Joint venture expected to raise the number of tourists from South Korea

Tourism boost: Country Heights Holdings Bhd deputy chairman Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew speaking at the signing ceremony for the joint venture.

Mines Marketing recently signed a joint-venture agreement with leading South Korean travel agency, JaU Tour, to form Mines Global Holidays Sdn Bhd.

The venture will boost South Korean and foreign tourist arrivals to Malaysia and in particular, the Country Heights hospitality properties. It will see the two companies working in close collaboration to promote golf and medical tourism and leisure packages to South Korean and other foreign tourists.

JaU Tour CEO Bhang Gwang Sik signed the joint venture on behalf of his company while Mines Marketing was represented by its director and general manager Ricky Yip. The 50/50 joint venture to form Mines Global Holidays will have a paid-up capital of RM600,000 and share capital of RM1mil.

JaU Tour is a Kosdaq-listed company, and handles 350,000 tourists a year with sales turnover of US$50mil (RM153.7mil).

Mines Marketing Sdn Bhd was established in January 1999, as a marketing agency under Country Heights Holdings Bhd for five business divisions: Palace Vacation Club, Golden Horses Health Sanctuary, Country Heights Growers Scheme, Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) and Mines Global Holidays, with annual sales turnover of RM50mil.

Following the joint venture, both parties will study the types of collaborative efforts that can be made for inbound tours directly to Mines Resort City and Borneo Highlands Resort-Kuching, among others.

“This collaborative effort is timely and in line with the Government’s efforts to boost tourist arrivals through Visit Malaysia Year 2013/2014,” said Yip. “We believe that the collaboration with a market leader such as JaU Tour will contribute to the Government’s target of 26.8 million tourist arrivals for 2013,” he added.

Bhang said South Korean tourists were attracted to Malaysia, especially for golf as it is a very expensive sport back home.

“Malaysia’s congenial climate, the safe and secure environment, as well as its intrinsic natural beauty has made Malaysia an appealing tourist destination for South Koreans. With this collaborative effort, JaU Tour will be able to increase the tourist handling numbers beyond the current 350,000” he said.
-thestar online.