Lost World POW Holidays! @ Ipoh, Perak ( 25 November 2017 ~ 1 January 2018)

With Christmas just around the corner, Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls from Cartoon Network have decided to join us to make this year end with a POW!

From outdoor games to Meet-&-Greets, you’ll wish this day will never end!

25th November 2017 –  1st January 2018

-Lost World Of Tambun.

Kementerian Pelancongan Dan Kebudayaan Perkenal Lesen Khas Umrah Dan Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Bersepadu Untuk Tangani Penipuan Umrah

PUTRAJAYA, 28 Nov 2017 – Berikutan terdapatnya peningkatan yang membimbangkan dalam kes-kes penipuan pakej umrah di Malaysia, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan melalui Majlis Kawal Selia Umrah (MKSU) telah memperkenalkan inisiatif terbaharunya iaitu Lesen Khas Umrah (LKU) dan Integrated Manasik Monitoring System (IMAMS), satu sistem pengurusan maklumat bersepadu kepada semua agensi pelancongan yang mengendalikan pakej Umrah/Ziarah pada 1 Oktober yang lalu.

Pada dasarnya, LKU dan IMAMS dibangunkan bertujuan memperkemas dan menangani permasalahan semasa di dalam industri dan masyarakat, khususnya berkaitan isu penipuan pakej Umrah dan Ziarah.

Berdasarkan statistik yang dikeluarkan oleh Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, seramai 250,000 jemaah Malaysia telah menunaikan umrah pada musim 1437/1438 Hijrah dan jumlah tersebut dijangka meningkat kepada seramai 270,000 hingga 300,000 jemaah pada 1438/1439 Hijrah.

Melalui LKU ini, hanya syarikat yang benar-benar berkualiti, berkemampuan dan berkelayakan sahaja diberi kelulusan untuk mengendalikan pakej umrah dan ziarah di negara ini. Pemberian LKU hanya boleh dipertimbangkan ke atas syarikat-syarikat pengendali pelancongan dan agensi pengembaraan (TOBTAB) yang mempunyai tiga jenis bidang perniagaan pelancongan iaitu inbound (membawa pelancong ke dalam negara), outbound (membawa pelancong ke luar negara) dan ticketing (agensi pengembaraan).

Penguatkuasaan pelaksanaan LKU telah dirasmikan oleh Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia YB Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin pada 3 Oktober 2017.

Sistem IMAMS pula diperkenalkan sebagai pemangkin kepada transformasi pemudahcara digital yang dijangka mampu memberikan perkhidmatan pemantauan yang komprehensif dan sistematik.

IMAMS dapat membantu pihak industri dalam semua urusan berkaitan pengendalian jemaah umrah mereka seterusnya memudahkan pihak Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan untuk memantau pelaksanaan tanggungjawab oleh syarikat serta perjalanan jemaah umrah di dalam keseluruhan rantaian nilai pengendalian umrah tersebut.

Dengan adanya sistem IMAMS, kawalan yang lebih terancang, konsolidasi data yang teratur dan pengendalian pakej-pakej umrah oleh agensi-agensi pelancongan pengelola pakej-pakej umrah yang diiktiraf dan mempunyai LKU dapat dilakukan secara efektif merentasi semua agensi yang terlibat, melalui aplikasi mudah-alih dan laman sesawang yang teratur serta berkesan.

Melalui Sistem IMAMS juga, para jemaah serta keluarga dapat menyemak serta merujuk tentang kesahihan syarikat, pakej umrah yang dipaparkan oleh agensi-agensi pelancongan yang mengelola pakej-pakei umrah berstatus bukan muassasah, harga pakej dan pengesahan visa.

Bagi pihak agensi-agensi yang mengelolakan pakej-pakej umrah pula, pelaksanaan IMAMS membuka ruang kepada mereka untuk meningkatkan lagi tahap tadbir urus masing-masing dalam usaha meningkatkan kualiti sistem penyampaian dan pengendalian perkhidmatan secara keseluruhannya.

Pelaksanaan IMAMS ini juga akan memudahkan urusan untuk mengenal pasti status jemaah sama ada mereka telah berangkat atau tidak ke tanah suci, dan lokasi mereka di tanah suci.

Majlis Kawal Selia Umrah (MKSU)

Demi untuk menjaga kepentingan rakyat beragama Islam di negara ini, Kerajaan melalui Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan dengan kerjasama persatuan syarikat-syarikat pengendali umrah berlesen (BUMITRA dan MATTA) telah menubuhkan Majlis Kawal Selia Umrah (MKSU) pada 28 Ogos 2014. MKSU dianggotai oleh 15 buah agensi kerajaan.

MKSU diketuai oleh Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan dan turut diwakili oleh agensi-agensi Kerajaan yang lain dan rakan-rakan strategik. Antaranya adalah Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan, Kementerian Luar Negeri, Kementerian Pengangkutan, Polis Diraja Malaysia, Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, Suruhanjaya Persaingan Malaysia, Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Mulitimedia Malaysia, Lembaga Tabung Haji, Jabatan Wakaf Zakat dan Haji, Persatuan Ejen-Ejen Pelancongan dan Pengembaraan Malaysia (MATTA), serta Persatuan Agensi-Agensi Pelancongan dan Pengembaraan Bumiputera (BUMITRA).

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari laman web Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan di www.motac.gov.my, atau hubungi 03-8891 7194/5 atau emel info@motac.gov.my.

Bakal jemaah juga boleh melayari laman sesawang IMAMS di www.imams.com.my atau hubungi Talian Info IMAMS di 1-800-88-4626.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Pahang teruskan TMP17 melalui Revisit Pahang

MOHD. SHARKAR

KUANTAN 27 Nov. – Kejayaan penganjuran Tahun Melawat Pahang 2017 (TMP17) yang me­nyaksikan kerajaan negeri mem­peroleh pendapatan sebanyak RM7.48 bilion sehingga September lalu mendorong program Revisit Pahang diperkenalkan.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kebudayaan dan Pelancongan negeri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Sharkar Shamsudin berkata, pelancaran program Revisit Pahang 2018 itu berkemungkinan akan diadakan hujung tahun ini atau awal 2018.

“Kita akan putus­kan kemudian ta­rikh untuk pelanca­ran Revisit Pahang­ kerana tujuannya untuk meneruskan program ini bagi me­mastikan momentum kedatangan pelancong ke Pahang dikekalkan.

“Kalau kita lihat kepada pencapaian TMP17, memang tidak dapat dinafikan jumlah kedatangan pelancong ke ne­geri ini meningkat hampir dua kali ganda iaitu kira-kira 13 juta pelancong untuk tempoh sembilan bulan pertama tahun ini, berbanding 9.3 juta pelancong tempoh sama 2016," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas penggulungan Bajet 2018 dalam sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di sini hari ini.

Menurut Mohd. Sharkar, kejayaan penganjuran TMP17 adalah hasil kerjasama baik antara kerajaan negeri dengan Pusat serta disokong agensi berkaitan.

Selain perolehan daripada kedata­ngan pelancong ke 20 lo­kasi pelancongan me­narik di Pahang, kata beliau, kerajaan negeri turut mena­warkan nombor pen­daftaran khas ken­deraan sempena TMP17 untuk dimiliki orang ramai.

“Bagi penjualan nombor pendaftaran khas kenderaan 'VIP' ini yang diuruskan pihak dilantik kerajaan negeri, kita memperoleh pendapatan sebanyak RM10.3 juta atau 1,903 unit nombor dibida dan dimiliki orang ramai,” jelasnya.

Tambahnya, selain itu, stra­tegi menyediakan 57 acara menarik sepanjang tahun ini juga dilihat sebagai pencetus kepada peningkatan kedatangan pelancong ke negeri ini.

“Antara acara yang menda­pat sambutan daripada pengunjung ialah pertandingan memancing­ Cabaran Royal Billfish di Rom­pin: Kuantan Century Ride dan Pahang Bike Week di Taman Gelora, Kuantan,” katanya.

-utusan online.

Team Europe Unveiled For The EurAsia Cup

A full house of 12 European Tour winners, incorporating the 2016 Open Champion and six Ryder Cup players, make up the European Team named today for next year’s EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia. 

Led by Thomas Bjørn – eight months before he also captains Europe in The Ryder Cup in France – the European Team will tackle Asia in the third staging of the biennial contest, which will once again take place at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from January 12-14, 2018. 

Europe will be looking to retain the trophy they won in convincing fashion by 18 ½ - 5 ½ in 2016, but will face a strong Asian team on home soil captained, for the first time, by India’s Arjun Atwal. 

Leading the ten automatic qualifiers from the 2017 Race to Dubai Rankings is Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who finished European Number One after a thrilling end to the season last weekend at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. 

Joining Fleetwood as automatic qualifiers are his fellow Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton, Ross Fisher and Matthew Fitzpatrick, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, Ireland’s Paul Dunne, Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, and the Swedish duo of Alex Noren and Henrik Stenson. 

Completing the European Team are the two wildcard selections named by Captain Bjørn, Englishman Paul Casey and Alex Levy of France. 

Casey will bring vital experience of the match play realm through his Ryder Cup appearances which included being part of Europe’s back-to-back nine-point triumphs in 2004 and 2006, while Levy will bring his own particular brand of French flair, with golf fans in his home country hoping that he can go on to become the fourth Frenchman to play in The Ryder Cup in his home country next September. 

Captain Bjørn, who played in the inaugural EurAsia Cup match in 2014 which ended in a 10-10 tie, said: “The interest from the players has been very strong and you can see that from the fact that the ten automatic qualifiers come from within the top 20 of the final Race to Dubai Rankings. That is a good indication of what the EurAsia Cup is becoming, and I think European golf is in a great place right now. 

“I’m very encouraged by the make-up of the team and we are strong from 1 through to 12. I have some great experience in terms of six players who have experienced Ryder Cups, as well as the 2016 Open Champion in Henrik. But I also have some exciting young talent led by Tommy and Tyrrell. 

“Obviously Tommy has had an amazing year and deserved to be crowned European Tour Number One last weekend. But Tyrrell has also had a great season, the highlights of which were his back-to-back wins in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Italian Open last month. 

“As captain, I am looking forward to seeing how all 12 deliver on this particular stage. It's a different kind of format to what they are used to week-in, week-out, so it will be interesting to see how they react to that environment. 

“It’s a great honour for me to be captain and I’m looking forward to going to Malaysia in January to face what I know will be a very strong Asian team. We want to win the EurAsia Cup again and I believe we are going with a team very capable of doing that.” 

Captain Bjørn also expanded on the reasons behind choosing Paul Casey and Alex Levy as his two wild card selections. 

“It was a really hard task because there are so many good European players to choose from,” said the Dane. “All have legitimate claims and all are well qualified to be on this team, so it was a tough choice to have to make. But in the end, I went for Paul and Alex. 

“Once Paul announced he was rejoining the European Tour, and therefore making himself available for selection, that decision was a no-brainer for me. He is a wonderful player with a lot of experience and I think the young guys can learn a lot from him. 

“He's also got a fantastic match play record and not just in Ryder Cups. He is comfortable with where he is in his life right now and him wanting to part of the EurAsia Cup team also shows his commitment to the European Tour and the road he is now on. 

“Following on from that, I picked Alex as he is a player that has impressively risen through the ranks in the past few years. He has wonderful French character and flair as well as a lot of attitude and passion for the game. He is also very consistent which can be a great asset in match play. 

“I have assembled a team which will hopefully go out and retain the EurAsia Cup, but I also have one eye on next September and selecting Alex will give him a feeling of being part of what a team event feels like, as I know it's very much on his mind to try and make The Ryder Cup Team. 

“Therefore, to get him into the fold, help him develop, and give him great opportunities for the future is important. But this is also deserved for what he's delivered over the past couple of years. He got very close to qualifying for the team automatically and I think he definitely deserves his chance.” 

The line-ups for the third EurAsia Cup will be completed on Tuesday November 28 when Arjun Atwal names his Asian team.

-Eurasia Cup.

Light And Motion Putrajaya 2017 ( 28 ~31December 2017 )

Do you still remember about Festival LAMPU 2016? Still imagined how the glitter of the lights decorate the yesteryear nights in Putrajaya? If your memory is still on the beautiful lights with colours and patterns, this year LAMPU is coming back to lite up Putrajaya and entertaining visitors and it’s fans.

Let us come together and watch the beauty and uniqueness of #LAMPU2017. LAMPU 2017 promises fascinating activities, suitable for all ages and will be the most beautiful ‘momento’ by the end of 2017. So, mark your date & see you there !!

-Perbadanan Putrajaya facebook.

Durian festival in Bentong a roaring success

All-time favourite: Ahmad Shabery (left), Liow and Chew (in pink) checking out the durians at the 2017 Malaysia International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival in Bentong.

BENTONG: The road leading into Bentong town was packed with cars, vans and even travel coaches from early morning as visitors began streaming in for the two-day Malaysia International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival 2017.

The festival, the first of its kind, was jointly launched by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday.

The event is going to be held annually given the overwhelming response.

Lee Koon Woh, who was helping to man the stall operated by the Pahang Durian Entrepreneurs Association, said they had been serving durians non-stop since the festival started in the morning.

“We brought in about five tonnes, and looking at the number of empty baskets, I think we’ve sold at least half,” said Lee, at 5pm.

Lee, who also grows durians, said they were selling durians at a cheaper price at the festival.

“A lot of us also grow and sell other varieties like D24, but our entire stock today is Musang King, since the festival is centred around that,” said Lee.

Chinese national Yu Xia, along with her husband Stanlley Ho and their daughter Jamie, were polishing off two durians and planning to come back the next day for more.

“You can also get durians in Shah Alam, but up here, it feels more authentic and the supply is so much more,” said Yu Xia, while Stanlley said the durians were worth the trip.

Chalie Looi, together with 40 of his friends and relatives, from Kuala Lumpur had chartered a coach to come up here for the festival.

“We’ve just finished about 50kg worth of durian in 20 minutes, but I think some of us are still no satisfied, so we are going to sample more durians,” said Looi.

In addition to the stalls and durian-derived products, festival-goers were also treated to an open-air concert featuring artistes from China.

At the concert last night, Liow said Bentong and Raub residents must be ready to ride the wave of change in the next five years.

He said eco-tourism and the export of local produce like durians and ginger were encouraging.

This, he added, would go into high gear from now on because of the good connectivity between Bentong and Raub with Kuala Lumpur and east coast states.

“The Central Spine Road (CSR) which is already in progress and the upcoming East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) have made the economic transformation in Bentong and Raub possible,” Liow added. With durians being a huge success in China now, Liow said the King of Fruits is poised to go worldwide.

He said 160,000 Chinese who queued up for three hours for durians at a durian festival in Nanning, China recently as shared by Ahmad Shabery earlier speak volumes of the durian business potential.

-thestar online.

Tourism Malaysia Participates In China International Travel Mart (CITM) To Boost China Arrivals

image: pelancongankini

Putrajaya, 23 November 2017: Tourism Malaysia led a total of 17 Malaysian organisations comprising hotels, airlines, tourism product operators, travel agents and government agencies to participate in China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Kunming, China from 17 to 19 November 2017.

Its Chairman, Dato’ Dr. Siew Ka Wei believes that CITM provides a global platform for Malaysian tourism industry players to grab a bigger market share in China.

CITM is one of the top travel trade events in China. During the event, the Malaysian industry players met up directly with their clients to provide first-hand information on Malaysia and its exciting travel packages, especially on niche tourism such as island holidays and luxury tourism. Maps, brochures and souvenirs were also distributed while the renowned Malaysian white coffee was served to visitors.

Dato’ Dr. Siew highlighted that the Malaysian government has eased visa requirements as well as launched the e-visa facility to provide ease and convenience to Chinese travellers.

“We have partnered with airlines as well as big corporations to promote Malaysia, such as China Southern Airlines and Alibaba. Greater promotion efforts will be undertaken in the second and third tier cities in China, by inviting more airline operators to expand their flights to Malaysia,” he said.

Dato’ Dr. Siew encouraged the industry players to provide “customised” tourism packages to suit the needs and interests of Chinese travellers. Such packages include golf tourism and “durian tour packages” which have received overwhelming response from Chinese travellers. He added that the government is also looking into the edutourism and ecotourism sectors to attract this market.

China is the third largest tourist generating market for Malaysia after Singapore and Indonesia, with tourist arrivals from China registering an increase of 26.7% in 2016. Dato’ Dr. Siew foresees that the number of Chinese travellers to Malaysia will grow following the increased of number of flights to and from Malaysia, as well as greater promotion efforts undertaken by the government and industry players.

Malaysia’s cultural diversity and natural attractions such as islands and beaches are expected to be the main draw for this market.

Tourism Malaysia was also awarded the “Excellent Organisation Award” and “Excellent Booth Award” at CITM in recognition of its achievements and contribution.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Karnival Upin & Ipin masuk kalendar pelancongan

SERDANG: Karnival Upin & Ipin yang sering mendapat sambutan hangat, akan disenaraikan dalam kalendar pelancongan, mulai tahun depan.

Menteri Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, berkata karnival itu sangat mustahak kerana ia mampu menarik pelancong yang ramai dari dalam dan luar negara.

Katanya, Upin & Ipin yang juga adalah duta pelancongan negara itu mempunyai tarikan tersendiri dan sudah cukup terkenal di negara luar.

"Saya lihat Karnival Upin & Ipin ini tidak kira di mana ia diadakan, pengunjungnya tetap ramai dan luar biasa.

"Kita akan minta penganjur tentukan tarikh dan akan masuk dalam kalendar negara sebagai aktiviti penting," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas merasmikan Karnival Upin & Ipin 2017, di Tapak Ekspo Pertanian Malaysia (MAEPS), hari ini.

Yang turut hadir, Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah dan Pengarah Urusan Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd (LCP), Burhanuddin Md Zin.

Karnival kali ketiga itu membawa tema 'luar biasa', berlangsung selama tiga hari bermula hari ini sehingga Ahad.

Ia dibuka kepada pengunjung bermula jam 10 pagi hingga 10 malam, dengan pelbagai aktiviti menarik, termasuk sukan elektronik, tayangan filem dan gerai jualan.

Sementara itu, Burhanuddin berkata, siri animasi Upin & Ipin bakal menemui peminatnya di India dalam masa terdekat selepas pihaknya menandatangani perjanjian bersama Disney India.

"Jika perkara berkenaan berjaya dilaksanakan, termasuk perjanjian sebelum ini bersama wakil dari China, watak popular ini akan berada di satu per empat dunia," katanya.

Beliau berkata, siri watak berkenaan turut menarik minat beberapa pelabur dari Asia Timur, yang ingin membelinya, namun setakat ini pihaknya belum berminat untuk menjual duta Malaysia itu.

-Berita Harian online.

Malaysia Participates In Inaugural Pakistan Travel Mart

KARACHI, PAKISTAN, 23 November 2017 – Malaysia is taking part in the inaugural Pakistan Travel Mart from 24 to 26 November at the Karachi Expo Centre. 

A total of 19 Malaysian organisations will be stationed under the Malaysia Pavilion, comprising of travel agents, tourism product owners, hoteliers, Malindo Airlines, Islamic Tourism Centre, as well as senior officials and colleagues from Tourism Malaysia.

The objective of the participation in this travel mart are to increase the awareness and interest of tourists and travel agents from Pakistan of the exciting potential that Malaysia presents as the preferred travel destination in Asia; to renew Malaysia’s commitment and support for the Pakistani travel industry in their efforts to promote Malaysia; to keep the Pakistani counterparts abreast of recent tourism developments in Malaysia; and to establish a wider network of contacts in the Pakistani tourism industry.

Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, said, “We are encouraged by recent statistics by Euromonitor International that show that there are 4.8 million outbound Pakistani tourists, who collectively spend PKR249.5 billion annually. Moreover, Malaysia is currently the 12th most favourite outbound destination by Pakistani tourists.”

Datuk Seri Mirza also spoke about the connectivity factor between Pakistan and Malaysia. There are currently nine weekly flights offered by Pakistan International Airlines and Malindo Air with a seat capacity of 2,450. He said, “The upcoming launch of Malindo Air’s Karachi-KL route as well as the e-visa system implementation is expected to further facilitate travel to Malaysia.”

He went on to introduce Malaysia’s diverse tourist attractions such as islands and beaches, shopping and theme parks, saying, “Our diverse cultures, delicious local food, thick rainforests, warm climate, islands and beaches, and luxury experiences, offer Pakistani tourists a pleasurable tropical holiday at highly reasonable prices at any time of the year.”

He also shared his aspirations to partner with the Pakistani tourism industry, saying, “With the Pakistani travel industry’s support and cooperation, we hope to make Malaysia the preferred destination choice for the people of Pakistan.”

Malaysia recorded 39,202 tourist arrivals from Pakistan from January to August 2017.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Prominent Speakers Ready To Share Expertise At 6th Global Summit On Urban Tourism ( 4 ~ 6 December 2017 )

PUTRAJAYA, 21 November 2017 – The upcoming 6^th Global Summit on Urban Tourism (GSUT) 2017 in Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur will feature an impressive line-up of local and international speakers, representing the who’s who of the tourism industry. 

Themed “Sustainable and Competitive Tourism on the New Urban Agenda” this year, the summit aims at promoting a globally shared vision and a strategic approach to readdress the tools to adapt to the new paradigms in urban tourism while achieving coherence among the tourism activities, urban development policies and the economic and social benefits for the local inhabitants through integrated planning, efficient governance, knowledge management and professionalism in operations. 

A total of 22 speakers will be presenting their knowledge and experience to the audiences during the three-day conference from 4 to 6 December. Among the well-known luminaries who will be gracing the prestigious event this year and sharing their valuable insights are:

1) Masato Takamatsu 

Mr. Takamatsu is a co-founder of Japan Tourism Marketing Co. (currently JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.) and a destination marketing and tourism crisis management expert. 

He is one of the UNWTO Tourism Barometer Panel of Tourism Experts, an advisory member of The World Travel & Tourism Council, a Conseil Consultant of International for Atout France, and an Expert Committee member of World Tourism Cities Federation. 

2) Dr. Ko Koens (Netherlands)

Dr. Ko Koens is Associate Professor at the Academy of Hotel and Facility Management, Breda University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands. 

The main fields of interest of Dr. Koens are slum tourism, city hospitality, sustainable destination management and governance solutions, with a specific focus on small businesses, entrepreneurship and local economic development in an urban context. He is project manager for the Horizon 2020 funded project 'Smart City Hospitality' (www.scithos.eu) and has actively worked with European cities to find solutions for the issue of overtourism and visitor pressure.

3) Ahn Joon Ho (Republic of Korea)

As the Director-General of Tourism & Sports Bureau of Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) as of 2017, Ahn Joon Ho strives to create a healthy and happy Seoul by revitalizing Seoul’s economy and promoting public sports. While implementing external marketing activities to attract foreign tourists with global mind-set, he has established community-inclusive tourism and sports policies by promoting the MICE industry and public-private cooperation.

In 2002, Mr. Ahn participated in the Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project, which was later renamed to High Urban Renaissance Project, and demolished elevated highways and restored the downtown areas of Seoul. In 2008, he contributed to establishing Seoul Foreign School, called Dulwich College Seoul to support education of foreign residents in Seoul.

4) Dr. Xiang Feng (China)

Dr. Xiang Feng has been working at Shanghai Institute of Tourism, Shanghai Normal University since 2003. 

Besides academic work, Dr. Xiang Feng has been working as tourism planner/consultant for Chinese tourism destinations for years. Her major clients include Shanghai Tourism Bureau, Zhejiang Provincial Tourism Bureau, Hangzhou Tourism Committee, Nanjing Tourism Committee, etc. She was renowned in projects such as conceptual city tourism development plan, city tourism plan, master plan of city to attract more international tourists, action plan to develop tourism destination, international marketing plan, marketing strategy, HR development plan of city tourism, etc.

In addition, Dr. Xiang Feng is the director of EURICUR-Shanghai (European Institute for Comparative Urban Research) and the director of Global Tourism Think Tank, the research platform set up by Shanghai Normal University China and CELTH the Netherlands.

5) Esencan Terzibasoglu (UNWTO)

Esencan Terzibasoglu studied urban and regional planning in the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey and worked 25 years in the public sector in Turkey and abroad where she held senior management positions in tourism master planning, tourism investment policies and legislation, site planning and conservation of cultural heritage sites, vocational tourism training, international relations and lastly, in tourism promotion and marketing (8 years as the Director of the Turkish Tourism Office in Madrid, in charge of Spain, Portugal and South America) before joining the UNWTO.

6) YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes (Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia Berhad)

Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes is Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad. Internationally, his outstanding contributions to the French aviation industry were recognised with the title Officier of the Legion d’ Honneur in April 2010, followed by the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur in November 2013, the highest rank of honour that the French Government can bestow on non-French citizens. In 2011, he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

He is well respected for his contributions to the growth of Asia and his influence in shaping the aviation industry’s evolution. He was presented the Airline CEO of the Year Award for 2009 from Jane’s Transport Finance for his success in leading and growing AirAsia into Asia’s largest and the world’s best low-cost airline. He went on to win Corporate Governance Asia’s Best CEO for Malaysia award - for the third year in a row.

For the full list of speakers and programme, visit http://destination.unwto.org/content/speakers-biographies-4. For registration, please visit the UNWTO official website at http://destination.unwto.org/event/6th-global-summit-urban-tourism. Registration is open until 24 November 2017. For further information, please contact Ms. Firna Azura Ekaputri Marzuki at 6gsut@motac.gov.my or Mr. Sascha Stange at sstange@unwto.org.

-Tourism Malaysia.