels in SEA are:


1. Kemang Icon Jakarta, Indonesia
If Conde Nast’s Traveler included this hotel it in their Hot List 2007, you expect
it to be hot, and Kemang Icon lives up to its reputation. This boutique hotel
artfully combines contemporary modern designs with art deco in cool tones and
textures. Eight Courtyard and four Edge Suites are all individually designed with
personalized bathroom scents, accessories and amenities. All guest preferences are
noted prior to check-in so that the fruit basket, coffee and tea, i-Pod selections,
toiletry brands and even lighting settings are adjusted to your taste before you
even enter the room. “The Edge” tailors every meal to suit a guest’s taste and
health requirements. Fancy playing chef for the day? Shop online from their grocery
list and the fresh goods and produce will be delivered right to your door. The
Kemang Icon truly is a delightful marriage of chic and warmth, giving birth to an
unrivaled multi-sensory journey, where almost every single facet of quality living
is personalized.

2. The Scarlet Hotel, Singapore, Singapore
Dramatic, passionate and decadent are qualities at the heart of the Scarlet Hotel.
Housed in a 1924 Art Deco building and a row of 1868 early shop houses on the
historic Erskine Road are five themed suites with names like Splendour and Lavish,
26 Executive and 24 Premium rooms and 15 Deluxe and 24 Standard rooms. The hotel has
gone to great lengths, decorating each room with specific personalities in mind.
In-room features include one-for-one evening cocktails, personal bars with gourmet
selections and a pillow menu.
With a restaurant named Desire that serves ‘provocative contemporary cuisine’ and a
bar called Bold, a playful sinfulness seems to come naturally to this hotel.

3. Dream Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
From the bed to the bar, the Dream Hotel is pure glitz. The interior is covered with
a generous selection of colors accompanied by ethereal lighting techniques,
producing an outspoken extravagance. With 100 stylishly themed and pet-friendly
guestrooms, the highlight is the ‘Dream Bed’, which was carefully devised and
created to truly provide guests with a good night’s sleep. This über trendy hotel
offers personal shopper services and pre-loaded iPods and their Avatar Spa features
a creative range of facials, massages, full body and Thalmer Thalasso SPA
treatments.

4. AKA Hotel Resort & Spa - Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan, Thailand
Fifty-one spacious villas amply secluded from one another, spread across 10 acres of
tropical landscape, with natural lakes and a hillside backdrop. Drawing from the
philosophy of the AKA, a hill tribe with origins in the Tibetan Highlands and
Yunnan, China, the resort flawlessly blends spirituality, tranquility and simplicity
together, transposing these qualities into the architecture, the Zen spa and their
dining services. With private infinity-edged pools, garden terraces, private
courtyards and sala roof gardens, this luxury retreat is the perfect escape from
city life and a perfect way to pamper the soul.

5. Hotel de la Paix, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Designed by the renowned Bill Bensley, a combination of art deco and traditional
Khmer styles distinguishes the Hotel de la Paix, which is built around a palatial
inner courtyard with stone gardens and water features. This landmark in the heart of
Siem Reap offers guestrooms and suites, categorized under five unique preferences
and designs and accompanied by personalized assistance. French Chef and author
Joannes Riviere brings exceptional dining experiences to the table with
international and seasonal Khmer dishes, while Mediterranean, Italian, organic Khmer
coffee and drinks and gourmet picnic baskets for temple visits are lovingly prepared
at Café de la Paix.

6. S15 Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Smack dab in the heart of Bangkok’s business and shopping districts, the new S15
Sukhumvit Hotel is 72 stylish rooms decked with Italian light fixtures, marble
bathrooms and sleek, contemporary furniture. The essence of this boutique hotel’s
design is an understated elegance that distinctly contrasts with the city’s
relentless bustle, allowing guests to gather and re-energize themselves after a day
spent exploring the City of Angels. All public areas and guestrooms have Wi-Fi
high-speed Internet access and the business center offer laptops and mobile phones.
Another great way to unwind is to take advantage of the hotel’s in-room spa
services.

7. 3 Nagas – Luang Prabang, Laos
To enter the Boutique Hotel 3 Nagas is to enter three historical buildings protected
by the UNESCO World Heritage Organization. Restored to its original Laotian style,
the hotel is of exotic, wooden floors, traditional torchis walls and clay tile
roofing. A total of 12 rooms and 3 suites with their own unique designs make up this
authentic hotel in the heart of Luang Prabang.


8. The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam
High ceilings, luxurious en-suite bathtubs, spacious bathrooms, raised platforms,
split-levels coupled with unobstructed views of the South China Sea make up the 60
One-Bedroom Villas and 40 Pool Villas at The Nam Hai. Immediately, one will be taken
by the sheer magnitude of space and seclusion at this exclusive, beachfront resort
spa stretched across 35 hectares along Ha My beach. All villas are equipped with
rain showers, iPods, 24-hour concierge and 24-hour in-room dining. Set around a
lagoon close to the beach is The Spa, featuring customized regimens to suit each
guest’s needs and well-being.

9. JapaMala Resort – Tioman Island, Malaysia (East coast of Malaysia)
Eco-friendly, teak Sarang Villas, Sea Cliff and Tree Top chalets nestle in the lush
jungles of Tioman Island with the sights and sounds of aqua blue waters and the
white sand beach appealing to your senses. Guests can even make their own catch off
the jetty and the hotel will cook the fresh seafood accordingly. Another option is
to head over to the Tamarind Terrace Restaurant featuring all-day, casual, alfresco
dining and specializing in Thai and Indochinese cuisine. A protected marine park,
dive sites and furtive jungle surround this secluded, luxury resort.

10. Trisara, Phuket, Thailand
The emphases at Trisara are privacy, simplicity, peace and space. Forty-two villas
and suites have been given a clean, contemporary look with subtle traditional Thai
touches where private infinity edged pools meet sweeping views of the Andaman Sea.
Apart from massages, body treatments and facials, the Trisara Spa specializes in
yoga and meditation and offers the Trisara Punti Purification and Revitalisation
program in partnership with expert herbalists. Other features at this exclusive
resort & spa include complimentary iPods in the library with a wide range of music,
customized private dining and a private bay surrounded by a ring of coral reef.

the top 10 family resorts in South-east Asia are

1. Ramada Karon Beach Resort Phuket, Thailand

2. Sheraton Grande Laguna Resort, Phuket, Thailand

3. Plantation Bay Resort, Cebu, Philippines

4. Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

5. Conrad Bali Resort & Spa, Bali, Indonesia

6. Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi, Malaysia

7. The Ritz-Carlton Bali Indonesia

8. Holiday Inn Phuket, Thailand

9. The Nusa Dua Hotel Resort & Spa, Bali, Indonesia

10. Coco Beach Resort, Phan Thiet, Vietnam

Agoda’s top 10 golfing resorts in the region are:

1. Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Phuket (Thailand)
Lauded already in numerous publications as one of Asia’s premier golf resort destinations, the Laguna Phuket Golf Club is set among the Laguna Resort Complex which features five luxury hotels (Sheraton, Dusit Thani, Banyan Tree, Laguna Beach Resort and Allamande). It boasts an 18-hole, par-71 course designed by Max Wexler and David Abell and caters to players of all levels of expertise.

2. Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali (Indonesia)
The five-star Le Meridien Golf & Spa Resort is a luxury resort overlooking the Indian Ocean with world-class golf and spa facilities. The Nirvana Bali Golf Club boasts an 18-hole course designed by the legendary Greg Norman, and has been featured in several publications. The course is made challenging by the elaborate network of streams, ponds and terraces plus its ocean lapping location.

3. Novotel Ocean Dunes and Golf Resort, Phan Thiet (Vietnam)
Located three hours from Ho Chi Minh City, the four-star Novotel Ocean Dunes and Golf Resort is located on a private beach and was the first international resort to be built in Vietnam. The Par-72 Ocean Dunes Golf Club located on-site has been designed by Nick Faldo and been identified it as one of the top 10 resort courses in Asia. The course will appeal to both experienced as well as casual golfers, and the coastal winds will bring challenge to each hole.

4. Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa , Khao Yai (Thailand)
The three star Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa provides 60 contemporary living options and is the perfect retreat for those looking for a golf holiday. The 18-hole golf course has been designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and is set among the mountains and greenery of Khao Yai.

5. The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei Darussalam)
The five star Empire Hotel & Country Club and beach resort overlooking the South China Sea boasts of lavish accommodations, eight swimming pools and a championship golf course. Designed by the celebrated Jack Nicklaus, the golf course includes cliffs, ravines, tight fairways, large bunkers, and is floodlit for night-time games.

6. Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club, Sarawak (Malaysia)
The five star Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club is nestled amongst the oldest and second largest rainforest in the world, 1,000 meters above sea level. As the name suggests, the main attraction of the hotel is its golf course designed by Neil Crater, while keeping in mind the features of its unique highland location. The course is the ultimate test of golfing skills, and is suited for those who love a fresh physical challenge as well as a mental one.

7. Bintan Lagoon Resort, Bintan Island (Indonesia)
The four-star Bintan lagoon Resort is set among 300 hectares of beachfront gardens and offers a world of choice. This golfing resort can easily be reached by a short high-speed ferry ride from Singapore. Both the Jack Nicklaus 18-hole Sea View Golf course and Ian Baker-Finch 18-hole Woodlands Golf course at the resort are known for their spectacular design and signature holes.

8. Springfield Village Golf & Spa, Hua Hin/Cha-am (Thailand)
The 3.5 star Springfield Village Golf & Spa provides luxurious rooms and suites, designed to blend with their surroundings and each providing an open view of the golf course. The golf course (another design by Jack Nicklaus) challenges golf enthusiasts with 27 meticulously manicured holes. The championship course has five sets of tees to play from, and offers varying levels of difficulty.

9. Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore (Singapore)
The five-star Sentosa Resort & Spa is perched atop a cliff gazing out across the South China Sea. The resort’s 21 rooms and suites are spread across 27 acres of tropical woodlands. For a round of golf, tee-off one of the 2 resort courses, including the exceptional Sentosa Golf Club, home to the Barclay’s Singapore Open and the course of choice for politicians, dignitaries and celebrities alike.

10. Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort, Nanjing (China)
The five-star colonial-styled, Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort Nanjing is located on the slopes of the famous Purple Mountain, and features 140 luxurious accommodations. This resort is the perfect choice for leisure as well as business travelers to Nanjing. It is also the first deluxe, five-star golf resort in Nanjing, and the exclusive 27-hole golf course was designed by Gary Player.

Agoda’s top 10 beach resorts in the region are listed as follows:

1. Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas, Krabi, Thailand

Sitting majestically affront the private beach of Ao Nang in Pai Plong Bay against a backdrop of dramatic limestone cliffs, the Centara Grand Beach Resort offers luxury accommodation and a stunningly beautiful view. Guests can journey to the resort with relative ease now that the township of Krabi has a domestic airport, where they are picked up and whisked away by boat to the serene shores of Ao Nang. Drawing on contemporary tropical Thai architecture, the resort’s design complements the natural elements outside, bringing the spectacular vista inside. This is a heavenly combination of opulence and naturally striking surrounds.

2. Pandanus Hotel, Phan Thiet, Vietnam

Acknowledged as the most luxurious hotel in the Phan Thiet province, the Pandanus Hotel is also located on one of Vietnam’s most attractive coastal stretches. Built inside a 10 hectare tropical garden, with its own private beach, the resort is within close proximity to the area’s famed ‘red’ sand dunes and the canyon of Mui Ne. Friendly, service-oriented staff ensure guests are in want for nothing – and with an oceanic view like this on offer, exotic cocktail in hand, what could be better?


3. Sokha Beach Hotel, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Poised on a peninsula that extends into the Gulf of Thailand, the Sihanoukville shore is a largely unknown treasure of Robinson Crusoe proportion. And Sokha Beach is its highlight. With such magnificent surrounds, a hotel need not go to too much effort, and yet the Sokha Beach Hotel embodies the warm hospitality of the Cambodian people and their rich culture. Its Khmer-styled, hand-crafted architecture comprises of mostly natural materials such as wood and stone, adding to the wonderful ambiance of the location.

4. Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach Resort&Spa, Khao Lak, Thailand

Overshadowed by nearby island neighbor and tourist giant, Phuket, the Khao Lak stretch of Thailand’s Southwest mainland has managed to maintain a tranquil atmosphere and an unspoiled, awe-inspiring landscape. The Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach Resort&Spa doesn’t disappoint in terms of location and service. Within an oar’s reach of the stunningly famous Phang Nga bay and accessible by car from Phuket International Airport, Khao Lak is an excellent choice for a tropical beach sojourn.

5. Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort, Cebu, Philippines

Located within the province of Cebu on Mactan Island, this Shangri-La resort certainly lives up to its name. Guests will have panoramic views of the azure Visayan Sea and its cluster of remote islands. With state-of-the-art facilities and luxurious interiors, the high standards of service further enhance this beach resort in the Philippines. The island airport also allows for easy access from many international destinations.

6. Sanur Beach Hotel, Bali, Indonesia

Sanur beach is Bali’s best-kept beach jewel. Quieter than the popular surfing beach of Kuta and other favorites such as Nusa Dua and Seminyak, this stretch of sand offers a glimpse into the Balinese fisher village lifestyle, as well as providing visitors with pristine bathing waters teeming with colorful fish. The hotel’s staff will go to extraordinary lengths to meet guest wishes and the hotels’ plush interiors and exotic Balinese design will ensure pure comfort and luxury.

7. The Empire Hotel and Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Built on a colossal 162-hectare landscape of tropical garden, the Empire Hotel takes the concept of luxury accommodation to an entire new level. It is impressive in every detail when it comes to service and facilities, but more importantly (well, for the purposes of this article at least), is located on a magnificent stretch of coastline. Guests can fully escape into this private utopia which also boasts its own golf course.

8. Zeavola Hotel, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Phi Phi is a long island favorite among Thailand’s frequent beach travelers. Its beaches are simply idyllic with their powdery sand shores and clear waters. The boutique Zeavola hotel offers Phi Phi paradise with luxury amenities disguised by a rural feel and charm. A unique accommodation option positioned in front of a prime, serene stretch of beach, couples can relish in the resort’s privacy and lush natural environment.

9. Berjaya Redang Beach Resort, Terangganu, Malaysia

Malaysia is often surpassed by the highly publicized tourist destinations of Indonesia and Thailand for its natural offerings, despite it being rich in beauty. Redang Island is one such example and the Berjaya Redang Beach Resort offers guests private access to one of the country’s finest beaches – one accentuated by vibrant corals and tropical fish. The comfortable villas and rooms have a tropical beach feel that encourages relaxation, while friendly staff and excellent water sports facilities make it a good choice for families and couples alike.

10. Furama Resort, Danang, Vietnam

The largely undeveloped coastal stretch which stretches 25km from Hoi An to Danang on Vietnam’s Central Coast, is one of the countries most magnificent. Known in English as China Beach, the Furama Resort was the first luxury hotel to be built along this unspoiled coast. The design blends Vietnamese style with tropical architecture and the staff are friendly and helpful. Only 10 minutes drive from Danang International Airport, this hotel has become a preferred choice among Southeast Asian beach seekers.

Medical tourists coming to Malaysia in thousands
By : ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ

http://www.nst.com.my/Monday/National/2311061/insidepix1
(From left) Khaleda Mariam Sajjad’s doctor prescribed medication for bone degeneration; Faridah Moni Shahidullah is impressed with the quality of Malaysian health care


http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2311061/Article/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2311061/image1
Health tourism is on the uptrend and Malaysia is well-placed to reap the benefits. ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ takes a look at the numbers.



TWO Bangladeshi teachers have proved that you don't have to be rich and famous to be able to afford quality medical care while having a good time in Malaysia.

Khaleda Mariam Sajjad, 55, and Faridah Moni Shahidullah, 65, were the first Bangladeshis to visit the country as health tourists after Malaysia Healthcare (MHC) set up its office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 5.


They took advantage of the "Lifestyle Healthcare Package in Malaysia" offered in conjunction with the launch of the Malaysian Health Care office and its website, www.malaysiahealthcare.com, by MHC, Tourism Malaysia and Newport Holidays.


Khaleda, a mother of two, said: "I knew I was suffering from arthritis for the past two years but after a thorough checkup, I was told I also suffer from osteoporosis.


"The orthopaedic surgeon told me that bone degeneration was eating into my hip bone.


"He prescribed medication to slow down the degeneration. I will be keeping in touch with the doctor through email about my condition."


Faridah, who has four sons and three grandchildren, said:


"I am impressed with the high quality and affordable state-of-the-art medical facilities and services. I am happy with the service and hope to come back in three months for a follow-up check-up."

Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Datuk Abdul Malek Abdul Aziz who launched MHC's website in Dhaka, said:


"MHC can serve as a one-stop destination for all medical and tourism related needs for Bangladeshis, bringing together all related service providers in Malaysia on a single platform ."


MHC, which was launched in 2006 by former Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, is a global facilitator for health tourism in Malaysia.


MHC acts as a bridge between the health tourist and service providers -- hospitals, travel agents, insurance providers, airlines and hotels.


A survey conducted by the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia found that the number of foreign patients seeking treatment in Malaysia had increased greatly over the years.


In 2005, 232,161 foreign patients were treated in Malaysian private hospitals, generating over RM150.9 million in revenue.


In the following year, 296,687 medical tourists visited Malaysia. This earned the country RM203.6 million. Last year, there were 341,288 foreign patients. This resulted in revenue totalling RM253.84 million.


The country's popularity as a healthcare destination is due to the fact that it offers health care at competitive rates, compared with many developed countries.


Malaysian hospitals have also invested in world-class equipment and secured the services of medical personnel and specialists who received their training in countries such as Britain, Australia and the United States.


There are now more than 210 private hospitals with more than 10,000 beds, compared with only 50 private hospitals with 2,000 beds in 1980. At the end of last year, private hospitals employed 18,246 doctors and 68,349 nurses.


Tourism Malaysia predicts that revenue from health tourism will reach RM2.2 billion in 2010.


A 28 per cent hike is expected from Southeast Asian countries, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Japan, Britain and Europe, with increasing interest from the US and Canada.


MHC chief executive officer Suresh Ponnudurai said their health tourism portal served all the major private hospitals, including the National Heart Institute, and helped to market Malaysia as a world-class healthcare destination.


He said government hospitals which had private wings were in the midst of getting themselves organised before joining in to promote their facilities and services.


"We need to promote ourselves aggressively in order to compete with other Asean countries. Most of the patients visiting Malaysia come from Indonesia and Singapore.


"We have people from some 34 countries visiting our website. Many of them come to Malaysia because of long waiting lists at hospitals in their own countries and because it is more affordable."


MHC also coordinates travel, accommodation, medical screening and holiday package arrangements.


"We act as a one-stop centre. People find it convenient as they don't have to go through all the hassle.The cake is huge. If we market our services properly, we will be able to attract more foreign patients."

More tourists visiting Malaysia
By TAN KARR WEI


MALAYSIA saw an increase in tourist arrivals for the first half of the year compared with the same period last year.

Tourism Malaysia recorded 10.9 million tourist arrivals from January to June compared with 10.7 million last year.

“The target given to us was 7%. Even though we only achieved 2%, there was still an increase in the number of tourists arriving,” Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohd Taiyab said during a press conference announcing the upcoming Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITM) Travel Fair.

Mirza said although there seemed to be fewer Middle Eastern tourists, the numbers had grown by 3%.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/8/5/central/p8musa.jpg
A team: (From left) Tourism Malaysia domestic promotion division director Musa Yusof, Mirza, Ng and MCTA committee members David Lai and Tai Poh Kim at the press conference.

“Over the last four years, we have encouraged Arab tourists to go to other parts of Malaysia other than Kuala Lumpur. We also encourage them to come at other times and not only during summer,” he said.

Tourism Malaysia would be taking up 10 booths at the fair organised by the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA).

Mirza said visitors would be able to find out more about the Xcape holiday packages that were part of the Zoom! Malaysia campaign.

This campaign aims to zero in on specific places of interest in the country to encourage people to travel within Malaysia instead of visiting other countries.

MCTA president Chay Ng said almost 75% of the products at the fair would focus on domestic and inbound tourism.

Tourism organisations from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, China and Hangzhou would also take part.

A new attraction this year would be the bridal corner and soon-to-be-wed couples and newlyweds can check out honeymoon packages.

The fair will be on from Aug 15 to 17 at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, from 10am to 9pm.

Entrance fee is RM3 per entry for adults. Senior citizens and children under 12 enter free.

For more information, visit www.mcta.com.my.

12 Mln Tourists Expected To Visit Pahang This Year
August 06, 2008 16:08 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- The Pahang Tourism Action Council expects 12 million tourists this year, resulting in about RM6 billion of tourism related revenue for the state.

The council's general manager Idros Yahya said the state recorded the highest number of foreign visitors last year with 10.3 million tourists, generating a total revenue of RM4.5 billion.

He said in a statement Wednesday that to attract tourists, various hallmark events will be held this year, including eco-tourism activities at Tasik Bera and Tasik Chini.

This year's programme promoting environmental education and conservation will be held from Aug 8 to 10, he added.

The activities planned include kayak expedition, telematches, traditional food cooking session, fishing, and dance performances.

-- BERNAMA

Boost for Johor tourism
Saturday August 9, 2008
TheStar

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Government is upgrading infrastructure and amenities at tourist attractions to boost the state’s tourism industry.

Among the destinations to be upgraded are Gunung Lambak and Gunung Belumut in Kluang, Kukup and Desaru.

State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said the upgrading was to present an impressive and comfortable environment for tourists.

“Johor, being a main gateway of Malaysia, receives more than 20 million visitors yearly.

“However, only 30% of them stay overnight while the others leave after finishing their business.

“We want them to stay in Johor for at least a night,” said Hoo, adding that a tourist information centre would be set up in all the state’s 10 districts.

He said it would be a good move to attract businessmen by organising cultural shows and activities at restaurants at dinner time.

After opening the 10th Matta Fair Johor here recently, Hoo told reporters that the tourist attractions would be divided into nine categories to have strong state promotion.

The categories are eco-tourism; cultural and heritage; islands and beaches; shopping, food and entertainment; health and education; sports and recreation; homestay and agro-tourism; golfing; and accommodation, meetings, conventions and exhibitions.

Hoo said that brochures on each category would be made to give insights into the places.

He said the brochures would be ready within a month.

Arab tourists venture beyond KL
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2008/08/11
BusinessTimes

ARAB tourists making their way to Malaysia this holiday season are visiting places other than the Kuala Lumpur city centre, says Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab.

"The Arabs may be fewer in Kuala Lumpur, but they have spread themselves around Malaysia," Mirza told Business Times.

Early last month, industry players, including hoteliers, tour operators and shopping complexes, voiced their concern that there might be fewer big-spending Arabs visiting at this time of the year when they usually go on holidays overseas.

"In 2005, Tourism Malaysia adopted a strategy to encourage the Middle East visitors to go beyond Kuala Lumpur. The word out there (in the Arab world) was that Kuala Lumpur hotels were full (during the season)," Mirza said.

He said that there were definitely more Middle East visitors, but they were travelling beyond the Klang Valley.

The number of tourists from that region was up 4.7 per cent to 99,032 in the first six months of the year from 94,574 in the same period last year.

According to Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Ngiam Foon, who had said last month that there appeared to be a marginal drop, the latest figures indicated that the arrivals were similar to last year's.

"Compared to last year, at best it is flat," Ngiam said.

Previously, their visits centred around Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Genting. Now, they are travelling to Langkawi and Penang, he said.

The Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur in the "Golden Triangle", which enjoyed full occupancy in July and August last year, reported 94 per cent occupancy last month. It expects to finish this month at 92 per cent.

Its general manager Christina Toh said that Arab occupancy at the hotel dipped to a third from half last year.

"August looks like it will be pretty busy for the first three weeks, and then occupancy tapers off in the last week," Toh said.

"The average length of stay of Arab tourists has also shortened. They used to stay in Kuala Lumpur for about two weeks. Now, it is only for seven or eight days."

On a more positive note, the Arab arrivals are now spread throughout the year, she added.

Tourism goal may fall short
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2008/08/11



Tourism Malaysia expects Malaysia to attract 21.5 million tourists this year, one million shy of the initial target, a shortfall that may lead to RM2 billion loss in foreign receipts


MALAYSIA will miss this year's target of 22.5 million tourist arrivals because of the higher cost of promotions, stiff competition from other destinations and domestic uncertainties.

Tourism Malaysia plans to seek a revision of the target set by the government, its senior official said.

The agency now expects that it will attract 21.5 million tourists this year, one million short of the initial target. Still, the figure will be three per cent higher than the 20.9 million arrivals last year, instead of eight per cent.

The shortfall of one million tourists is likely to cause some RM2 billion loss in foreign receipts.



"It will be a challenge to reach the 22.5 million tourist arrival target," Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said.

"We are preparing a paper to be sent to the government to request a review of the target set. A review is necessary," Mirza said, adding that a more realistic figure would be 21.5 million.

Mirza was responding to a Business Times query on whether Malaysia would meet its tourist arrival target as it had failed to attract even half the number in the first six months.

Malaysia needs 11.4 million visitors between July and December this year, or 1.92 million tourists each month, to reach the goal. In the first six months, the country welcomed 10.96 million tourists.

A limited budget is also making it tough for Tourism Malaysia to carry out promotional activities.

"We have reached saturation point. To go beyond what we are doing and to do things differently, we will need additional budget," Mirza said.

"We are seeking a little bit more from the government. We would like them to take into account inflation and loss of value from foreign exchange. The cost of buying media has increased."

He said that in the past 10 years, the cost of buying media space has risen 30 per cent. Tourism Malaysia's budget, however, with the exception of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, has remained the same.

Its budget for this year is RM484.7 million, including advertising (RM225 million), promotion (RM155 million), and salaries and office rentals (RM75.4 million).

It also has to contend with rising competition from other destinations.

"These new destinations are promoting aggressively. We should do more (if we want to attract tourists to our shores," Mirza said.

http://www.tourism.jp/english/statistics/outbound.php

Interesting data, after a +31.2% increase (compared to the same period, last year) of Japanese visitors to Malaysia in May...

In June, even higher increase of Japanese visitors to Malaysia happened, it's a +38.3% jump compared to the same period, last year....

http://www.tourism.jp/english/statistics/outbound.php

Interesting data, after a +31.2% increase (compared to the same period, last year) of Japanese visitors to Malaysia in May...

In June, even higher increase of Japanese visitors to Malaysia happened, it's a +38.3% jump compared to the same period, last year....

The country should work a lot harder to attract them. From the table, it's disappointing to see Malaysia is about on par with Vietnam when our infrastructure is years ahead. And we are getting only 1/3 of Thailand. Not surprisingly, S'pore is also getting more. So what's going on?

M'sia needs these high spending tourists from the Far East. We cannot just count on the Middle Easterns...that would be like pigeon-holing ourselves. Trouble is, most are coming here one time only, not the repeaters. Need more attractions to get them here over and over...

http://www.tourism.jp/english/statistics/outbound.php

Interesting data, after a +31.2% increase (compared to the same period, last year) of Japanese visitors to Malaysia in May...

In June, even higher increase of Japanese visitors to Malaysia happened, it's a +38.3% jump compared to the same period, last year....

from my experience seeing what japanese interested most is...beach!

japanese loves beach. bcoz other than South Korea (the most visited country by japanese), they love travelling to Guam, Hawaii, Phuket and Bali!!

in Malaysia, they love Penang. while we have to promote Langkawi (i hate Langkawi :D), Tioman, east cost islet and Sabah's Sipadan as well....

^^ Thats true Japanese love beach, and that's why most of them prefer Thai rather than Malaysia.
1.2 million Japanese tourists in Thailand vs. 0.3 mil in Malaysia

Di Malaysia selain pulau2 di Pantai Timur & di pesisir timur Sabah , AMAT sukar untuk cari pantai yang bersih dan menarik . Sedangkan di Thai begitu mudah sekali untuk cari pantai yang airnya jernih . Kenapa pantai di Kelantan berwarna teh tarik tetapi di Songkhla ( cuma 200 km ke utara ) yang aku lawat dengan nazrey dulu air laut begitu jernih dan kristal sekali ?

Pulau Pinang memang ada bandar yg indah & makanan yg lazat tetapi pantainya ? Langkawi pun, memang ada banyak resort yang best & kereta kabel, air terjun dll, tapi pantai mana di Langkawi yang ada air laut yang jernih ?

Sedangkan di Phuket begitu banyak pantai yang menarik dengan air laut 100% kristal - Patong beach, Karon beach, Kata', Kata' Noi, etc.

Pada pandangan aku, cara pembangunan pelancongan pantai di Malaysia jauh terpesong dari apa yang kebanyakan pelancong nak. Yang aku tengok Malaysia hanya menekankan kemudahan dan pembinaan resort & membelakangkan tarikan semulajadi sedangkan Thailand betul-betul menekankan produk pelancongan yang realistik & yg semua orang nak iaitu pantai yang menarik .

^^ Thats true Japanese love beach, and that's why most of them prefer Thai rather than Malaysia.
1.2 million Japanese tourists in Thailand vs. 0.3 mil in Malaysia

Di Malaysia selain pulau2 di Pantai Timur & di pesisir timur Sabah , AMAT sukar untuk cari pantai yang bersih dan menarik . Sedangkan di Thai begitu mudah sekali untuk cari pantai yang airnya jernih . Kenapa pantai di Kelantan berwarna teh tarik tetapi di Songkhla ( cuma 200 km ke utara ) yang aku lawat dengan nazrey dulu air laut begitu jernih dan kristal sekali ?

Pulau Pinang memang ada bandar yg indah & makanan yg lazat tetapi pantainya ? Langkawi pun, memang ada banyak resort yang best & kereta kabel, air terjun dll, tapi pantai mana di Langkawi yang ada air laut yang jernih ?

Sedangkan di Phuket begitu banyak pantai yang menarik dengan air laut 100% kristal - Patong beach, Karon beach, Kata', Kata' Noi, etc.

Pada pandangan aku, cara pembangunan pelancongan pantai di Malaysia jauh terpesong dari apa yang kebanyakan pelancong nak. Yang aku tengok Malaysia hanya menekankan kemudahan dan pembinaan resort & membelakangkan tarikan semulajadi sedangkan Thailand betul-betul menekankan produk pelancongan yang realistik & yg semua orang nak iaitu pantai yang menarik .

the color of a beach depens on how far the beach from river. the river in south east asian mostly brown color. so if the river near to the beach...the color will be brownish as well :yes:

Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort
by Jan ter Harmsel

http://www.pbase.com/janthar/image/87995701.jpg

Batik set to make debut at Harrods


KUALA LUMPUR: Batik will make a debut at Harrods next March with the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah, promoting the Malaysian art in London.

According to Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib, wife of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, the Queen was set to launch a variety of batik products at the upmarket English department store.


Looking good: A model parading a modern batik outfit at the Galeri Seri Endon's first anniversary celebration in Bukit Damansara yesterday. Admiring the design are Shuryani (second from right) and Leela (third from right).

“The Queen will promote our nation’s high quality batik crafts, clothes and ceramics, which will hopefully further penetrate the foreign market,” she said in her speech yesterday during the first anniversary celebration of Galeri Seri Endon in Bukit Damansara.

Shuryani who launched the event, also hoped batik would capture the world’s attention and be used widely.

Previously, batik was promoted in Italy, Australia and Britain.

Nori Abdullah, Yayasan Budi Penyayang chairman said detailed research should be devoted to batik to produce more innovative products.

She also hoped batik would be 100% environmentally friendly in the future with the use of natural dyes and the art form would continue to be appreciated as part of Malaysian culture.

“Each batik embodies the dreams and hopes of Malaysians and my mother, the late Endon would have dreaded to think we would all end up not knowing our own heritage,” Nori said in her speech read out by Yayasan Budi Penyayang chief executive officer Datuk Leela Mohd Ali as Nori is overseas in Perth, Australia.

Penyayang is the brainchild of Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood.

The anniversary celebration saw models parading modern batik fashion by local designers and Piala Seri Endon winners Zoe Tan, Azizi Hassan, Masrina Abdullah, Micheal Shu and Suhairi Marlina.

Taman Negara Welcomes Tourists To Its Kelah Sanctuary
September 04, 2008 12:53 PM
By Tuan Sharifah Shahaini Tuan Dagang

JERANTUT, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The mention of Taman Negara (National Park) in Pahang would conjure up images of lush, green and pristine jungles apart from the rapids with their crystal-clear water.

This virgin rainforest, believed to be 130 million years old, is spread over 4,343 square km, comes under the jurisdiction of the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department. With its priceless treasures of flora and fauna, Taman Negara offers attractive packages for aficionados of jungle adventure.

The journey from Kuala Lumpur or Kuantan to this National Park takes about three hours. But, upon arriving at the Kuala Tahan jetty, one can feel the sudden desire to explore further upstream of Sungai Tahan.

Another way to Taman Negara is via Jerantut town using either the river or land route.

There are many attractions in Taman Negara like the canopy walkway, Berkoh rapids, Bukit Teresek, safari night, Gua Telinga, Lubok Simpon, Nusa Camp and Orang Asli settlements.

LATEST TOURISM PRODUCT

The National Parks latest tourism product that is worth the effort to visit is the Kelah Sanctuary at Lubuk Tenor.

This site not only has a research and conservation centre for the Kelah fish, also known as Malaysian Mahseer, but provides various attractions for the visitors.

From the Kuala Tahan jetty, visitors can reach Lubuk Tenor by going upstream Sungai Tahan, usually in a boat moved by a 15-horse power engine and the journey takes some 15 minutes.

However the boat fare is RM120, but split four ways, it will cost RM30 per person.

FEEDING THE KELAH

Among the activities available at the sanctuary is feeding the Kelah, apart from swimming and playing with this freshwater fish. Angling is allowed, but strictly on a catch-and-release basis.

The visitors can also view schools of Kelah fry swimming in the crystal-clear water.

It is fascinating to watch the Kelah's lightning reaction as it feed on the pellets, which are thrown onto the water surface.

The Kelah is known as the king of the freshwater fish or king of the river, as its flesh is so tasty that even the scales are eaten crisp-fried. That is why it commands a very high price at the market.

The creation of Lubuk Tenur Kelah Sanctuary is due to the collaboration between USAINS Holdings, a subsidiary of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Perhilitan in 2001.

The management of the sanctuary was taken over by Golden Mahseer Sdn Bhd (GMSB) in January 2006, with the villagers providing the manpower.

GMSB managing director Roslan Abu Kasim, 43, said the task to conserve the Kelah was delegated to the local villagers including the Orang Asli from the Batek tribe.

The villagers also act as agents to promote the sanctuary among the visitors, he said, adding that almost 90 per cent of the some 2,000 Kampung Kuala Tahan folks are involved in the tourism industry at Taman Negara.

KELAH ADOPTION PROGRAMME

As the sanctuary is opened to the public only from 8am to 5pm daily, the visitors have a choice of staying overnight at the nearby campsite. Roslan said there are 30 tents that provide accommodation for visitors.

A 3-day/2-night package for four people is available for RM350 and is inclusive of boat fare and food.

Those who sign up for this package can go for activities like jungle trekking to Bukit Kementor, kayaking, netting the fish fry as well as a trip to the Berkoh rapids.

The Kelah Adoption Programme is available where for RM20 each, the visitors can release their adopted fish fry into the river. Participants will be awarded with a certificate for their effort.

The sanctuary also provides facilities for the staging of seminars and workshops but this is limited to 30 people at a time.

"As for the angling activity, only a minimum of four and maximum of eight people are allowed and the sessions are only twice a month as we do not wish the fish to become fatigued," said Roslan.

More information on the Lubuk Tenor Kelah Sanctuary is available at 09-2663070.

-- BERNAMA

best tourism campaign in asia

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=300046

guys, I saw "Malaysia-Truly Asia" new ads on tv here in europe. Very well done and interesting;-) Can someone post it here pls? I can't find it on youtube.

maybe this one!

nSqI9_pmqOc

maybe this one!

nSqI9_pmqOc

^^Hi Nazrey, not this one. it is totally new with new rhythm and much better than this one^^. I'm very impressed. well done tourism malaysia:cheers:

Here in Thailand we saw this adv long time ago!

c4eBnRKZrcc

The newer adv in Thailand for Malaysia Tourism is Visit Malaysia Year 2007 -
Thay choose Warattaya Nilcuha (http://www.warattaya.com/home.php)..She's one of the best Thai Actress to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign ..We saw Penang scene with big lobster..of coz she went to dining overthere!

http://www.warattaya.com/header.jpg

Pity can't find that clip!

Traditional stay for tourists during fests
Thursday September 11, 2008
TheStar

KUCHING: Sarawak plans to promote the Gawai and Hari Raya festivals by offering tourists the opportunity to stay at a longhouse or village during the celebrations beginning next year.

Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Michael Manyin said he had directed his staff to identify longhouses and villages with suitable facilities to accommodate visitors.

“We will then get the village or longhouse committee to come up with packages for the festive season, with the help of tour operators.

“This will allow tourists to experience the culture and way of life of our people during festivals,” he told reporters yesterday after launching the sale of mooncakes for charity at India Street here.

Manyin said the move would not only help boost tourism in the state but also benefit the local communities.

He also said that it was important for everyone to realise they had a role to play in the tourism industry by being friendly, courteous and hospitable to visitors.

Manyin said his ministry would conduct a roadshow in major towns early next year to raise public awareness on their contribution to the industry.

Sarawak Tourism Federation president Wee Hong Seng, who organised the sale of the mooncakes, said the proceeds would go towards the building fund of the state’s National Cancer Society Malaysia for its proposed daycare centre and hospice for cancer patients.

Some 2,000 boxes of mooncakes priced at RM40 each were sold during the event.

Fascinating Ramadan experience for tourists
Thursday September 11, 2008
By BAVANI M.
TheStar

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/9/11/central/m_06ritamangan.jpg

Delightful: The group buying roti jala.

THE aromatic smell of baked cockles mingled with the spicy roasted chicken wings and sweet smell of fried chicken greeted the foreign visitors to the Jalan Raja Alang’s Ramadan bazaar in Kampung Baru.

Needless to say they were impressed. Not so much with the food but the kind hospitality and the smile exuded by the kampung folks who were eking out a living at bazaar touched the hearts of the visitors.

Patrick Jahns from Germany was so impressed that he said that we would like to come back to work and live in Malaysia for good.

“It’s a lovely place, lovely people and great food,’’ he told StarMetro.

Jahns said that he had visited many bazaars in KL during the Ramadan month and found them all very fascinating and delightful.

“The food is so delicious and you can get them 24 hours a day. There is just so much to explore here,’’ added the 22-year-old.

Greg Boyd from California said he only learnt about Ramadan when he came to Malaysia. “It’s a whole new exciting experience here, he said as he bought a couple of sticks of satay from a nearby stall.

Elena Shim from Sabah heard about the famous Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa and wasted no time queuing to get a packet.

Jahns, Boyd and Shim were a part of a group of 17 people who are members of the CouchSurfing project, an international, Internet-based hospitality service.

Its core aim of the project is that member’s host one another at their homes.

But clearly it’s not just about getting free accommodations as the project is more on cultural exchange. The group picked up loads of information on Malaysian culture during their stay here and from their visits to the many different sites in the city.

After an hour at the bazaar, the group - armed with local delights like Roti Jala, fried meehoon, roasted chicken and bubur lambuk - headed to the KLCC park to break fast under the stars.

Swim with kelah at sanctuary in Taman Negara
Thursday September 11, 2008
TheStar

The mention of Taman Negara (National Park) in Pahang brings images of lush, pristine jungles apart from rivers with rapids and crystal clear water.

This virgin rainforest, believed to be 130 million years old and spread over 4,343 square km, comes under the jurisdiction of the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department.

With its priceless treasure of flora and fauna, Taman Negara offers attractive packages for aficionados of jungle adventures.

The journey from Kuala Lumpur or Kuantan to the National Park takes about three hours.

Upon arriving at the Kuala Tahan jetty, one feels a sudden desire to explore upstream of Sungai Tahan.

Another route to Taman Negara is by river or land via Jerantut town.

There are many attractions in Taman Negara including the canopy walkway, Berkoh rapids, Bukit Teresek, safari nights, Gua Telinga, Lubok Simpon, Nusa Camp and orang asli settlements.

The park’s latest tourism product worth a visit is the Kelah Sanctuary in Lubuk Tenor.

This site has a research and conservation centre for the kelah fish, also known as Malaysian mahseer, and other attractions.




http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/9/11/southneast/ms_pg03kelah.jpg

Slippery: Workers at the Kelah Sanctuary in Lubuk Tenor,
Taman Negara show how to play with the fishes.




From Kuala Tahan jetty, visitors can reach Lubuk Tenor by going upstream in a 15-horse power boat for 15 minutes.

The boat fare is RM120, and split between four passengers, it is RM30 a person.

Among the activities, apart from swimming, are feeding and playing with the kelah.

Angling is allowed on condition that the kelah is released after it is hooked.

The visitors can also view schools of kelah fry swimming in the crystal-clear waters.

Fascination abounds when the sensitive kelah react with lightning speed as feed pellets are thrown on the water.

The kelah is known as the king of freshwater fish or river king as its flesh is tasty. Even its scales are edible when fried.

This is why kelah is expensive. A kilo of the fish costs thousands of ringgit.

The sanctuary is the fruit of a collaboration between Usains Holdings, a subsidiary of Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Perhilitan started in 2001.

The sanctuary’s management was taken over by Golden Mahseer Sdn Bhd (GMSB) in January 2006, with villagers providing the manpower.

GMSB managing director Roslan Abu Kasim, 43, said the task of conserving the kelah was delegated to locals, including orang asli of the Batek tribe.

The villagers act as agents to promote the sanctuary, he said, adding that 90% of the 2,000 Kampung Kuala Tahan folks were involved in tourism industry in Taman Negara.

The sanctuary is open to the public from 8am to 5pm daily and visitors have the choice of staying overnight at a nearby campsite.

Roslan said there were 30 tents providing accommodation.

A package of three days and two nights for four people at RM350 includes boat fare and food.

Those who sign up can also go for activities like jungle trekking to Bukit Kementor, kayaking, netting fish fry and a trip to the Berkoh rapids.

The Kelah Adoption Programme is available where, for RM20 each, visitors can release an adopted kelah fry into the river and receive a certificate for the effort.

The sanctuary also provides facilities for workshops limited to 30 people at a time.

“For angling, a minimum of four and a maximum of eight people are allowed twice a month as we do not want the fish to become fatigued,” said Roslan.

More information on the sanctuary is available at 09-266 3070. — Bernama