Rumah penghulu Natar jadi inap desa

JASIN 11 Mac - Kerajaan negeri berhasrat menjadikan rumah tradisional Penghulu Md. Natar yang berusia kira-kira 180 tahun di Merlimau di sini menjadi produk pelancongan inap desa sekali gus membantu menambah pendapatan kepada waris keluarga terbabit. Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam berkata, keunikan dan populariti rumah tradisional Penghulu Md. Natar wajar dikomersialkan melalui program inap desa selaras dengan imej Melaka sebagai negeri pelancongan.

Menurutnya, usaha itu selain meningkatkan pencapaian industri pelancongan negeri, ia turut menyumbang kepada pendapatan negeri dalam sektor berkenaan. ''Amat wajar keunikan dan keistimewaan rumah ini diketengahkan kepada masyarakat luar terutama pelancong asing yang belum pernah melihat sendiri rumah kampung tradisional seperti yang terdapat pada rumah tradisional Penghulu Md. Natar," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian selepas melancarkan program Jati Diri Seni Warisan Melaka di Rumah Tradisional Penghulu Md. Natar, Merlimau di sini baru-baru ini.

Rumah tradisional Penghulu Md. Natar dibina sebelum zaman pemerintahan British, direka bukan semata-mata untuk kediaman malah berfungsi sebagai sebuah pusat pengurusan mukim dilengkapi ruang memasak untuk kenduri dan pernah dijadikan lokap untuk penahanan sementara pesalah sebelum dihantar kepada polis. Kata Mohd. Ali, selain keunikan jubin lama dan seni bina yang terdapat pada rumah tersebut, saiz rumah tradisional Penghulu Md. Natar yang agak besar dianggap sesuai dijadikan produk inap desa. ''Saiz dalam rumah ini agak besar, sesuai menampung kehadiran pelancong yang ramai untuk bermalam di rumah ini nanti," katanya.

Malah katanya, rumah tradisional tersebut juga pernah dinaik taraf dan termasuk dalam sebahagian projek pemuliharaan di bawah Jabatan Warisan Negara (JWN) bagi mengekalkan struktur bangunan rumah berkenaan dengan kos sebanyak RM1.7 juta. Menurut beliau, pihaknya akan mengeluarkan modal perbelanjaan bagi membeli peralatan rumah seperti katil untuk ditempatkan di rumah tersebut. ''Hasil keuntungan daripada peniagaan inap desa ini, kita akan ambil 70 peratus manakala pemilik akan dapat 30 peratus," katanya.

-Utusan Online.

PM: Malaysia to send search and rescue team to Japan

KUANTAN: Malaysia will send a 15-member search and rescue team, with medical officers and 6 tracker dogs, to tsunami-hit Japan at 6pm Saturday on two C130 aircraft. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Saturday that the decision to send the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) team after Japan requested help in search and rescue efforts. “The Government expresses its sympathies to the Japan government and its people.

“As a show of our compassion to them, Malaysia will send our Smart team to assist in the search and rescue operation in Japan,’’ he told reporters after visiting Universiti Malaysia Pahang in Kuala Pahang here on Saturday. About nine hundred are confirmed dead and thousands of people were feared dead after a tsunami triggered by one of the biggest earthquakes in history hit Japan on Friday.

On the fate of Malaysians in the country, Najib said they were reported to be safe and accounted for. On the possibility of an evacuation exercise for Malaysians in view of unstable operations of nuclear plants in Japan following the earthquake, Najib said it would depend on the advice issued by the Japanese government. “We will act based on the advice given on the danger level in the event of a nuclear leak. “Otherwise, Malaysians in the country are safe and there is no need for them to be evacuated,’’ he added.

-thestar online.

Beach operators to get licences

GEORGE TOWN: Water sports operators in Batu Ferringhi will be getting their licences next week. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the licences would be presented to the jet ski operators who had submitted their applications. He said the state would also stand firm with its decision to ban quad bikes and horse rides along the beachfront. Lim said the decision was finalised in a meeting yesterday with the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP), police, the marine department and the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH).

“Parasailing and jet ski activities will still be allowed but they will be controlled. A few places have already been designated for parasailing and jet skis to land,” he said at a press conference in Komtar yesterday. He added that the police and the MPPP would keep an eye on these activities to ensure that they are confined to their designated areas. “Quad bikes are not allowed except those used by the police and MPPP personnel who will be in their uniforms while patrolling.

“Enforcement will be carried out in over 12 hours in a day, from 8am to 8pm. However, the enforcement period could be extended at any time if there are any complaints. “In carrying out the enforcement, we will get assistance from all hotels who will ‘adopt’ the beaches near their hotels to ensure safety and cleanliness. They may be adop-ted but the beaches are still accessible to the public,” he said. State Local Government and Traf-fic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said with the issuing of the licences, the beach operators would be subjected to certain rules and regulations.

Separately, a ceremony was held in Komtar yesterday for outgoing State Secretary Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman who handed over his duties to his predecessor Datuk Farizan Darus. Zainal Rahim has been promoted to Human Resources Ministry secretary-general while Datuk Farizan Darus is the former State Financial Officer. It was first such ceremony here held to honour an outgoing State Secretary.

-thestar online.

Friends of turtles

Green turtle hatchlings scuttled about on the beach and instinctively headed to the sea as soon as they were released from the turtle sanctuary on Pantai Kerachut in Teluk Bahang, Penang. The 30 hatchlings would return one day to nest on the beach upon reaching adulthood if they are females. But no one knows whether they would return to their place of origin since the survival rate of the hatchlings in the sea is only one per one thousand.

The hatchlings were released by Fisheries Department personnel and staff of Shangri-La group which plans to adopt and promote the sanctuary for eco-tourism. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts area corporate social responsibility and sustainability manager Tara Hammond said the sanctuary has tremendous potential as the beach is beautiful and unpolluted. “What you have here is truly an amazing and one-of-a-kind place which would open the eyes of locals and tourists,” she said.

Hammond, who is on her first trip to Penang, said the group would organise school trips to educate children on turtle conservation and keeping the environment clean. “We will organise camping trips for children to release the turtles while learning about biodiversity and environmental conservation,” she said after the release of the hatchlings on Thursday. Hammond said a turtle exhibition hall would be set up in between Rasa Sayang Resort and Golden Sands Resort in nearby Batu Ferringhi. “Hotel guests could adopt the turtles and they would be given certificates by the department. The turtles would be tagged so they could monitor their migration upon their release,” she said.

Apart from promoting eco-tourism, she said the group would focus on launching their own water bottling processing plant this year. Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa general manager Desmond Hatton said the local community need to be more aware of the importance of environmental conservation efforts. “Only a handful of my local staff have actually been to the sanctuary which shows how much effort we’ll need to put in to ensure more people know about the place,” he said. 

Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa director of communications Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman said the group was raising RM18,000 to fix a transmitter on a leatherback turtle if it nests there. “So far, we have raised RM4,000 and we will continue to raise more money as the transmitter will only last for six months before the battery runs out,” he said. Fisheries Department officer Mansor Yobe said the transmitter would track the turtle’s migration routes. “I am glad with the move by the Shangri-La group to adopt the sanctuary. “Through the partnership, more people can learn about turtles and help in the conservation of the environment,” he said.

-thestar online.

SIC starts month-long carnival to promote F1 race

Sepang International Circuit (SIC), promoter and organiser of the 2011 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix, kicked off a month-long carnival of F1-related activities and special programmes; running up to the Race Day, and the first ever open air concert by Korea’s renowned artiste, Rain, on April 10 as the closing act.

Now installed as the second round of the 2011 world championship, SIC hoped the carnival would pull in more foreign fans this year especially for those had been forced to change their holiday schedule following the postponement of the season-opener Bahrain Grand Prix. Speaking at the ceremony at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, which also marked the official launch of the 2011 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, SIC Chairman Dato’ Mokhzani Tun Dr Mahathir said that the circuit would be working hard to make the 13th edition of the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix a ‘Lucky 13’ though it would be working on a different strategy.

Ready for the action: (from left) Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia Datuk Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, a representative from Lotus Renault GP, CEO of Proton Holding Berhad Datuk Syed Zainal Syed Mohd Tahir, Petronas senior general manager of its corporate services division Medan Abdullah, Mokhzani and another representative from Lotus Renault GP.

“As you are all aware, we have adopted a different strategy this year. Unlike previously; when we have our road shows and on-field promotions as early as January, this year we are going for a solid and aggressive campaign for one-month. “And, it begins today, right here at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, which will be our key venue partner for this year’s event and will be organising a host of programmes in helping us to make the 13th edition a memorable event,” said Mokhzani, who also named Fahrenheit as the another key partner to the carnival.

Mokhzani said: “Fans should make sure they shop at both Pavilion and Fahrenheit. As, at these two world class shopping malls, you would not only get all the branded items under one roof; but also an opportunity to win prizes that no money can buy. “Yes, I am talking about the exclusive starting grid passes, pit garage tours, safety car rides; and pit walkabout passes that fans can win through their shopping promo,” he said, adding that the two malls would also have F1 cars on display as well as an F1 mini podium where they can imagine themselves winning the Grand Prix. During the carnival, SIC would also be conducting a recruitment drive in search of 12 children between eight and 14 years old for a ‘special’ assignment to interview and introduce the F1 drivers on Race Day.

In conjunction with the F1 race, Tourism Malaysia would be having again a month-long GP Sale from March 15 where the whole of Malaysia would be on sale, offering fans a nationwide sales carnival with fashionable bargains and discounts; and sizzling hot deals and unbeatable offers. Recording an attendance of 96,984 spectators for the race last year, the SIC chairman was hopeful to woo in some 100,000 spectators this time round. In the past, the event had managed getting more than 120,000 fans on race day.

Sepang would host the second round from April 8 to 10; with Australia now hosting the season opener at Albert Park in Melbourne from March 25 to 27. For Malaysian fans, the 2011 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix would be unique and it is the home race for at least three of the competing teams — the Mercedes GP Petronas, the Proton-backed Lotus Renault F1 Team, and 1Malaysia Team Lotus. Apart from the three ‘Malaysian teams’, Virgin Racing Team would also have strong Malaysian interest as it has the Malaysian-based global direct selling company, Q-Net as one of its key sponsors.

Mokhzani said: “With so much Malaysian interest this year, I foresee plenty of exciting programmes and activities happening around the city ahead of this year’s event. I can confirm today that there would be a Lotus Team street demo at Putrajaya on April 2. “We are also trying to get the world champions Red Bull Racing to have their own F1 demo right here at the heart of the city … I am sure that there would even many more exciting programmes at the track during the race weekend. “It’s definitely an event that no Malaysian racing fan should miss. And, in making the event assessable to all, we have lowered the ticket prices to as low as RM60 for the whole race weekend. You would not get any better deal at any other F1 circuits in the world,” added Mokhzani.

Apart from catching the world’s best drivers in action at the race, Malaysian fans could also see the best of Malaysian drivers in action against top drivers in the region in the support race. For the first time in the 13-year history of Malaysia’s F1, the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) has been included as the support race. Hailed as the national championship for track racing and introduced in 2002, the MSS would be running the Malaysian GT class and the Malaysian Touring Car Challenge at the F1 race in Sepang as its opening round for the 2011 season.

-thestar online.

Tourism awards launched

A NEW award to recognise the people behind the Kuala Lumpur tourism industry has been introduced. The award called the Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2011 was launched by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail yesterday at the DBKL headquarters. Fuad said the award was created to recognise and appreciate the people in the KL tourism industry who had contributed in many ways to make the federal capital an attractive international tourist destination.

Sharing a light moment: (From left) Bernama TV chief executive officer Engku Emran Engku Zainal Abidin, DBKL deputy director-general Datuk Normah Malik, Ahmad Fuad, Yam and Star Publications (M) Bhd group chief editor/executive director Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai at the launch of the KL mayor’s Tourism Awards 2011. Emran and Wong are part of the panel of judges for the awards.

“KL has much to offer as a tourist destination now compared with a decade ago. “Now the city has many modern shopping centres, world-class tourist attractions, entertainment and dining outlets, multinational chain of hotels, parks, sports, educational centres and a more efficient transportation system that have created a distinctive identity and image for the city,’’ said Fuad. “Tourists now gain greater experience when visiting Kuala Lumpur and the impressions that are taken back to their countries have further elevated the profile of the city, Fuad said.

The mayor added that the success of putting KL on top of every travellers’ mind was done through the contributions, investments, commitments, passion and efforts made by the players in the tourism industry. “I believe now is the time for Kuala Lumpur City Hall to recognise and reward their contributions,’’ said Fuad. The mayor also stressed that the objective of having such a recognition programme was to boost the standard of delivery products and services in the industry and to further give encouragement to all tourism operators to strive for excellence. The awards’ organising chairman, Datuk Seri Michael Yam, said there would be nine awards including a KL Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The categories are for Accomodation, Restaurant, Night-spot, Shopping Mall, Tourist Attraction, International Tour Operator, International Airline and Media Publication - Magazine. Yam added that there would also be recognition awards; the Front Liner Award to recognise industry front liners, who have performed over and above the call of duty in providing an outstanding experience for tourists. These individuals could be from any part of the industry for example hotel reception staff, taxi drivers, waiters, doormen, tour guides, stewardesses and information counter personnel.

The Award for Accommodation will have four categories — five star, four star, three star and budget accommodation. Each category will have one recipient of the Award for Excellence and one for Outstanding Achievement Award. For the budget hotel category; two excellence awards have been allocated. There will be four awards for Excellence presented in the Restaurant category. One award for excellence in the International Airlines category, two awards for excellence in the Print Media - Magazine category, and three awards of Recognition for Front Liners.

There will be one for Outstanding Acheivements and three awards for excellence presented in each of the following categories: Tourist Attraction, Nightspot, Shopping Mall and International Tour Operator. Yam added that the awards would serve as a benchmark to perform better. “It also gives recognition to the unsung heroes, especially those working in the hot sun to encourage them to do better,’’ Yam said. Yam stressed that judging would be conducted by the an independent panel of judges. The members of the judging panel comprise experts in their particular field and are senior industry players. Nominations are open from now and forms can be downloaded from the official awards website at www.klmayortourismawards.com

The closing date for nominations is April 21. Nominations can be done in three methods which are self-nomination, third party nominations and by invitation. Awards will be determined by points awarded by the panel of judges as well as public online voting. The judges’ points will count for 95% of the total marks, while public voting will count for the remaining 5%. The public can cast their votes online from May 2 by visiting the official website. The awards are scheduled to be presented in mid-June.

-thestar online.

Sasar 50 sertai program 4x4 media

KUALA TERENGGANU 10 Mac - Lembaga Penggalakan Pelancongan Malaysia (Tourism Malaysia) negeri hari ini menyasarkan penyertaan 50 wakil media dari dalam dan luar negara dalam Program Pacuan Empat Roda (4x4) Media Antarabangsa Jun ini. Pengarah Pelancongan negeri, Mohd. Nasir Kushairi berkata, ia sebagai langkah memperhebatkan promosi bagi negeri ini melalui pelbagai produk termasuk kegiatan lasak di samping menghayati alam semula jadi.

Katanya, kesemua peserta akan dibawa menaiki 15 buah kenderaan pada program yang berlangsung selama empat hari tiga malam itu. "Kita telah memilih kawasan yang belum diterokai serta mempunyai nilai sejarah yang tinggi seperti sekitar Kemaman dan Pasir Raja.
"Bagaimanapun, laluan-laluan itu masih belum ditetapkan sepenuhnya dan mungkin akan ada penambahbaikan selepas ini," katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia hari ini.

Mohd. Nasir menggantikan Shuhaimi Abu Hassan Shari sejak 1 Februari lalu memberitahu, pihaknya akan mendapatkan kerjasama daripada Tourism Kelantan dan Pahang bagi menjayakan program berkenaan. "Hasrat kita ialah untuk memperhebatkan industri pelancongan di Terengganu memandangkan negeri ini mempunyai banyak potensi dalam bidang ekopelancongan," ujar beliau. Tambahnya, dengan adanya program seperti itu, peserta berpeluang menikmati dan mempelajari sesuatu yang berharga mengenai keindahan hutan di negara ini.
- Utusan Online.

Pengalaman menoreh getah antara produk pelancongan

LANGKAWI 10 Mac - Pengalaman menoreh getah merupakan antara produk yang disediakan untuk para pelancong dalam pakej Langkawi Agro Trail yang akan dilancar, di sini Sabtu ini. Pengarah Tourism Malaysia Kedah, Roslan Othman berkata, menerusi pakej yang diperkenalkan khusus bagi mempelbagai produk pelancongan itu, para pelancong akan diajar cara-cara menoreh getah yang betul. Beliau berkata, pihaknya menyediakan enam produk pelancongan berasaskan pertanian, ternakan dan buah-buahan khusus untuk disertai mereka yang berminat, dalam usaha menarik kehadiran lebih ramai pelancong ke sini.

Bercakap kepada Bernama di sini hari ini beliau berkata, antara aktiviti yang disediakan ialah lawatan ke Taman Agro-Teknologi Stesen Mardi Langkawi, Lubuk Semilang, Ulu Melaka untuk menoreh getah dan lawatan ke kebun buah-buahan. Di samping itu juga menurutnya para pelancong akan dibawa melawat Taman Kerbau, bengkel memproses ikan bilis tiga rasa di Kuala Teriang dan juga melihat cara memproses nira.

Pakej ini merupakan anjuran bersama Tourism Malaysia Kedah, Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (Lada), Institut Penyelidikan dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia (Mardi), Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (Fama), Jabatan Veteriner, Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM), Jabatan Pertanian dan agensi pelancongan.
- Bernama

Enam orang Tourism Malaysia disiasat SPRM

PUTRAJAYA 10 Mac - Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menyoal siasat enam orang dari Tourism Malaysia semalam dipercayai ada kaitan dengan isu penyelewengan dalam pemberian tender pengiklanan.

Utusan Malaysia difahamkan, pegawai penyiasat badan itu menyerbu pejabat berkenaan di Kuala Lumpur pagi semalam. "Pasukan penyiasat merampas beberapa fail. Dipercayai salah satu syarikat yang disiasat ada berkaitan dengan orang kenamaan," menurut sumber hari ini.

Dalam pada itu, Pengarah Siasatan SPRM, Datuk Mustafar Ali ketika dihubungi di sini mengesahkan pihaknya telah mengambil keterangan daripada saksi-saksi yang berkaitan di Tourism Malaysia. Beliau bagaimanapun enggan mengulas lanjut.
-Utusan Malaysia.

Taking Tangkak higher

The Tourism Ministry wants Tangkak to be promoted as a textile shopping haven in a move to boost the country’s industrial tourism sector. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the town with its large number of textile retailers has a potential to be a popular textile hub in the region. She said Tangkak used to be a popular textile centre in the 70s and 80s but lost its popularity after places like Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, was developed.

Fine material: Dr Ng (right) cutting a fabric to launch the fest while Tangkak assemblyman Goh Ti Ti (left), Johor Tourism Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang (third from left) and Ledang district officer Amran Abdul Rahman (fourth form left) look on.

“Due to stiff competition from these new business areas, that also focused on selling textile and fabrics, Tangkak has become less attractive to shoppers. “However, we now planning to bring back the popularity and make Tangkak a major tourist textile shopping spot of the country,” she said after launching the Tangkak Textile Festival 2011 recently. Dr Ng said besides fabrics and textiles, she also wanted the town to have tailors where dresses and curtains could be made fast for the shoppers.

She said many shops in Tangkak sold curtain fabrics and urged traders and designers create and sell ready-made curtains. Dr Ng added that at the same time, the ministry also wanted the local authority to set up food stalls and restaurants serving dishes that are unique to the area.

“People can name the dishes as Tangkak mee, Tangkak rojak orTangkak fried rice that should be delicious and cheap.” She also praised the Ledang district office and the Tangkak district council as well as all textile traders in town for organising the textile festival. Dr Ng said the Tangkak textile festival from March 3 – 6 would also be promoted as an annual tourism event.

A section of the road in the town would be closed to all traffic to accommodate the retailers. “We want shoppers and tourists to shop and walk along the road without interference from moving vehicles and encourage the traders to organise fashion shows and exhibitions to promote their textiles and curtains during the festival,” she added.

-thestar online.

Experience snow in the city

i-City will welcome its first snowfall come March 19 with the launch of its much awaited snowfall technology from South Korea in Snowalk. Snowalk, the 50,000 sq feet Artic environment attraction in i-City will boost a below five degree Celcius temperature and 0.1m thick edible snow on the ground. With this, it aims to attract families during the weekends and school holidays. The announcement was made at the Royal Lake Club by I-Berhad in the presence of Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen recently.

A hundred tonnes of ice sculptures shaped by 30 skilled ice sculptors from Harbin, China will be available for guests to view. The snowfall technology by BarsKorea is being provided on an exclusive basis and has been designed to produce snow in a tropical climate. It has three components, the chiller to cool the purified water from room temperature to 15 degrees Celcius, a condenser unit to refrigerate the drum assembly and 16 patented drums to produce snowflakes “I used to say we can provide everything except snow but i-City has now made it possible for tourists to experience the sun, the sand, the mountains and snow,” said Dr Ng.

She added Malaysia has been chosen by the Global Traveller USA as the second best international destination and it is important to produce new products to ensure the lead in the tourism industry. She believed Snowalk would be a great tourist-puller especially those from the Middle East, Asean and South India. Dr Ng also said domestic tourism should not be forgotten and measures to promote local destinations to Malaysians should be considered.

“We hope to increase domestic tourism to 100 million trips in 2011 compared with 90.5 million trips in 2009. A domestic trip encompasses a 50km travel that takes more than four hours,” she added. I-City has agreed to consider a proposal by Dr Ng to provide 20% discount to MyKad holders as well as packages for senior citizens, students and families. “This can also be a great tool for national unity, i-City can invite various schools to have fun together in the snow,” she said.

In conjunction with the launch, i-City has formed a partnership with Nickelodeon SEA. The 12-month campaign includes on-air, online and on-the-ground activities. Nickelodeon’s characters, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants will make special appearances at i-City’s key events. During the coming school holidays, a host of fun activities, games and bazaar will be held from March 11 to 20.

-thestar online.

Increased QTR services boon for Malaysia inbound travel

More travellers from Europe and the Middle East are expected to make their way to Malaysia with the increased frequency of Qatar Airways' (QTR) Doha-Kuala Lumpur route. On April 3, the flag carrier’s Doha-Kuala Lumpur services will increase from 11-weekly to 12-weekly. An additional weekly flight will be added from April 28 and twice-daily services on the route will operate from October 1.

Andy Muniandy, Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel director of sales and business development in Malaysia, said the increased flights, coupled with good fares from the airline, would encourage more European and Middle Eastern travellers to head to Malaysia via Doha. He believes that travellers from Kuwait would be especially keen to take advantage of the capacity increase, as both Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways stopped flying to Kuwait City last year.

World Avenues executive director Ally Bhoonee in Malaysia added that this development would benefit peak summer season in the Middle East, when there is traditionally a shortage of seats from Gulf countries to Kuala Lumpur.
-TTG Asia.

SIA and SilkAir to raise fuel surcharge yet again

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) and regional subsidiary SilkAir will raise the fuel surcharge for tickets issued on March 17 and onwards, the third time the carriers will hike prices in less than four months. Ticket prices will go up by between US$2 and US$26 per sector, depending on the distance and travel class.

SIA and SilkAir raised the fuel surcharge last December (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 2, 2010) and in January (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 24). In a statement, SIA said that the hike was due to continued escalation of jet fuel price, which has risen to US$130 per barrel, the highest in two years.
-TTG Asia.

Money-back guarantee packages

FIREFLY returns to MATTA fair bigger than ever to tempt avid travellers with its money-back guarantee holiday packages. Firefly’s marketing and communications head Angelina Fernandez said the Firefly’s booth at Hall 3, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from March 11 to 13 would be a crowd-puller.

Firefly’s MATTA 2011 launch was also attended by MATTA president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun. “With confidence of sustaining and delivering our best, a special feature this year will be the money-back guarantee on some of our value packages to Firefly’s new Sabah and Sarawak routes and popular regional destinations,” Fernandez said.

Great deal: (From left) Firefly executive May Sukumar, Fernandez, Mohd Khalid and Firefly PR & media executive Kalpana Deva with some of the packages up for grabs.

“In addition to Firefly Holiday (FYH) packages is the chance to win prizes worth more than RM300,000. “Multiple prizes await every purchaser and they stand an equal opportunity to grab the prizes,” she said. Among the prizes to be won in partnership with Malaysia Airlines, Chartis Insurance, Maxis and United Overseas Bank (UOB) are iPads and airline tickets. Thanks to Maxis, customers spending RM1,000 and above on FYH packages stand a chance to participate in a lucky draw to win an iPhone and other free gifts upon purchase of any Firefly ticket or package (while stocks last). UOB credit card holders who spend a minimum of RM 500 will also be entitled to participate in a lucky draw.

Firefly Holiday is also going all out at the MATTA Fair this year with their Domestic, Asean and International Packages for Firefly and Malaysia Airlines destinations. “At this year’s fair, the holiday package deals are primarily catered to holidaymakers needs and affordability, with complimentary value-ads such as meals, transfers and massage or spa sessions. “MATTA Fair customers will now enjoy an extension of varieties in terms of destination and value to choose from,” said Firefly Holiday head said Ng Pei Fern.

International packages, available for sale in Hall 1 include the Hong Kong Ocean Park tour (4D/3N), Kunming, Dali, Lijiang (8D/7N) and others to Japan, South Africa Mabula Safari and Europe. There will be special offers on Firefly tickets and Firefly mobile booking. In addition, special rates on selected packages will also be available for Maxis users.

To spice up the event, Firefly will be organising a daily stage contest for children aged from two to 12. Participants are required to dress-up as an animal character and parade on stage. Judging will be based on the loudest cheering from the crowd and the top three young winners will walk away with return Firefly tickets, an official Firefly aircraft model and a participation certificate. Parents are welcome to register their children on-site before noon on the preferred participation day.

-thestar online.

Largest go-kart rink in South-East Asia reopened

MALACCA: The largest go-kart circuit in South-East Asia has been reopened after the facility in Ayer Keroh here was closed for seven months, due to a court injunction. The RM11.6mil circuit that used to host motorsports was declared reopened by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, yesterday. The facility, which was previously managed by a company from Selangor, made its debut on May 9, 2009 but was forced to halt operations in July last year, following the court injunction.

However, the state government decided to take over the management and place it under the purview of the state development authority (PKNM). Mohd Ali said the state government wanted the circuit as a proper venue for local youths to organise motoring events. “We built the circuit for the locals and we don’t want to see it being left idle,” he said.

Mohd Ali said those interested in the facility would only have to pay RM5 for the 10-minute usage. He said PKNM was organising several motor-related activities at the circuit, the first being the Cub-Prix Petronas AAM race on March 26 - 27. Mohd Ali added that the state government would also be getting more go-karts for rental to visitors.

-thestar online.

Perak to paint town white

IPOH: Heritage buildings in the city will be painted with one colour – white – to reflect its identity soon. State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman said a single colour would make it easier for the public to recognise heritage buildings in the city. “We are having discussions with building owners to seek their permission,” she said in an interview.

Hamidah said the state government would provide some allocation and was negotiating with several paint producers to get the best quotation. She said the project would take off this year and that building owners would not have pay any money.

On another matter, Hamidah said the state would organise a travel exhibition in Penang, Pahang and Johor this year to promote Perak’s tourist attractions. She said the state would participate in a travel fair in Singapore and London in October and November respectively.

-thestar online.

SCB keen on developing West Malaysia market

The Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) is aggressively targeting the business tourism market from West Malaysia this year. “We have had 137 bid wins since we started in 2006, and 59 per cent of these wins are with regional and international clients with offices in West Malaysia,” said the bureau’s CEO, Jill Henry.

SCB has increased its resource allocation and promotional activities in Kuala Lumpur to attract more business from the region. New additions at its Kuala Lumpur office include business development manager Rowena Ngumbang, two support staff, as well as global marketing and corporate affairs director Amelia Roziman, who recently relocated from Kuching. The Kuala Lumpur office is planning to establish a close working relationship with the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) in research, sales and public relations efforts.

Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad, chairman of SCB, said: “We will be working closely with MyCEB so that our convention hosts can access both federal and state government funding support to help them bid for international conventions to be held (in Sarawak).”
-TTG Asia.

Finnair subsidiary steps up Langkawi charters

FINNAIR subsidiary, Aurinkomatkat-Suntours, will be making its biggest production into Malaysia this coming winter season (2011-2012) since starting charters from Helsinki to Langkawi in December 2009. It plans to use a bigger aircraft, the Airbus A330 with a seating capacity of 330, over the 227-seat Boeing B757 now, while flights will be once weekly from mid-December for a total of 12 weeks, from once fortnightly currently. This will yield 3,400 passengers, from 2,200 passengers in the current winter season.

The company will also increase its brochure space on Malaysia from six pages now to at least 10, said manager, planning and quality assurance, Antero Kaleva. A wider selection of hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, and more day tours around Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, will be featured. A new 14-night programme combining Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will also be introduced. Kaleva said: “We’re giving clients a new destination, Singapore, and the possibility of seeing two big cities and a beach holiday.”

This replaces a tour combining Kota Kinabalu and Kuching with Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur which did not sell much this winter season. It also comes as Finnair gets ready to start daily flights from Helsinki to Singapore on May 30. Aurinkomatkat-Suntours destination manager Malaysia, Piia Katajakari, said: “Malaysia is a destination with a lot of potential for further growth as this is a family destination and is also perceived as exotic to many.” In terms of South-east Asia production for winter 2010-2011, Malaysia and Vietnam rank after Thailand, its top producer with some 35,000 clients.
-TTG Asia.