MASwings offers 'Super September' deals

KOTA KINABALU: MASwings is offering "Super September" promotions in conjunction with Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

Describing the deals as "irresistible", the airline is offering all-in one-way fares starting from RM79 on all its routes for travel between Sept 10 and Sept 30.

In a statement, the airline said the promotions also coincide with next week's school break, giving customers the opportunity to travel back home across Sabah and Sarawak, including Tarakan in Indonesia or even go on holidays within Borneo.

As part of the promotion, passengers travelling from Kota Kinabalu will be able to enjoy the one-way all-in fares to Labuan from as low as RM79 and from RM89 to Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Tawau, Miri and Mulu respectively.

The all-inclusive offer also starts at RM109 to Bintulu and Sibu; and RM129 to Kuching from Kota Kinabalu, the statement said.

Those travelling from Kuching will also be able to enjoy fares from as low as RM79 to Sibu and RM89 to Bintulu.

Popular destinations such as Miri and Mulu are also offered at RM109 and Kota Kinabalu from as low as RM129 one-way from Kuching.

Similarly, passengers from Miri can travel one-way to Mulu, Labuan, Bintulu and Limbang for RM79, and to Sibu for RM89.

Offers for other routes such as from Sandakan to Tawau and Bintulu to Sibu can be found on MASwings' website, the company said.

MASwings is also offering Tarakan-bound passengers from Tawau an all-inclusive one-way fare from as low as RM138.

-thestar online.

Stabalising ruble ushering Russian travellers back to Asia

While Russia’s outbound tourism industry took a tumble following the economic and political crises in recent years, there are hints of a silver lining emerging from the gloom, according to Russian buyers at the PATA Travel Mart.

Pointing to the stabalising Russian ruble, Artem Alekseev, CEO of Ros Business Travel, said there has been at least a 10 per cent recovery in his business this year compared with 2015.

He said: “There are still a lot of people who want to spend time and money travelling out of the country and we see that the economic situation is becoming more stable now, which gives Russians confidence to travel again.”

According to Alekseev, Thailand, Vietnam and India are key destinations in Asia that his travellers are considering again.

Likewise for Viacheslav Akaevich, director of Russia-based Samolet, who has seen business returning over the past six months, he said: “There are signs that our people want to travel again and of course we hope the situation will get better. It is already a good sign to see the currency becoming stable.”

Akaevich shared that 30 per cent of his most selling destinations are in Asia, with a majority in Thailand and Indonesia – especially beach destinations like Phuket and Bali.

Hence, he is hopeful to discover new beach spots in Asia to raise greater interest among Russian travellers.

Meanwhile, the Russian outbound luxury travel market appears more resistant to the shocks.

Julia Lukyanova, director of sales in Corona Travel Russia, said: “It was the middle-class travel segment that was killed the most. The upper premium class are still travelling and in fact this market even grew by five per cent, while the middle class one dipped by 35 per cent in 2014.”

Nonetheless, tweaks have been made to their itineraries.

She shared: “Of course there have been some cost considerations so these luxury clients have reduced their accommodation from five- to four-star hotels, and reduced their length of stay from 14 to 10 days.”

Highlighting the importance of Russian outbound travellers, Lukyanova said: “The Russians are good clients because they spend a lot of money and they are still travelling – they should not be forgotten.”

Lukyanova said that the Maldives, Malaysia and South Korea are her top three selling destinations, and added that improved air connectivity and visa-free regimes will be key factors to encourage travel.

Svetlana Kamenkova, leading specialist of corporate and business travel department in Luxe Travel Russia, said cost remains the top priority for her clients, and exotic experiences in Asia like Bali and Lombok are products she is keen to consider promoting again.

While her business has remained “steady with no major collapse”, she said: “We are hopeful that travel will pick up and increase again.”

-TTG Asia.

What's Up September 2016 @ Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur

-Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
Website : http://www.seripacifichotel.com

Persembahan Teater Bangsawan Tun Mamat & Puteri Gunung Ledang @ Panggung Bangsawan Melaka ( 30 September & 1 Oktober 2016 )

Persembahan Teater Bangsawan Tun Mamat & Puteri Gunung Ledang pada 30 September 2016 (Jumaat) dan 1 Oktober 2016 (Sabtu) bertempat di Panggung Bangsawan Melaka (Panggung Cathay Lama) jam 8.00 malam.

Tempahan tiket dibuka sekarang. Tiket-tiket boleh didapati dengan harga:

Malam Perasmian Panggung Bangsawan
30 September 2016
Tingkat Bawah RM250
Tingkat Atas RM200

Dibuka untuk orang awam.
1 Oktober 2016
RM50, RM75, RM100
(Sila hubungi nombor tertera untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut kedudukan kerusi)

-Panggung Bangsawan Melaka Official facebook.

Chinese traffic to Malaysia recovering from MH370 declines

Two years after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March 2014, the inbound Chinese market to Malaysia is finally showing strong signs of recovery, with 1H2016 recording a 32.1 per cent year-on-year growth in Chinese arrivals.

Mint Leong, deputy president 2 at Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), said the market has returned to the levels of three to four years ago, crediting the combined efforts of Tourism Malaysia and the private sector to shore up Chinese arrivals following the MH370 incident.

“The recovery of Malaysia as well as the marketing efforts from players from all three countries (Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand) have helped the promotions of group series tours,” said Leong, who recorded a 60 per cent year-on-year surge in demand for series combinations in 1H2016.

Likewise, Jason Ow Yeang, managing director of Columbia Leisure, has seen a 40 per cent hike for both Chinese group series tours combining Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia as well as Singapore-Malaysia tours in 1H2016.

He said: “These series tours in South-east Asia are very popular, especially for first timers from China travelling abroad for the first time.”

Chinese demand for group series tours to Malaysia was so overwhelming at the start of the summer holidays in July that MITA had to request for temporary Mandarin-speaking tour guide licences from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

The government approved 50 temporary licences from August 5 to October 15, the first time that has happened since the MH370 incident.

Strong growth from China is expected to continue for the rest of the year, especially as the new e-visa facility – reducing the visa application time from one week to one working day – launched in March this year has boosted Chinese outbound interest to Malaysia.

The e-visa facility has led to a 10 per cent uptick in group and FIT travel to Malaysia for the March-August 2016 period, Benjamin LP Yip, general manager for inbound and outbound at CITS Guangdong, told TTG Asia e-Daily.

Forward bookings to Malaysia for the upcoming Golden Week Holidays in October are also looking strong, he added.

Leveraging AirAsia’s new daily Guangzhou-Johor Bahru service launched on May 29, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) is keen to attract niche segments from southern China, including educational and health tourism.

Said Mohammad Rosly Md Selamat, senior vice president, economic intelligence (tourism) at IRDA: “We’re also collaborating with Tourism Johor and the private sector to do more intensive marketing in Guangzhou and the surrounding cities to attract more leisure traffic for short holiday breaks, especially during their long weekends.”

-TTG Asia.

DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team Raring To Get Back On Track At Misano

Misano Adriatico RN, Italy – Tuesday 6th September

Circuit: Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Circuit Length: 4.2 km

Following a difficult race weekend in Britain, the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team riders are eager to get back on track and show their true potential at Misano.

Unsatisfied with their recent results, Kornfeil and Norrodin prepare for the San Marino Grand Prix with a clear goal to raise their game and improve their performance.

Focussing on his concentration levels and ability to learn new track layouts quicker, Malaysian rookie Adam Norrodin is determined to start stronger so not to lose any advantage to the rest of the Moto3 field.
Teammate Jakub Kornfeil has his sights set firmly on redeeming his competitiveness with a top ten result, as he heads to the Italian circuit oozing fighting spirit and ready to battle his way to the top.

Situated close to the city of Rimini, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is renowned for its stop-and-go layout with a serious of corner sequences joined together by short straights. In accordance with MotoGP safety regulations, the 4.2km track runs clockwise for the World Championship races and incorporates six left-hand and ten right-hand corners.

#84 Jakub Kornfeil
“I’m very happy that we have two races together, especially after such disappointing results at Silverstone. It’s good not to have a break after this and go straight to Misano with a fighting mentality to get our performance back on track.
I have always liked the San Marino Grand Prix, so I feel positive about this next race. Always it is very important to be in the top ten, so this will be our aim at Misano. We really need to collect some more points for the Championship. We have to improve our results this weekend. It will be very important to stay focused, keep working hard and give this race our maximum effort!”

#7 Adam Norrodin
“Misano is another new track for me to learn. It looks like quite technical and I think in terms of time everyone will be quite close. Looking at some of last year’s times there was only one second separating the top eighteen riders; so it’s going to be tough. For sure it will make for an exciting race though!
After our results at Silvertsone I really want to do well at Misano and prove that we are capable of much more! We must push so much harder and I really need to focus on getting up to speed a lot quicker. It’s so important to be up there from the very first practice otherwise it just puts you on the back foot for the rest of the weekend. I must have much more concentration in FP1 at Misano, learn the layout quicker, find my rhythm and push harder as quickly as possible. This Championship is so competitive that you cannot afford to lose anytime in this way. With a strong start, everything else will follow easier.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.
PelanconganKini supports DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.

Note: DRIVE M7 merchandises are available at http://www.m7shop.com/home.aspx
New Drive M7 Vitamin Drink now available.

Malaysia Truly Asia - Your Choice Of Dive Destination Presentation @ Australia International Dive Expo By Clement Lee

To all Clement's friends particularly those who will be attending AIDE 10 -11th September 2016 in Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park, Sydney . Clement Lee will be giving two presentation on Malaysia titled

" Malaysia Truly Asia - Your Choice Of Dive Destination "

Date : 10th September ( Saturday) and 11th September ( Sunday )

Time: 11:00am-11:30am ( Both Days)

Venue : Main Stage

Clement will show you why you should choose Malaysia as your next Dive Destination and he will introduce you on Diving in Sarawak and also Avillion Layang Layang and all Dive destination in Malaysia including Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak.

CLEMENT LEE

Topic 1: "MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA – YOUR CHOICE DIVE DESTINATION"

SPEAKER'S PROFILE: Clement Lee, has been in the Dive Industry spanning over 30 years, one of the pioneer in diving tourism in Sabah as well as pioneer in the now renown Sipadan island, though Clement retired in 2012 he has been very active in scuba diving and conservation program.

He was awarded the prestigious DEMA Reaching Out Award in 2008 in Las Vegas and became the only one from this region to be inducted into the International Scuba Diver Hall of Fame in Cayman in 2011.

Appointed as Tourism Malaysia Advisor of Diving in 2015, Clement has travelled extensively to promoting diving in Malaysia and giving presentation/talks all over the world.

Just recently Clement was also appointed as PADI AmbassaDiver and his roles will be promoting certification, conservation (Project AWARE I) and also promote the Diving tourism.

www.malaysia.travel

-AIDE website & Clement Lee facebook.

Enjoying nature in city centre - Taman Tugu

KUALA LUMPUR: The city centre here is set to have its very own rainforest park to be equipped with various amenities for the people to enjoy the natural surroundings.

The park will serve as an iconic symbol of Kuala Lumpur’s greenery in the same way as Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York are known for.

Located on a 26.7 hectare site behind Tugu Negara or National Monument, the RM650mil public park project, known as Taman Tugu, will be opened in stages from mid-2018 to 2020.

It will have facilities such as restaurants, a camping area, canopy walks, zip lines, water park, jogging paths, walkways and cycling lanes, a gazebo and an observation deck.

An additional 5,000 local rainfo­rest trees will be planted in the park’s forested area to boost its flora.

Efforts will also be made to protect the park fauna comprising various types of insects, squirrels and other small animals by constructing nature-friendly walkways for the creatures to cross over certain sections of the park so that they can roam freely in the area.

A network of covered walkways, an underpass and overhead bridges will be built to allow visitors to walk to the park easily from various locations including KL Sentral and the Bank Negara KTM Komuter station.

The not-for-profit prestigious project is being undertaken by the Government’s strategic investment arm Khazanah Nasional Berhad in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur City Hall and supported by various stakeholders.

In launching the project, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government wants to develop Kuala Lumpur into a truly world class city in terms of not just economic activity, but its livability.

Apart from projects such as the light rail transit, mass rail transit, river of life project and the upcoming high speed rail project, Kuala Lumpur needs to have better recreational facilities and green lungs for the people.

“If Hyde Park is synonymous with London, and Central Park is synonymous with New York, I hope one day, Taman Tugu will be synonymous with KL as a global city.

“I don’t see this as something impossible because we can already see it happening,” the Prime Minister said.

Expressing his own excitement about the project, Najib said that when the first phase of the project is ready in the middle of 2018, the area will be a place where the people can come and enjoy its facilities and surroundings.

“Can you imagine – the people will have their very own mini tropical forest in the middle of the city,” he added.

The Government in July had already approved the plan to place Taman Tugu in a public trust, preserving it as a green lung for perpetuity.

Although the key features of the project has been outlined, Najib said the Government wanted the people to give their input and suggestions on what should be included in the park.

“This park is not cast in stone yet, we want the people to give their ideas for Khazanah and the Government to consider, including the (permanent) name for the Taman Tugu project, as this project still does not have a permanent name yet,” said Najib.

He added that the public also can give ideas and suggestions on facilities that could be included in the park by taking part in an online survey athttp://tamantugu.com.my/en/

Najib said that once the park is completed, foreign heads of government or state who visit Malaysia will be invited to plant a tree at the park.

The concept of the park, he said, is tied to the aim of transforming Tugu Negara or National Monument by making it closer to the people as a symbol of the sacrifice by the country’s warriors in defending the country’s independence.

Khazanah Nasional Berhad mana­­­ging director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar in his speech said the cost to design and develop the Taman Tugu project and its infrastructure and facilities will be no more than RM650mil, of which up to RM500mil will be borne by Khazanah.

Najib added that the Government will foot the remaining estimated RM150mil cost for the project.

The first major component of the project that will be launched in mid-2018 will comprise the park and several of the walkways to facilitate public access.

-thestar online.

80 peratus jualan meningkat di MATTA Fair 2016

Orangramai berpusu-pusu berkunjung pada hari terakhir MATTA Fair
di PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, semalam. 

KUALA LUMPUR 4 Sept. – Syarikat-syarikat pelancongan yang menyertai pameran Persatuan Ejen-ejen Pelancongan dan Pengembaraan Malaysia (MATTA Fair) 2016, selama tiga hari di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) sejak Jumaat lalu, berjaya mencatat hampir 80 peratus jualan tiket dan tempahan.

Tinjauan Utusan Malaysia mendapati, pengunjung dari dalam dan luar negara terus berpusu-pusu mendapatkan pakej menarik yang disediakan di PWTC pada hari terakhir penganjurannya hari ini.

Eksekutif Jualan Cemerung Outdoor Adventure Sdn. Bhd., Nurul Azira Hussin berkata, penyertaan sulung syarikatnya di MATTA Fair telah berjaya me­ning­katkan tempahan lebih 80 peratus berbanding sebelum ini.

Syarikat itu yang mempromosi pakej percutian di Terengganu berkata, ini adalah cara terbaik syarikatnya memperkenalkan aktiviti lasak di negeri penyu bertelur itu yang selama ini hanya ter­kenal dengan keindahan pantai.

“Sebelum ini kami hanya ja­lan­kan promosi di media sosial, tetapi setelah Tourism Malaysia mencadangkan supaya kami menyertai MATTA Fair, ternyata ia membawa pulangan memberangsangkan,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia.

MATTA Fair 2016 yang menampilkan penyertaan 198 syarikat dan agensi dari dalam dan luar negara melabuhkan tirainya hari ini.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Urusan Taman Negara Nature Outdoor Sdn. Bhd., Mohamad Anas Zainudin berkata, peningkatan lebih 30 peratus tempahan ke Taman Negara, Pahang berbanding tahun lalu perlu direbut kerana pengunjung sentiasa mahukan kelainan dan ini adalah peluang untuk mereka mengetengahkan keunikan hutan simpan negara.

-utusan online.

Malaysia, Indonesia sign cross promotion agreement

The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA) and Association of the Indonesia Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA) West Nusa Tenggara signed a MoU last week to promote tourism between the two countries.

Both associations are eyeing the lucrative Chinese outbound market and there are plans to develop destination packages for groups, combining Malaysia and Indonesia.

MITA president, Uzaidi Udanis, said: “We hope one day that these packages will be as popular as the three-country package combining Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.”

There are also plans to launch internship programmes for tourism students from both countries as well as an initiative to develop films showcasing tourism attractions in Malaysia and Indonesia targeted at overseas markets.

Awan Aswinabawa, chairman of A&T Holidays based in Lombok, said his company saw a 200 per cent increment from Malaysian corporates to Lombok in the first half of 2016 compared with the corresponding period in 2015.

This was largely due to improvements in air connectivity and promotions, he said. The destination was also popular with families looking for a beach holiday or for soft adventure.

-TTG Asia.

Kenong Rimba Park Adventure Packages By Tuah Travel & Tours

-Tuan Travel & Tours facebook.

Menginap mewah di Grand Alora

image: http://www.grandalorahotel.com/

Jika anda mendambakan percutian mewah dan penginapan moden di tengah bandar raya Alor Setar, bolehlah singgah bermalam di Hotel Grand Alora. Hotel itu merupakan satu-satunya hotel bertaraf lima bintang di negeri Kedah, selain Pulau Langkawi.

Terletak kira-kira lima kilometer dari pusat bandar raya, memudahkan tetamu hotel itu berkunjung ke tempat menarik di sekitarnya seperti Menara Alor Setar, Masjid Zahir, Muzium Padi, Rumah Tunku Abdul Rahman, Rumah Kelahiran Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dan Pekan Rabu.

Menginap di hotel itu turut memudahkan pelancong yang menggemari makanan laut berkunjung ke Kota Kuala Kedah yang menawarkan makanan segar pada harga berpatutan.

Pengurus peribadi kepada pemilik hotel berkenaan, Sheila Ahmad Kamal berkata, kedudukannya yang strategik menjadikan hotel itu pilihan pelancong, selain penjawat awam untuk menganjurkan seminar, mesyuarat dan majlis korporat.

“Memandangkan lokasi hotel ini terletak di hadapan pasar raya Tesco, maka tetamu hotel boleh berjalan kaki ke sana untuk membeli barangan keperluan diri.

“Lebih unik, persekitaran hotel ini yang dikelilingi pelbagai gerai menjual makanan tempatan membolehkan pelancong merasai keenakan aneka juadah, selain menikmati menu yang disajikan di hotel,” katanya kepada S2.

Beliau berkata, Hotel Grand Alora mempunyai 235 bilik yang terdiri daripada lapan jenis bilik iaitu superior, deluxe, junior suite, junior deluxe suite, deluxe suite, executive suite, executive family suite dan grand Alora suite pada harga bermula daripada RM198 hingga RM6,000 semalam.

“Antara fasiliti yang disediakan adalah Restoran Lengkuas dan Dao Sheng yang mempunyai sijil halal daripada Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) yang menawarkan pelbagai makanan tempatan, barat dan Cina pada harga berpatutan.

“Selain itu, hotel ini juga mempunyai kemudahan spa, gimnasium dan kolam renang untuk dewasa dan kanak-kanak serta surau,” ujarnya.

Pihaknya turut menawarkan pakej perkahwinan Melayu dengan pelbagai kemudahan disediakan seperti penginapan untuk pengantin, dewan, kek mini sebagai cenderahati kepada tetamu, dekorasi asas dan makanan yang berharga RM29 seorang dengan tempahan minimum sebanyak 300 orang.

Sementara pakej perkahwinan Cina pula bermula daripada RM488 untuk sebuah meja yang mana dewan utamanya mampu memuatkan kira-kira 1,500 tetamu dalam satu-satu masa.

-utusan online.

Kornfeil Ready To Race; Norrodin Determined To Improve

Northamptonshire, Great Britain – Saturday 3rd September

Circuit: Silverstone
Circuit Length: 5.9 km

Bike #84 – Jakub Kornfeil
QP: P15; 2’35.169 – 15 laps

Bike #7 – Adam Norrodin
QP: P24; 2’36.664 – 13 laps

With rain arriving just moments before Moto3 qualifying began, the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team prepared to face a challenging session ahead, which eventually saw riders Jakub Kornfeil and Adam Norrodin qualify on the fifth and eighth row for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix.

Undeterred by the change in conditions, Czech rider Jakub Kornfeil got straight down to business, immediately setting the pace amongst the field, before going on to post his fastest time on his sixth lap. Despite missing a small window of opportunity for improvement, the 23-year-old remains confident he is race ready whether it’s wet or dry.

Moto3 rookie Adam Norrodin is eager to find an improved wet setting on board his #7 machine, following a difficult forty minute qualifying session today. In conditions usually well suited to the young Malaysian, Norrodin faced a tough mental battle as he struggled to find his confidence in the rain. Despite being unable to get into a good rhythm, Norrodin is positive improvements can be made following further analysis of the data.

Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager
“The rain started just minutes before the Moto3 qualifying got underway, so it was quite a challenging session for everybody. Normally in these conditions we are very strong but unfortunately we weren’t able to take advantage of the weather today.
Jakub started very well and posted his fastest lap early on but with more downpour was unable to improve any further. Nevertheless he is feeling confident about the race.
Adam struggled from the beginning and had absolutely no confidence in the rain here, so if it is wet again tomorrow, it could be a very tough race for him.
The starting positions are not great but both riders have a good chance to fight for a better result.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil 
“I’m feeling positive about the race tomorrow. We set the bike up well for the wet qualifying today and so if it rains tomorrow I’m confident we will have the pace to be competitive. Our objective for qualifying was to set our best time alone and that’s what we did but the position could have been better if I’d been on the track at the right moment. After eight laps I came into the box to change tyres and refuel but unfortunately it was during this period that the rain eased off and conditions improved slightly, so I couldn’t take advantage. When I went back out for the last nine minutes the rain was heavier and there was a lot more water on the track, so I couldn’t go any faster. We were a bit unlucky today but we know why and we know we can be very competitive here. I’m looking forward to the race!”

#7 Adam Norrodin
“Qualifying today was really difficult. Before the session I was trying to stay calm and focussed but as soon as I got out on track I lost all my confidence in the bike. I tried to build up pace and work on my rhythm but my feeling was not good. I came into the box to try and reset and see what my crew could do to improve the set-up. When I returned on track I was able to better my time but I really felt like I was on the limit. I chose the wrong rider to follow thinking that I could continue to improve my time if I tried to stay behind him but he was too quick for me. As I was pushing, it felt so slippery; I lost the rear and high sided at turn one. I’m sorry to my team for this mistake! For me I felt completely different in the rain here than at other tracks. It looks like we could have a wet race tomorrow as well, so we have to study the data this evening and see what changes we can make to improve the set-up so I can rebuild my confidence and push harder during the race.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.
PelanconganKini supports DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.

Note: DRIVE M7 merchandises are available at http://www.m7shop.com/home.aspx
New Drive M7 Vitamin Drink now available.