Following complaints, tourism minister bans shopping from being included in tour itineraries here

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has reportedly said that travel operators are no longer allowed to list shopping in their tour itineraries for foreign tourists.

He said the ministry received numerous complaints from tourists, and therefore he has urged travel groups to bring visitors to appropriate attractions instead when they are in Malaysia.

“We will issue a circular that states that tour guides are not allowed to take visitors shopping and should not include shopping destinations in their itineraries.

“We’ll upgrade our tourism website to include a location list for hotels, bars, restaurants, and retail centres,” Tiong told The Star after launching Tomei’s “55th Emerald Year — Bloom From Within” campaign yesterday.

He added that other countries had also implemented similar bans and his ministry would take necessary action if incoming tours continue to include shopping trips.

“Tour operators could schedule breaks for a day or two so tourists could choose where to go shopping,” he added.

Meanwhile, the minister added that the country is expected to receive an influx of Chinese tourists following China’s government reopening its borders early this year.

Tiong urged travel groups to create itineraries that can showcase Malaysia’s unique culture and leave a good impression on tourists.

He added that tourists from China are expected to boost the domestic consumer market and would be a catalyst for economic recovery.

“Therefore, we must grasp the needs and intentions of travellers from China and make appropriate arrangements to attract them.

“I hope the relevant businesses will seize the opportunity to tailor-make itineraries and products for tourists celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China (in 2024),” he added.

-malay mail.

Malaysia anticipates stronger Indian summer performance this year

 

Amritha: the weak ringgit against the US dollar is an added advantage

Inbound players across Malaysia are seeing a more encouraging summer travel season for Indian travellers, with forward bookings showing reduced price sensitivity and a return of both FIT and corporate incentive interest.

India is among the top five tourism source markets for Malaysia.

Despite higher airfares as a result of limited air capacity, A Aruldas, managing director of Tourland Travel, said demand has been “encouraging” ever since the start of the Indian summer holidays. He noted that Kuala Lumpur, Genting and Langkawi remain hot favourites among his Indian customers.

Tourland Travel has also just completed an incentive travel group from India – a 220-pax event hosted by a travel insurance company. The group visited Kuala Lumpur, Genting and Port Dickson.

Comparing this Indian summer season with pre-pandemic times, Amritha Dijith, CEO, Apollo Asia Travel Group, said there is now a larger FIT segment. This year, 90 per cent of the agency’s Indian customers are FITs, while pre-pandemic there was a more balanced split between FITs and group travellers, with the latter making up around 40 per cent of the company’s clientele.

Amritha also gladly noted that Indian travellers were also not as price sensitive as they used to be.

“The weak ringgit against the US dollar is an added advantage, as most B2B agents quote their packages in US dollars,” she added.

Indeed, despite many travel agents raising their package rates this year due to escalating operating costs, Ganneesh Ramaa, vice-president, Destination Explore, said Malaysia remains an affordable and attractive destination for Indian travellers.

Thus far, forward bookings are looking promising for Destination Explore. Ganneesh recalled that his agent partners in India had responded positively to news of Malaysia’s reopening and the removal of pre-departure and on-arrival Covid-19 tests and quarantine requirements.

However, for Malaysia to rebuild Indian travel demand, Ganneesh said air capacity and frequency of flights must improve, while the process of obtaining a visa should be shortened to 24 hours and fees lowered. Meanwhile, he also urged authorities to address the challenge of manpower shortages at hotels and restaurants in Malaysia.

The lengthy visa processing time, which could take several days, has resulted in two FIT tour booking cancellations for MVT Travel. Managing director V Kunaseelan said individuals could not get their visa on time, which is a problem since travellers from India tend to book very last minute.

To reengage this critical source market, Tourism Malaysia recently led a delegation of 15 tour operators, three hoteliers, three product owners and three airlines to South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange, commonly known in the trade as SATTE.

-TTG Asia.

Procedure For Inbound Travellers From 1 May 2022

 

-MOTAC.

Ringgit intervention to bring welcome stability: M’sian tourism stakeholders

Ringgit stability good for business, tourism players say

The Malaysian government is considering imposing measures to protect the ringgit, which has been sliding against the dollar, a move seen as beneficial for both inbound and outbound tourism business.

Speaking to University Malaya students recently at a Youths Ask, Tun Answers session, The Star reported the prime minister as having said that “Malaysia cannot allow the market and the ringgit to decline and depreciate further due to attacks by currency speculators”.

During the Asian Economic Crisis in 1998, Mahathir, who was then the fourth prime minister of Malaysia, had pegged the ringgit at RM3.8 to the US dollar.

Manfred Kurz, managing director at Diethelm Travel Malaysia, said that pegging the ringgit again would benefit his longhaul inbound business from Europe where forward bookings are at an average of six months, though the company has also received bookings for summer 2020.

He shared: “We quote in US dollars because the ringgit is not tradable outside of Malaysia. We have to estimate and give a buffer on how the ringgit will develop. 

Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. We are tour operators, not bankers.”

“Pegging the ringgit for a period of time will stabilise the currency from fluctuations and it will be easier to work with,” he opined.

Outbound agent, Stephen Thomas, managing director, Topaz Travel & Tours, agreed: “Pegging the ringgit will be good for us outbound players as we don’t have to speculate whether the ringgit will go up or down in six to 12 months time. Medium-haul holidaymakers usually book their tickets six months in advance, and those planning their trips to longhaul destinations, book 12 months or even longer.”

Uzaidi Udanis, president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, shared that a weaker ringgit has not resulted in a significant improvement of tourist arrivals over the last few years. He expects that fixing the ringgit would help to stabilise the economy.

He said: “If the ringgit weakens further, it can result in higher cost of hotel and tour operator services, which depend on imported food and equipment to run recreational activities and transportation.”

Yesterday, Bernama reported that the ringgit was trading higher against the US dollar in early trading on better demand as market sentiment towards the ringgit was lifted by news on the revival of the East Coast Rail Link project.

The ringgit traded at 4.10 against the US dollar, down from 4.11 against the US dollar on Friday.

-TTG Asia.

Report: Chinese tourists flock to Malaysia to celebrate Lunar New Year here

The influx of Chinese tourist is attributed to the winter season in Chinaas well as familiar language, food, vast choice to shop andexciting theme parks in the country. — Picture by Arif Kartono

PETALING JAYA, FEB 10 — More than 327,000 visa and entry passes were issued to Chinese Nationals coming into the country last month, The Star reported today.

Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya said this is in comparison to 193,000 issued in the same period last year.

“The Chinese like being in Malaysia during the Chinese New Year period as it is a major festival celebrated nationwide here. They look forward to experiencing our colourful activities while on holiday, “ he said.

The influx of Chinese tourist is attributed to the winter season in China as well as familiar language, food, vast choice to shop and exciting theme parks in the country said the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Datuk Tan Kok Liang.

“They feel that it is better to spend outside [of China] as it is good values for money. Additionally, holiday destinations in China will be packed with other tourist and many shops are closed.

“The availability of water sports activities and local attractions also make Malaysia an attractive holiday destination,” Tan said.

However Tan said more investment is needed for tourism infrastructure to sustain more tourists in the future. “There is also a need for Chinese speaking tourist guides,” he said.

A Pearl Holiday (M) Travel and tour Sdn Bhd spokesman said the Chinese New Year would the busiest time for them. “We will have up to 200 tour groups from china during Chinese New Year,” said the spokesman.

Meanwhile, Mangga Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd director for inbound services L.F. Chong said the agency, which cater to high end market for Chinese tourist, said the firm expected an increase of 20 to 30 per cent during the Lunar New Year.

“Chinese New Year is always a peak period for us,” he said.

To ease travel for Chinese tourists into the country, Kuala Lumpur International Airport launched the Chinese Travellers Affairs Helpdesk which employed Mandarin speaking volunteers.

The desk located before the immigration counters is to provide additional info to Chinese tourist or tour groups.

-malaymail online.

M’sia gets Golden Week glow, a bit at Bali’s expense

Island destinations like those in Sabah (Mantanani island pictured) doing well

Malaysian inbound agents reported a pick-up in Chinese bookings during the recently concluded National Day Golden Week holiday in China, with island destinations, eco-tourism and cultural tours doing well.

The threat of eruption at Bali’s Mount Agung had also contributed to tourists changing bookings from Bali to Sabah and Langkawi, observed Winnie Ng, deputy general manager, Pearl Holiday Travel & Tour.

She added: “This year, Taman Negara National Park, and eco-tourism activities in Kuantan saw a pick-up. In the past, these destinations were quite hard to sell.”

Another agent, Law Wai Shyang, executive director, Confidence Travel & Tour, said itineraries to Kuala Selangor, Raub and Pangkor Island – already popular with the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets – were introduced to the mainland market and sales were better than expected.

He said: “Repeat visitors were also looking for more than city tours and shopping. We saw more interest this year from FITs interested in experiencing local Chinese and Malay cultures. (We also see) greater interest to try local hawker-style food.”

Law saw a 15 per cent year-on-year growth in business from mainland China during the Chinese holiday peak.

Mint Leong, managing director of Sunflower Holidays, reported a 20 per cent growth over the 2016 Golden Week period, adding that improved air connectivity from China to Langkawi and Sabah had spurred interest for both destinations.

Another trend, she said, was an increase in groups that chose Malaysia as a mono destination rather than in combination with Thailand or Singapore.

-TTG Asia.

Malaysia Honours Tourism Ambassador's Contributions To Bridge Malaysia-South Korea Relations

image: www.panasiahashkorea2017.com

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 July 2017 – Minister of Tourism & Culture, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz presented Malaysia Tourism Ambassador Datuk Lee Jin Bok with a Certificate of Appreciation for 10 Years of Service at the South Korean Inbound Tour Operator Annual Dinner 2017 this evening. The award was given in recognition of his exemplary role in promoting Malaysia to the South Korean market from 2007 to 2017.

Datuk Lee Jin Bok’s company, So Good Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd, was also awarded the “Outstanding Inbound Tour Operator 2016/2017” at the ceremony held at the Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTiC).

The awards recognise Datuk Lee Jin Bok’s extensive contribution to the tourism industry. He has represented Malaysia in various major tourism events, including the Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) 2016 in Seoul, as well as served as an intermediary during the courtesy calls made by the Deputy Mayor of Yeongju City, the Mayor of Andong Province, the Deputy Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City with Tourism Malaysia.

Currently Datuk Lee Jin Bok holds several key positions such as Chairman of the giant information and communication company, InfoTech Lee Sdn. Bhd; Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Korean Chamber of Commerce; and Executive Advisor for the Overseas Business Division of the Daemyung Group. He is also an Honorary Ambassador of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, a UNESCO world heritage site in South Korea.

With his extensive experience and positions held in both Malaysia and South Korea, Datuk Lee Jin Bok can best be described as a cultural, social and economic bridge connecting South Korea and Malaysia.

In 2016, a total of 444,439 tourists from South Korea visited Malaysia, a 5.5% increase compared to the arrivals in 2015 which generated more than RM 1.5 billion in tourist receipts. This year, the government is targeting to attract 450,000 tourists from South Korea.

-Tourism Malaysia.