Malaysia extends recovery MCO to year-end; ban on foreign tourists remain

 

In a bid to attract international travellers back to Malaysia’s shores amid the ongoing pandemic, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is looking to tap into niche tourism activities in the country’s green zone destinations.

Its minister, Nancy Shukri, said the ministry is working on a concept paper to promote niche tourism activities such as golfing, snorkelling and diving on the country’s islands marked as green zones.

However, reciprocal green lanes or travel bubbles with other like-minded countries need to be established before Malaysia reopens its green zone destinations to foreign travellers.

“We need to be creative and find new ways of looking at the travel bubbles,” she said, while stressing that there needs to be mutual agreement between governments and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place for the niche tourism activities identified to ensure the safety of tourists.

The concept paper currently being prepared by the MOTAC will be presented to relevant ministries and government agencies including the Health Ministry, the National Security Council, and the National Disaster Management Agency within the next two weeks.

Welcoming the move, Yap Sook Ling, managing director at Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel, opined that promoting diving and golfing activities would attract high-value travellers to the country.

But at the same time, she stressed, the government should make it compulsory for foreign tourists entering the country to employ the services of registered travel agents to ensure compliance to the SOPs set by the government and strict adherence to the tour itinerary.

-TTG Asia.

Niche tourism eyed for Malaysia’s travel bubble plan

 

In a bid to attract international travellers back to Malaysia’s shores amid the ongoing pandemic, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is looking to tap into niche tourism activities in the country’s green zone destinations.

Its minister, Nancy Shukri, said the ministry is working on a concept paper to promote niche tourism activities such as golfing, snorkelling and diving on the country’s islands marked as green zones.

However, reciprocal green lanes or travel bubbles with other like-minded countries need to be established before Malaysia reopens its green zone destinations to foreign travellers.

“We need to be creative and find new ways of looking at the travel bubbles,” she said, while stressing that there needs to be mutual agreement between governments and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place for the niche tourism activities identified to ensure the safety of tourists.

The concept paper currently being prepared by the MOTAC will be presented to relevant ministries and government agencies including the Health Ministry, the National Security Council, and the National Disaster Management Agency within the next two weeks.

Welcoming the move, Yap Sook Ling, managing director at Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel, opined that promoting diving and golfing activities would attract high-value travellers to the country.

But at the same time, she stressed, the government should make it compulsory for foreign tourists entering the country to employ the services of registered travel agents to ensure compliance to the SOPs set by the government and strict adherence to the tour itinerary.

-TTG Asia.

Tourism Malaysia X-Change Session Series 4 / 2020 ( 3 September 2020 )

 

Tourism Malaysia presents X-Change Session, the 4th Series featuring representatives from Desaru Coast Malaysia, Kwai Chai Hong Street and Saujana Hotel Sdn Bhd. Get to know our local products and latest updates online! 

-Tourism Malaysia.

Majlis Pelancaran Promo TV Kempen Cuti-cuti Malaysia Dan Pengumuman Pemenang Video Muzik Cuti-cuti At Home

 

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 OGOS 2020 – Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya telah melancarkan Promo TV Kempen Cuti-Cuti Malaysia bertempat di Dewan Tun Dr. Ismail, World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur hari ini. 

Promo TV Kempen Cuti-Cuti Malaysia tersebut adalah salah satu daripada inisiatif Tourism Malaysia sejajar dengan seruan Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy dalam menyemarakkan pelancongan domestik. 5 video promosi yang telah dihasilkan mengetengahkan beberapa tema dan produk pelancongan, termasuklah Pulau dan Pantai, Aktiviti Menyelam dan Dasar Laut, Alam Semulajadi dan Pengembaraan, dan Makanan. Kesemuanya akan disiarkan di RTM menerusi TV1, TV2 dan TV OKEY. 

“Dengan pendekatan ini, Kempen Cuti-Cuti Malaysia di RTM akan dapat membantu memberi pendedahan yang lebih meluas kepada pelbagai produk tempatan demi menyemarakkan semula industri pelancongan negara, sekali gus meletakkan Malaysia sebagai sebuah destinasi pelancongan yang selamat untuk dikunjungi,” kata Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy ketika di majlis pelancaran. 

Selaras dengan pelancaran Promo TV Kempen Cuti-Cuti Malaysia, para pemenang bagi Pertandingan Video Muzik Cuti-Cuti at Home anjuran Tourism Malaysia sepanjang tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan juga telah diumumkan. 

Pertandingan ini telah dibuka kepada orang ramai menerusi platfom digital pada 18 April 2020 sehingga 9 Jun 2020, dan para peserta telah diberi tiga pilihan kategori dalam menghasilkan klip video pendek, iaitu bermain alat muzik, menyanyi, atau melakonkan sketsa. 

Selain menjadi platform untuk para peserta menyerlahkan bakat dalam pelbagai bidang, pertandingan tersebut juga bertujuan untuk mencetus dan merancakkan pelancongan domestik dengan membuka peluang percutian kepada orang ramai melalui hadiah-hadiah yang ditawarkan. 

Pemenang utama yang telah diumumkan bagi setiap kategori adalah seperti berikut: 

1. Kategori Bermain Alat Muzik  - Encik Ko Chuan Li 

2. Kategori Nyanyian - Encik Mohd Yatim Bin Naming 

3. Kategori Sketsa - Puan Clarissa Premini A/P Robert Jeyakumar 

Hadiah utama bagi para pemenang ialah pakej percutian 3 hari 2 malam di dalam Malaysia untuk 5 orang, termasuklah tiket penerbangan, penginapan, makan dan minum,’transfers’ dan bayaran masuk ke tempat tarikan pelancongan. 

“Adalah menjadi tugas kita semua untuk memastikan Malaysia pulih dari pandemik ini, dengan kita semua berdisplin dalam mengamalkan prosedur operasi standard (SOP), pemakaian pelitup muka, dan penjarakan sosial. Janganlah kita ambil mudah tentang hal ini kerana mencegah lebih baik dari mengubati,” nasihat Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Firefly Passport Travel Pass

 

Get your very own Firefly Passport and fly as many times as you like to any domestic destinations.

Great deal, value for money... perfect for exploring Malaysia, balik kampung or even for your frequent business trips. 3 months unlimited travel pass for only RM399 or 6 months pass at RM699.

Hurry up, grab your Firefly Passport via our website https://www.fireflyz.com.my/travelpass latest by 30 August 2020.

-Firefly Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines to increase Sabah flight frequency in September 2020

 

KLIA, 21 August 2020: Malaysia Airlines will be adding more flights to its service to Sabah in the month of September 2020.

 

Malaysia Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer, Captain Izham Ismail said, “Malaysia Airlines is pleased to announce that we will be increasing our flight frequencies up to 8 times daily for direct flights to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau from Kuala Lumpur during this period.”

The increased frequency of flights to Sabah destinations are as above image.

The airline will continue to monitor passenger demand for flights to Sabah and shall adjust its network capacity from time to time to allow for passengers seeking to travel to the ‘Land Below the Wind’.

 

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia Airlines has enhanced its safety and health measures by introducing initiatives aligned with international safety and health protocols set by international regulatory bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Health Organization (WHO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), and Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH).

 

“Please rest assured that the safety and well-being of passengers and employees is our utmost priority at all times. We have taken special care at all our customer touchpoints to ensure that visitors to the beautiful state of Sabah can ‘Fly Confidently’ and explore all of the amazing experiences it has to offer,” ended Izham.

 

From now until 2^nd September 2020, Malaysia Airlines tour operating arm, MHholidays also has a special treat for families with its ‘Kids Fly + Stay Free’ campaign which offers up to 50% off holiday packages to Sabah where every booking entitles one child aged between 3 to 11 years old or an infant aged 2 years and below to fly and stay for free at selected hotels!

 

Don’t miss out on these attractive limited-time holiday deal offers at MHholidays’ official website at holidays.malaysiaairlines.com during the campaign period.

-Malaysia Airlines.

Travel giant duo align to revive SE Asia’s travel scene

 

Following its tie-up with China’s Trip.com Group, AirAsia.com has partnered with Agoda to offer travellers access to a wider multi-product selection, providing greater choice and convenience.

Designed to spur travel activity in South-east Asia, the collaboration includes travel bundles, membership privileges as well as joint product marketing. Under the partnership, AirAsia.com will add over 600,000 Agoda properties to its inventory.

AirAsia.com users can now enjoy a more seamless ‘browse-to-buy’ experience on the website, and book their flights and hotels through Snap, the airline’s new flight and hotel combo booking platform.

Agoda CEO John Brown said: “The public’s appetite for travel is still strong, and we believe that our collaboration with AirAsia will help take the hassle out of travel by helping travellers to easily find great value deals as they venture out again. Equally important is the wider impact of this initiative between two of South-east Asia’s well-known and highly regarded travel brands, on the confidence of accommodation partners, hospitality providers and related aviation industry players.

“It’s imperative we work innovatively with our partners to find solutions and do our part to stimulate demand and help the wider travel and tourism industry.”

-TTG Asia.

KLIA Crazy Sale + Cuti-cuti Malaysia Mini Travel Fair ( 26 ~ 31 August 2020 )

 

Mark your calendar as the first ever KLIA Crazy Sale is coming your way from 26 – 31 August 2020! Look forward to amazing deals and discounts of up to 70% off from a variety of brands, including travel-retail and duty-absorbed products.

While you’re there, head to the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Mini Travel Fair in collaboration with @tourismmalaysiacentral where you can purchase discounted travel/holiday packages for your next retreat.

This is definitely an opportunity you don't want to miss as this event is open to the public and you don’t have to fly to enjoy the great deals. So bring your family and friends; we’ll see you there!

Stage Area, Level 5, Departure Hall, KLIA

-Malaysia Airports.

WTTC tracks travel demand

 

WTTC has launched an in-depth data dashboard highlighting the recovery of travel demand across flights and hotels, as well as revealing the shifting intentions of travellers through online travel searches, so as to help the travel and tourism sector map out its road to recovery.

Developed in partnership with consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the interactive Covid-19 Travel Demand Recovery Dashboard provides users with easy access to qualitative and quantitative travel data at the global and regional level as well as for 33 major countries around the world.

The tool tracks travel demand since the beginning of the year, and will be updated on a fortnightly basis. It offers a useful way to navigate through a sea of data reflecting changing travel demand around the world, as countries start to gradually ease travel restrictions and reopen borders.

Free to all WTTC members and non-members, the dashboard presents two distinct views based on Google trends and searches, and bookings via WTTC’s research partners in the project.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO, said: “Our dashboard will enable decision makers to track the impact of public policies by monitoring the positive and negative fluctuations of flight and hotel bookings and also online travel searches, as well as consumer confidence.

“Data is essential for businesses, government and other organisations to make informed choices and drive the policy which will revive a sector that has suffered disproportionally due to the pandemic.

The new data dashboard offers insights through two main avenues.

The first is via Google Trends, where all the data sourced has been organised into holiday or trip segments: Adventure, Culture, Urban, Family, Sun & Beach, and Travel Services.

Each segmentation has been devised using a set of 20 keywords, covering popular activities, sites and destinations. The segments provide insights at both the regional level and for key travel and tourism countries, such as the UK, the US, France and Brazil.

The second comes via regional insights through bi-monthly updates on movements and bookings, with flight information from travel analytics company ForwardKeys, as well as hotel occupancy and average daily room rates from research firm STR and the Google Mobility Index, which shows local recreational activity.

In addition, Global Rescue, which offers medical, security, travel risk, and crisis management services, provides data showing the ‘openness’ of each country or key market, in the context of Covid-induced travel restrictions.

As an example, the dashboard shows that while travel search interest is still lower than last year, Europe is leading the recovery with searches now just 20 per cent down from last year. Adventure is the fastest recovering search segment globally, at just 10 per cent down from last year, versus 40 per cent for other segments such as urban, sun and beach, family, and culture.

In a number of countries such as France and Germany, adventure travel searches are 50-70 per cent above 2019 levels.

-TTG Asia.

Wings: Kita Merdeka Live Streaming Concert 2020 hosted by Tourism Malaysia

 

Siaran langsung konsert rock di pentas digital buat pertama kalinya di Malaysia. Khas untuk peminat-peminat rock sempena dengan ulang tahun ke-35 WINGS dan sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan kita yang ke-63.

Kumpulan rock lagenda Malaysia, WINGS akan terus-menerus ke skrin digital anda!

Ayuh bersama-sama WINGS Kita Merdeka - Live Streaming Concert pada 7.30 malam, 29.08.2020 ini!

-Tourism Malaysia.

Salam Maal Hijrah from Pelancongan Kini

 

-PelanconganKini

Malaysia travel players in hot pursuit of high-end pie

 

Travel agencies in Malaysia are wooing affluent domestic travellers with experiential travel packages to attractions like Mount Kinabalu National Park (above)

Tour operators in Malaysia are activating their creative juices to craft value-add packages and unique experiences to spur the high-income segment who usually holiday overseas to explore their own backyards.

Mayflower Holidays general manager, Abdul Rahman Mohamed, said his company is working with banks to tap their high-net-worth customers.

He shared: “These high-end customers expect to be pampered and with that in mind, we include added value offerings into the packages such as free spa treatments and late check-outs. The response has been encouraging.”

According to the Central Bank of Malaysia, the country’s GDP had contracted by 17.1 per cent in the second quarter, mainly due to the nationwide lockdown as part of Covid-19 containment efforts.

However, Abdul Rahman said that the high-end consumers “are not much affected, and they have money to spend.” The challenge, he added, is to satisfy the needs of this demanding segment which is “not easy to please.”

Also hoping to get a slice of the high-end pie is Apple Vacations & Conventions, as the interruption of outbound travel forces it to focus on the domestic market for now. Its group managing director, Koh Yock Heng, said: “Domestic high-end tourists will use an agent when they are looking for a unique holiday experience. Otherwise, they will travel on their own. It is also not about pricing, but experiences and content.”

As such, experiential tourism seems to be the way to go in winning the hearts of affluent travellers. “We have done sunset dinners in a paddy field and private dinners in traditional villages, with the villagers mingling with our clients and sharing lifestyle experiences,” said Koh.

Other offerings by the agency include soft adventure packages to Mulu Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sarawak; Mount Kinabalu National Park, and Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah.

Sunflower Holidays managing director, Mint Leong, shared that there are dedicated personnel in its office to cater to the high-end segment, as they “tend to make last-minute bookings and changes to their itinerary.”

“Sometimes we get enquiries (from high-end clients) three days before the trip,” she said, adding that in this respect, they were different from their inbound counterparts who usually made their bookings ahead of time.

-TTG Asia.

Launching Ceremony Of BHPETROL’S Jom CUTI-CUTI MALAYSIA 2020 In Collaboration With TOURISM MALAYSIA

 

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 AUGUST 2020 – Time to pack your bags and drop by BHPetrol today because starting 18 August 2020 until 26 October 2020, you may stand a chance to travel for free throughout Malaysia! In conjunction with Hari Merdeka 2020, BHPetrol and Tourism Malaysia has come together to celebrate the festive spirit with BHPetrol customers through Jom! Cuti-cuti Malaysia promotional contest. 

The contest was launched today by Datuk Musa Yusof, Director General of Tourism Malaysia and Mr. Leslie Ng, Chief Executive Officer of Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol). Taking place at BHPetrol Jalan Cheras 1 & 2, the collective goal of this latest collaboration hopes to garner public’s continuous support for BHPetrol as a thriving brand in Malaysia. Most importantly, this joint effort strives to support the Malaysian tourism industry that was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The contest is expected to encourage Malaysians to travel across states to enjoy the the country’s natural beauty as well as existing tourist attractions that are comparable to foreign tourist destinations. There are various interesting domestic tourism activities such as homestay, ecotourism and agro-tourism activities that can be explored by the locals. 

“We welcome initiatives such as this collaboration with BHPetrol which is in line with Tourism Malaysia’s goals in our efforts to reinvigorate our domestic tourism sector,” said Datuk Musa in his speech at the launching ceremony.

30 grand prize winners will win delightful domestic holiday packages worth RM4,000 each.Each package will consist of a 3 days 2 nights vacation, cash money and BHPetrol cash vouchers. As for 30 consolidation prizes, now is the best time to grab 10,000 ePoints and fuel vouchers valued at RM1,100 each! Last but not least, be sure to check out the 30 weekly prizes of 2 days 1 night stay at Royale Chulan hotels throughout popular destinations in Malaysia. 

In order to be eligible, consumers just need to purchase a cumulative minimum amount of RM30 fuel products or shop items at BHPetrol stations. Using the physical BHPetrol eCard will entitle the user to one entry, while BHPetrol eCard mobile app users will be entitled to three (3) entries, for every cumulative RM30 spend.

-Tourism Malaysia.

UITM Signs MOC With TOURISM MALAYSIA

 

SHAH ALAM, 17 AUGUST 2020: Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Tourism Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) in Hotel UiTM Shah Alam today with the primary objective to strengthen cooperation between the university and the nation’s tourism promotion agency. The signing ceremony was fulfilled by UiTM’s Vice Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Datuk Ir. Dr. Mohd Azraai Kassim and Tourism Malaysia’s Director General, Datuk Musa Yusof, and witnessed by the Dean of the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Professor Dr Hj Mohd Salehuddin Mohd Zahari and Tourism Malaysia’s Director of Human Resource, Datin Rafidah Idris.

The MoC between UiTM and Tourism Malaysia marks a new milestone in the formalization of a long and well-established networking relationship between these two institutions. Through this MOC, the cooperation will form a synergy that can be very productive for both parties, particularly in addressing knowledge and skills gap between industry and academia.

“This strategic relationship is necessary to strengthen the tourism and hospitality academia and industry linkage and to ensure UiTM remains competitive by acquiring and sharing current knowledge as the tourism industry progresses, as well as towards the realization of UiTM’s strategic planning, to be a Globally Renowned University by 2025” said Emeritus Professor Datuk Ir. Dr. Mohd Azraai Kassim in his welcoming speech. He expressed his gratitude to see the UiTM and Tourism Malaysia partnership formalized and looks forward to assisting Tourism Malaysia in terms of sharing knowledge, skills, research and labour provision.

Datuk Musa Yusof said it is imperative for the national tourism organization (NTO) like Tourism Malaysia to collaborate with industry including higher education institution to formulate new strategies to ensure the sustainability of the tourism industry, which also faces challenges in marketing digitalization to cater for the targeted market segmentation.

“This collaboration is not only able to produce a more skilled workforce, but will also benefit the development of the organization for both parties as well as forging the best practices of learning organizations,” said Datuk Musa Yusof.

The MoC coverage focuses on the following matters including the exchange of expertise pertaining to the tourism industry, to create opportunities for future joint or allied funding activities and projects that benefit both parties, organization of the conferences, short courses and meetings on tourism research issues, to create a mutual understanding of business opportunities and needs of both parties and mutually promote information and activities between parties within the MoC on their respective website.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Malaysian tourism players petition change to license renewal rules

Malaysian tourism players are proposing for the licensing of recreational vehicles and caravans to operators; tour buses outside National Mosque of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur pictured 

Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN) has proposed to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) to relook existing regulations for tourism businesses to tide them through these challenging times of Covid-19.

TPN chairman, Uzaidi Udanis, said in a meeting on Tuesday chaired by the tourism, arts and culture minister, Nancy Shukri, that he had proposed for the MOTAC to temporarily abolish the requirement that tour operators and travel agents need to maintain a physical office to renew their licenses.

He added: “Many operators and travel agents are currently working from home due to the ongoing pandemic. Yet, they have to maintain an office and pay rental. We proposed that the ministry consider a two-year exemption as it will take about that period for the industry to recover.”

TPN had also proposed for a wider choice of licensed vehicles for the purpose of transporting high-end domestic tourists who are willing to pay more for a comfortable journey.

Uzaidi said: “We proposed the licensing of recreational vehicles and caravans to operators. Under the current regulations, bus operators can convert their tour buses to recreational vehicles, but it has to be licensed under a personal name. Thus, it cannot be used for commercial purposes.”

Also brought up during the meeting was the need to upskill and retrain tourist guides to deepen their knowledge on local destinations so as to cater for the medium to high-end domestic market, shared Uzaidi.

He explained: “It is crucial for tourist guides to provide in-depth story-telling at the destination as this is what local tourists want. They are familiar with the country they live in, so when on a domestic holiday, they seek in-depth explanations of the places they visit.

“We proposed for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to look at providing affordable courses on upskilling and retraining such as offering these courses at public universities with a nominal fee. This will encourage tourist guides to take such courses.”

He also put forth the suggestion for the MOTAC to register adventure operators in order to safeguard the safety of tourists. Currently, there is no special category for adventure operators to register with the ministry.

-TTG Asia.

Experience Malaysia - eNewsletter August 2020

 

https://www.tourism.gov.my/files/uploads/newsletter/2020/August/

-Tourism Malaysia.

Enrich by Malaysia Airlines launches 24-hour domestic flight redemption sale from as low as 1,500 Enrich Miles!

 

KLIA, 14 August 2020: Malaysia Airlines’ premium frequent flyer loyalty program Enrich today launched its Miles for Malaysia campaign for esteemed members based in the country, giving them greater savings for their domestic travel plans. Now’s the time to start planning your holidays and discover the richness of Malaysia's delectable cuisines, natural beauty, crystal clear waters, cultural and historical heritage.

 

Enrich members will enjoy a special one-day flight redemption sale on 14 August 2020 for travel between 14 August 2020 until 31 December 2020. This campaign offers one-way domestic flight from as low as 1,500 Enrich Miles for Economy Class and 6,000 Enrich Miles for Business Class, allowing members to make even better use of their highly coveted Enrich Miles.

 

For a truly rewarding experience, Enrich members may also check out great hotel offers with flexible cancellation and refund options from Enrich Hotels via enrichhotels.com. From now until 30 September 2020, they can earn up to 15,000 Enrich Miles per night plus an additional 1,500 Bonus Enrich Miles for their first hotel stay booking. Coupled with the Miles for Malaysia campaign, this provides members with unbeatable deals for their flight + hotel stay.

 

According to Malaysia Airlines Group Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Lau Yin May, “As we start seeing customers return to fly with us on their long-awaited and well-deserved break, we wish to ensure that our loyal Enrich members get the best deals possible for their holiday plans. We also take this opportunity to repay our members for their loyalty by offering great redemption discounts from as low as 1,500 Enrich Miles on their next trip in Malaysia.”

 

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia Airlines has extended the validity and expiry of accrued Enrich Miles expiring in the months of June, July and August 2020 to 30 November 2020.

 

“Air travel has been one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic and Malaysia Airlines has not been spared. In times like these, our members’ unwavering support and loyalty is deeply appreciated hence these adjustments were made to mitigate the impact to our members. We continue to ensure our passengers’ safety, health and comfort by introducing initiatives aligned with international safety and health protocols as part of our commitment to offer peace of mind throughout our customer journey,” added Yin May.

 

Ready to take a holiday and explore the beauty of Malaysia? Redeem your Enrich Miles today for flight tickets via Enrich online at enrich.malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines mobile app, call Malaysia Airlines’ 24-hour Global Contact Centre at 1 300 88 3000 or visit our nearest ticket offices to book your next Malaysian holiday!

 

Not an Enrich member yet? Sign up for free at www.enrich.malaysiaairlines.com to enjoy exclusive access to travel privileges and lifestyle rewards.

 

For more details, visit malaysiaairlines.com/enrich

-Malaysia Airlines.

Kejohanan SIC MiniGP 2020 Bakal Berlansung Pada Hujung Minggu Ini

 

Seperti yang telah dijadualkan, kejohanan perlumbaan ini mempunyai 5 pusingan dan kesemuanya akan diadakan di Litar Kart Antarabangsa Sepang. Pusingan 1 akan berlangsung pada minggu ini dan diikuti seterusnya pada 6 September, 25 Oktober, 15 November dan pusingan akhir pada 6 Disember 2020.
 
Kejohanan SIC MiniGP merupakan satu inisiatif program dari akar umbi yang membolehkan 21 pelumba muda dari usia 8 – 13 tahun untuk menimba pengalaman sebagai pelumba profesional. Acara ini bukan sahaja dapat mencari pelapis dan bakat-bakat baru, tetapi juga memupuk minat dan semangat dari kecil melalui pengalaman dan pengetahuan dari pihak SIC dan ZK Racing dalam sukan permotoran dua roda.
 
BucciMoto BR-10 GP merupakan jentera yang akan digunakan sepanjang kejohanan ini. Pelumba muda dari usia 8 – 11 tahun akan menunggang jentera MiniGP berkuasa 110CC. Manakala, pelumba muda dari usia 12 – 13 tahun akan menunggang jentera MiniGP berkuasa 160CC.

Ia merupakan satu peralihan dari ‘’pocket bike” ke jentera lumba yang mempunyai rangka penuh. Lantas, menjadi anjakan kepada industri sukan permotoran negara untuk pelumba muda memperolehi pendedahan awal. Seiring dengan pelumba-pelumba muda dari negara maju seperti Itali, Sepanyol, Perancis, dan Jerman, mereka akan jadi lebih kompetitif dan lebih bersedia dengan jentera lumba yang dilengkapi sistem pertukaran gear klac manual dan sistem “suspension” yang sempurna berbanding “pocket bike”.

Pelumba muda akan dilengkapkan dengan kelengkapan perlumbaan yang diluluskan oleh FIM, menjalani latihan fizikal dan program latihan kecergasan mental, rancangan pemakanan, teknik menunggang prestasi tinggi dan strategi perlumbaan. Secara tidak langsung, dapat memupuk mereka untuk jadi lebih disiplin.
 
Dilancarkan semasa #MalaysianGP2019, proses pemilihan kejohanan ini telah diadakan pada 11 – 12 December 2019. Sepanjang 2 hari pemilihan dijalankan, sebanyak 52 pelumba telah hadir untuk menunjukkan bakat mereka. Akhirnya, hanya 24 pelumba sahaja yang terpilih untuk mengikuti kejohanan ini setelah mereka dinilai dan diuji dari beberapa aspek. Pengukuran saiz kelengkapan perlumbaan dilakukan kepada mereka yang terpilih selepas tamat sesi pemilihan.
 
Pada asalnya, perlumbaan pertama sepatutnya berlangsung pada 18 Mac 2020 tetapi ditangguhkan ekoran Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP). Sepanjang tempoh PKP, semua pelumba muda telah diberi program latihan kecergasan untuk mereka lakukan di rumah. Program ini wajib untuk mereka ikuti supaya berada dalam tahap yang baik walaupun tidak dapat beraksi di litar.
 
Setelah SIC mendapat kelulusan untuk melangsungkan akitiviti sukan permotoran mengikut tatacara pematuhan yang telah ditetapkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN), dan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS), SIC MiniGP telah mengadakan sesi latihan selama 4 hari agar para pelumba dapat mengikut rentak dan persediaan untuk perlumbaan.
 
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif SIC, Azhan Shafriman Hanif berkata, “SIC sentiasa mengalukan program akar umbi seperti Kejohanan SIC MiniGP yang akan berlangsung pada Ahad ini. Saya teruja untuk melihat pelumba muda kita beraksi. SIC ingin melahirkan lebih ramai bakat muda di masa akan datang melalui program ini dan pelapis baru untuk saingan antarabangsa. Insya-Allah satu hari nanti, kita akan ada pelumba yang mampu mengibarkan jalur gemilang di podium dalam kejohanan berprestij MotoGP”.
 
Pengurus Pasukan ZK Racing, Zulfahmi Khairuddin berkata, “Saya sangat gembira untuk memulakan perlumbaan pada minggu ini dimana, ini adalah acara pertama kami untuk program SIC MiniGP yang melibatkan pelumba-pelumba dari usia 8 – 13 tahun. Persiapan kami juga berada dalam keadaan yang baik. Saya sangat berharap program ini dapat dijalankan dengan sempurna dengan kerjasama SIC dan MAM serta sokongan dari pihak KBS”.
 
Sebagai peneraju sukan permotoran di Malaysia, SIC amat menitikberatkan tentang keselamatan pekerja, pelumba, pasukan, rakan kongsi dan juga peminat. Demi memastikan keselamatan dan kesejahteraan berterusan, SIC telah mengeluarkan SOP yang perlu dipatuhi oleh setiap individu apabila mereka memasuki premis SIC.
 
Dengan keadaan semasa pandemik Covid-19, kejohanan ini akan dijalankan secara tertutup dan tanpa kehadiran penonton bagi memastikan risiko jangkitan wabak Covid-19 dapat dikurangkan.
 
Buat peminat sukan 2 roda, ikuti program penuh sesi kelayakan, Perlumbaan 1 dan Perlumbaan 2 Kejohanan MiniGP SIC melalui “Facebook Livestream” di laman Facebook Kejohanan SIC MiniGP pada hari Ahad.

-Sepang International Circuit.

Malaysia’s first Kimpton to arrive in Kuala Lumpur

 

IHG has signed a management agreement with LQ Retail to open Malaysia’s first Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in Kuala Lumpur come 2023.

The hotel will form part of The Exchange TRX, a 6.8ha mixed development comprising six residential towers, an office building, a retail mall, and a 4ha rooftop park.

LQ Retail is a joint venture between Australia-based property and infrastructure group Lendlease and Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance’s wholly-owned TRX City, the master developer of Malaysia’s upcoming international financial district, Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).

The 471-room Kimpton Kuala Lumpur will feature three F&B outlets including a rooftop bar and restaurant, as well as a deli-grocer café. Other amenities will include an outdoor rooftop swimming pool, a gym, as well as a range of meeting and event spaces.

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants currently operates more than 70 hotels and 85 restaurants, bars and lounges across the US, Canada, Europe, Caribbean and Greater China. In January 2015, Kimpton became part of the IHG family of hotel brands.

-TTG Asia.

Happy 48th Anniversary Tourism Malaysia

 

-PelanconganKini.

Sembang Santai bersama Tourism Malaysia - 7 Pesona Perlis ( 11 Ogos 2020 )

 

Sembang Santai Siri 5: 7 Pesona Perlis akan membincangkan mengenai destinasi unik di Perlis.

Tiga tetamu jemputan Mohd Sohfi, Pemandu Pelancong, Grace Ng, Editor Portal Rollinggrace, dan Anas Akmal, Pengarah UNIC Astana Holidays akan bersama kita secara live di laman FB Tourism Malaysia pada 11 Ogos 2020, jam 3 petang.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Trip.com, AirAsia.com partner to revitalise tourism in China and SE Asia

 

China-based Trip.com Group has entered into a strategic partnership with AirAsia’s travel and lifestyle e-commerce platform, AirAsia.com, that will allow users of both digital platforms access to a wider range of product and service offerings.

Under the partnership, both companies will collaborate on a range of popular products and services available on both digital platforms, including cooperation in the areas of transit information for connecting flights, as well as membership benefits and product marketing, so as to deliver an enhanced and streamlined experience for travellers.

The cooperation aims to spur greater demand for international travel by providing travellers with an end-to-end product offering, from flights to hotels, airport transfers, and activities. Trip.com Group’s premium members will also be able to enjoy upgraded privileges on AirAsia flights when they book on Trip.com Group platforms.

AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, called the airline’s partnership with Trip.com Group “timely” and added that it “demonstrates our commitment and confidence in the China market, more so during this challenging Covid-19 environment, where we remain optimistic for borders to be reopened in the near future”.

Trip.com Group CEO, Jane Sun, said: “With the pandemic gradually being brought under control, we’re seeing a recovery in travel demand across the Asia-Pacific region. Already, we’ve seen accommodation volume in a number of key regional markets virtually recover to pre-pandemic volumes, while air ticketing volumes continue to make a strong recovery.

“With demand gradually increasing, and flight routes continuing to resume, we look forward to working with AirAsia to prepare the travel industry for a triumphant revival, and deliver a superior experience to travellers.”

-TTG Asia.

Penjana tourism financing for small, micro businesses open for application

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Application for Penjana Tourism Financing (PTF) to aid tourism sector can now be submitted to participating banks, the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) and Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM) said.

The 12 participating members banks are Affin Bank Bhd, Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd, AmBank (M) Bhd, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, Bank Simpanan Nasional, CIMB Bank Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Maybank Islamic Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd and SME Bank Malaysia Bhd.

In a joint statement today, they said the maximum financing amount is RM300,000 for eligible small and medium companies, and RM75,000 for eligible micro enterprises.

This was to ensure the PTF benefit more micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs), they added.

The PTF will only be accessible to MSMEs that did not benefit from the Special Relief Facility (SRF) and/or the Penjana SME Financing (PSF). 

Under the PTF, the financing rate will be up to 3.5 per cent per annum for up to seven years. 

The PTF will also include at least six months' repayment deferment to ease the cash flow of SMEs.

The PTF is aimed at supporting Malaysian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism sector by preserving their capacity and assisting them to adjust and remain viable post Covid-19.

It can be utilised for working capital and capital expenditure to enhance their business models and deploy new practices.

They said Malaysian MSMEs in the core tourism sector and tourism-related sectors which are either MSMEs as defined by SME Corp Malaysia, or MSMEs licenced by or registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, were eligible to apply for the PTF. 

The eligible sectors in core tourism are tourism accommodation premises (budget hotels, registered homestays, chalets and resorts), travel agencies and tour operators, and transportation for tourists (bus, boat and car rental operators). 

Other eligible tourism related sectors includes medical tourism, Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) ecosystem, money changing operators who mainly serve inbound and outbound tourists as well as tourism related retail, recreation and wellness businesses with significant reliance on tourists.

-nst online.

Klook Malaysia reports surge in staycation demand

Theme park hotels like Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast (above) have been a hit with family travellers booking their staycations with Klook Malaysia

Klook Malaysia is seeing a rise in demand for nature-focused staycations and theme park hotels close to home, as the country’s tourism sector looks to the domestic market to pave the way for industry recovery.

The travel booking platform recently launched a collection of exclusive staycation experiences for Malaysians, where accommodation were bundled with additional perks such as free massages, food and beverage credits and attractive passes.

Emily Tan, marketing lead of Klook Malaysia, shared: “We have been experiencing a surge of demand among Klook users for both nature-focused staycations and theme park hotels. For instance, some customers enjoy a tropical paradise at Ipoh’s Belum Rainforest Resort to escape the usual hustle and bustle.

“Meanwhile, travelling groups with children prefer to stay at hotels with theme parks nearby, such as Legoland Hotel Malaysia and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. This allows both the parents and children to get an enjoyable travel experience.”

Ever since the interstate travel ban was lifted in June, Klook Malaysia has seen consumers go from joining home-based experiences like online workshops to exploring outdoor recreation, such as diving trips or staycations. The most-searched destinations by local users in June were Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh, Langkawi, Johor Bahru and Sabah.

Tan said: “Although we are still in the early stage of business recovery, we have already witnessed strong traction with our home-based and domestic experiences. Locals have booked items from attraction passes to afternoon tea packages at five-star hotels.”

Asked about forward bookings for 4Q2020, she shared: “We remain optimistic there will be a continued demand for local-based activities and experiences, especially so with the upcoming public holidays.

-TTG Asia.

UNWTO advocates accessible tourism in the new normal

As tourism restarts, the UNWTO is calling on destinations to recognise and cater for the needs of travellers with disabilities or specific access requirements.

In partnership with the Once Foundation of Spain and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the UN agency has released a set of guidelines to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for all in the new reality.

The Reopening Tourism for Travellers with Disabilities guide also notes the opportunities available to destinations that take steps to accommodate the specific needs of persons with disabilities, those with specific access requirements and seniors.

The guidelines are a set of basic recommendations aimed at helping stakeholders, including accommodation providers, bars, restaurants and tourism offices, adjust to new health and sanitary demands without reducing accessibility.

The recommendations cover four distinct areas:

• Travel planning and protocols: Including steps to guarantee seamless travel, and for making relevant information available and accessible to all

• Transportation: Including the importance of upskilling employees, adjusting protocols for passengers with disabilities/access requirements at airports and stations, as well as the provision and hygienic upkeep of mobility equipment

• Accommodation, bars and restaurants: Focusing on accessibility to cater for different needs of clients, guaranteeing social distancing, and enhanced hygiene procedures in all tourism-related establishments

• Tourist activities: Including recommendations to help destinations and attractions adapt existing protocols by taking into account accessibility issues related to queuing, health and safety measures, and new venue capacities

UNWTO secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said: “Much progress has been made in making tourism more accessible to all. As we guide the responsible restart of tourism, we must make sure that this progress is not rolled back. Instead, it must be stepped up as it will benefit everyone. These guidelines, produced in collaboration with Once Foundation and ENAT show that simple, thoughtful measures can make a real difference for travellers – and in return, allow destinations to welcome this wide and diverse demographic as they look to recover from Covid-19.”

Fundación Once vice-president, Alberto Durán, underlined: “It is fundamental that we use this time of change to sensitise all stakeholders to the need to include persons with disabilities and their families in tourism, leaving no one behind. These clients can help businesses stay afloat in these challenging times, representing opportunities for all.”

The full set of recommendations can be downloaded here.

-TTG Asia.