Thursday, 11 April 2019

Malaysia Is Back – Tourism Malaysia Director General Leads New Zealand Travel Trade Mission

image: PelanconganKini

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 11 April 2019: Malaysia is back in New Zealand as it prepares for Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM 2020), a landmark campaign that’s targeted to bring in 30 million international tourists and approximately NZD$35.5 billion (RM100 billion) in tourist receipts. The Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Musa Yusof, is leading a travel trade mission to Auckland on 11 April to reinforce the message that Malaysia is an important holiday destination for New Zealand travellers. The delegation consists of 10 organisations including one state tourism board, one tourism agency, one travel agent, one airline, 4 hotels and resorts, and 2 product owners. Major players and sponsors are Terengganu Tourism, Desaru Coast, Legoland, Malindo Air and Malaysia Airlines.

Datuk Musa says, "Malaysia has long-standing ties with New Zealand that extends to the Peace Corps, education and cultural exchanges as well as presenting an attractive holiday proposition to New Zealanders."

He adds, “New Zealand, like Malaysia, is a multi-ethnic and diverse population living in relative peace and harmony. We hope that this mutual connection will serve as a basis to strengthen our tourism relations with each other.”

He also noted that Malaysia’s blend of "culture, cuisine and nature" appeals strongly to New Zealanders’ innate sense of adventure which is made accessible by language, customs and some familiar aspects of Malay culture. 

Malaysia offers a multi-faceted holiday that takes visitors from the shopping heavens of one of the world's most modern cities that is Kuala Lumpur, to the farthest reaches of Borneo's native jungles with its abundance of unique flora and fauna, to pristine waters where they can explore a magical underwater world or secluded island. Malaysia also presents an exceptional value-for-money proposition where the Kiwi dollar goes a long way in value and, in doing so, offers the opportunity to elevate both the standard and length of stay of their Malaysian holiday.

Datuk Musa adds, “Our main focus is to strengthen our economy and develop better policies to attract good investments for the nation to prosper. I encourage you to consider Malaysia as your ideal partner for your tourism growth and business expansion and look forward to seeing more tourism investments and partnerships in Malaysia.”

Datuk Musa will hold a special media briefing to address the trade players in Auckland, covering Malaysia’s tourism performance and future developments as well key tourist attractions (see below “Key Highlights of Malaysia’s Tourism Products”).

New Zealand is an important tourist source market for Malaysia. In 2018, a total of 50,698 New Zealanders visited Malaysia, which contributed to the overall 25.8 million international tourist arrivals to Malaysia. Malaysia aims to bring in 60,000 New Zealanders to Malaysia next year. There are currently 7 flights/week offering 2,009 seats from New Zealand to Malaysia.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF MALAYSIA’S TOURISM PRODUCTS:

Terengganu
Located on the eastern peninsula of Malaysia, the State of ‘beautiful' Terengganu is considered to be a "bucket list" item for visitors to Malaysia. A diverse and vibrant mix of history, culture, nature and eco experiences, Terengganu is world renowned for its turtle sanctuaries and pristine, white sandy beaches and islands.

Sarawak
Sarawak is a kaleidoscope of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals. It is home to one of the oldest rainforests on Earth and the largest cave chamber in the world. There is adventure around every corner, from the breezy highlands to the quiet beaches. Some 27 ethnic groups celebrate their unique cultures and festivals throughout the year, an eclectic blend of modern and traditional life, food, music and religious practices that can be found nowhere else. In Sarawak, there is always ‘More to Discover’. www.sarawaktourism.com

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council
The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Finance, that has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing the country’s healthcare travel scene. It was founded in 2009 to facilitate and grow Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry under the brand “Malaysia Healthcare” with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. Since then, MHTC has worked to streamline industry players and service providers into a more focused development strategy to raise Malaysia’s profile in healthcare travel on an international stage. It is an example of a successful model of public-private partnerships (PPP) in growing the healthcare travel sector in Malaysia. 

Potential healthcare travellers can also obtain information on seeking healthcare in Malaysia including medical treatments, accommodation and travel at these websites:

Desaru Coast
Desaru Coast is a new integrated destination resort in Malaysia with a portfolio of globally renowned hotels and resorts, namely Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, as well as One&Only Desaru Coast. Desaru Coast is also home to Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark - one of the world’s biggest waterparks; Desaru Coast Conference Centre - a fully equipped conference facility; The Els Club Desaru Coast – 45 holes of golf in total with two distinct clubs; Ocean Course and Valley Course; and Desaru Coast Riverside – a 23-acre waterfront landscaped retail and lifestyle village. Desaru Coast spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17 km beachfront that faces eastwards over the clear ocean waters. The destination is set amid a rich bio-diverse location. 

LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort brings together a LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park, SEA LIFE and Hotel in one LEGO® themed location. It is the ideal family holiday destination with more than 80 hands-on rides, slides, shows and attractions offering adventure, education and fun for action-packed day trips or short holidays. The Resort is specifically designed for families with children aged 2 to 12. SEA LIFE is the world’s largest aquarium brand and the latest addition to the Resort.

Malaysia Airlines – Your Preferred Airline to Malaysia & Beyond
Malaysia Airlines (MH) is the national carrier of Malaysia, currently operating 57 weekly services from Australia & New Zealand to its hub in KL International Airport (KLIA), Kuala Lumpur. Beyond KLIA, Malaysia Airlines connects 62 destinations in 20 countries with a modern fleet of Airbus A380-800, A330-300, A330-200 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

The network includes extensive domestic and regional coverage across Malaysia. No other Malaysian carrier offers a comparable domestic, regional or global network solution when thinking about travel to, from and within Malaysia. 
As a member of one world®, Malaysia Airlines and its partners in the global alliance offer a seamless travel experience to more than 1,000 destinations across the world. 
For more information, please visit www.malaysiaairlines.com

MalindoAir
Malindo Air is a Malaysian airline with main hubs at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and city airport Subang Skypark in Selangor, Malaysia. The airline took to the skies in March 2013 and the fleet has grown exponentially to 13 ATR72-600 and 29 Boeing 737 as of Jan 2019. The airline also obtained the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Today, the airline operates over 800 flights weekly across a continuously growing network of about 57 routes covering 17 countries in the region of Asia and Australia. Also an IATA airline member, Malindo Air codeshares with Turkish Airline, Lion Air, Batik Air and is an interlining partner to Xiamen Air, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Turkish Airline, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Oman Air.


For updates on Malindo Air’s latest activities and promotions, please connect with us via Twitter (https://twitter.com/malindoair), Facebook (facebook.com/MalindoAirMalaysia) or Instagram (instagram.com/malindoair).
-Tourism Malaysia.

Influencers to promote tourism

(From left) Tourism Perak chief executive officer Zuraida Md Taib, Tan, Port general manager Nur Hanim Khairuddin and Loka Travel chief executive officer Lum Yong Kian.

PERAK will use social media influencers to promote the state tourism industry.
State Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Tan Kar Hing said the state was looking for influencers with at least 50,000 followers in their social media accounts.

“To boost our tourism scene, we have decided to invite talented influencers in feature content writing to go for an exclusive, fully-paid tour in Perak with a special VVIP.

“They will need to register themselves at Tourism Perak’s website and state the number of followers they have. They also need to provide samples of their work in writing, photography or videography. We will choose 10 influencers for the trip,” Tan told a press conference at the state secretariat building in Ipoh.

“We recently updated the website where the public can view our annual tourism events such as the upcoming Ipoh Food Festival and Ipoh Coffee Festival.

“The website also features heritage places in Perak, ecotourism and a list of interesting activities to do such as The Nipah Experience with Ketupat Weaving, Silambam India Martial Arts, Ronda Kampung Beng and learn the making of lion and dragon dance head costumes,” said Tan, adding that the project was open to locals and international influencers and that registration via www.tourismperakmalaysia.com/content/Ev/content-community would need to be made by today.

He said the project was among several new ideas to boost the state’s tourism.
“Tourism Perak will also open its very own Weibo and WeChat account to cater to tourists from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

“The social media usages in these countries are slightly different from the rest of the world, so we are using these two platforms to attract them to visit Perak,” he added.

Tan also announced that Ipoh had started hosting a bi-monthly art market called PoP Bazaar.

“Unlike any other art markets, vendors are selected and curated by People of Remarkable Talent (Port). This market will feature local art products and even special performances that will be announced soon.

“The bazaar will take place on every first Saturday at Taman Kanak-Kanak and third Saturday of every month at Medan Selera Dato Sagor,” he added.
-thestar online.

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-De Palma Group of Hotels & Resort Facebook.

Tuesday, 9 April 2019

Food lovers, get ready to tuck in

Yeoh (fourth from left),  Ooi  (second from left) and Wong (right) showing the logo and poster for Penang International Food Festival in George Town. — LO TERN CHERN/The Star

THE Penang International Food Festival is back this month with five programmes for food lovers to enjoy Penang’s culinary landscape.

TLM Event Sdn Bhd managing director Jack Wong said the festival spanning three weekends will start from this Saturday to April 28.

“The Penang Mainland Food Walk will be held on April 22 at the Raja Uda Apollo Market followed by the Penang Island Food Walk on April 23 at the Pulau Tikus Market, both from 8am to 10am. 

“There is also the Rhythmic Dining on April 24 at the Rain Garden Restaurant and a street food buffet on board a Penang ferry on April 25.

Lastly, there is a Wine Retreat on April 26 at Feringgi Grill in Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa featuring a four-course dinner and talk by wine expert from Luis Felipe Edwards winery.

There are also several interesting events happening, namely the Street Food Festival, Taste Of Penang and the Penang Seafood Galore, as well as mini festivals and competitions.

Also present at the press conference were Penang Tourism Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin and Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan. 

Tickets for the food festival can be purchased via www.piff.com.my
-thestar online.

Tourism Malaysia Surfcasting Tour 2019 @ Pantai Bisikan Bayu, Pasir Putih, Kelantan ( 13 April 2019 )

-Tourism Malaysia.

Firefly to resume flights to Singapore from April 21

image: https://www.fireflyz.com.my

SEPANG: Firefly will resume its flights to Singapore from April 21 following the republic's withdrawal of its Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport. 

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said another Malaysian airline - Malindo Air - has also registered interest in flying into Singapore via Seletar. 

“Last Saturday, Malaysia and Singapore issued a joint statement to announce the way forward in terms of the Seletar Airport issue. 

“Both agreed that Singapore would withdraw the ILS approach into Seletar, while Malaysia suspend indefinitely its permanent Restricted Area (RA) over Pasir Gudang. 

“We are happy to say that with this move, Firefly will resume operations to Singapore via Seletar beginning April 21. 

“Besides Firefly, the other interested airline is Malindo, and they have already applied to airport authorities in Singapore to fly to Seletar. So hopefully, more flights (into Seletar) will resume in the near future. 

“In the spirit of bilateral relations, I think this is good for our cooperation and our best way forward,” said Loke at a joint press conference with his Singaporean counterpart Khaw Boon Wan here after a bilateral meeting at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday (April 8). 

The meeting was held ahead of the annual Malaysia-Singapore leaders’ retreat here. 

Firefly had suspended its operations to Singapore on Dec 1 last year following Malaysia's protest of the ILS procedures for Seletar Airport. 

With the withdrawal of the ILS procedures, Malaysia and Singapore's civil aviation authorities will work on developing Global Positioning System (GPS)-based approach procedures for Seletar Airport. 

Khaw said due to the north-east and south-west wind occurring at different times in a year, the GPS-based instrument approaches would be from the north over Pasir Gudang and from the south in Singapore. 

Meanwhile, Loke said Malaysia is well prepared to take back the control of air traffic services of its airspace from Singapore. 

“We think that after 45 years of delegating that airspace to Singapore, it is high time now for us to review the agreement which was set in 1974. 

“We are prepared in terms of technical readiness. We have invested over the years a lot of money on technical equipment and air traffic control readiness.
“We are building the new KL ATCC (Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre), which will be based in Sepang, and with that expertise and equipment, we think we are ready to manage our own airspace. 

“That's why reviewing the 1974 agreement is our top priority,” said Loke. 
FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd operates the Firefly air carrier and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines Bhd.

Firefly suspended all its flights to Singapore since Dec 1, saying its services would resume once the relevant authorities sorted out regulatory issues with regard to its move to Seletar.

On Dec 5 last year, Loke told the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia would issue a protest note to Singapore over the operation of the ILS for Seletar Airport near its border with Johor.

The protest note by Wisma Putra follows Singapore’s decision to start broadcasting ILS early this year despite Malaysia’s decision not to allow it on grounds that it will infringe the nation’s sovereignty and airspace near Pasir Gudang just 2km away.

The statement said both ministers noted that a high-level committee had been set up to review the Operational Letter of Agreement between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Area Control Centres Concerning Singapore Arrivals, Departures and Overflights 1974.
-thestar online.
https://www.fireflyz.com.my

Monday, 8 April 2019

Malaysia Is Back – Tourism Malaysia Director General Leads Travel Roadshow To Australia


PERTH, AUSTRALIA, 8 April 2019: Malaysia is back in Australia as it prepares for Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM 2020), a landmark campaign that’s targeted to bring in 30 million international tourists and approximately AUD34.39 billion (RM100 billion) in tourist receipts.

The Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Musa Yusof, is leading a Travel Roadshow to three major Australian cities to reinforce the message that Malaysia is an important holiday destination for Australian travellers. The delegation consists of twenty five (25) organisations including two (2) state tourism boards, one tourism agency, three (3) travel agents, thirteen (13) hotels and resorts, four (4) product owners and two (2) airlines. Major players and sponsors are Terengganu Tourism, Sarawak Tourism Board, Desaru Coast, Legoland, Malindo Air and Malaysia Airlines.

The Roadshow covers the cities of Perth on 8 April, Sydney on 9 April and Melbourne on 10 April.

Datuk Musa says, “We want to remind Australians that Malaysia is a beautiful and culturally diverse country with many fascinating tourist attractions. We are a peaceful nation and we welcome tourists from all over the world to enjoy an affordable and value-for-money holiday in Malaysia.”

He adds, “All these create a conducive environment that encourages not only tourist visits, but also business investments into Malaysia. We hope that our presence in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne will encourage tourism growth and business expansion in Malaysia.”

The Roadshow is a timely platform for Malaysia to highlight tourist attractions such as Lang Tengah Island; houseboat experience in Lake Kenyir; Terrapuri Heritage Village in Terengganu; exploring heritage trails in Sarawak where you will be immersed in centuries of remarkable storytelling and history; the UNESCO Geopark of Langkawi with its beautiful rainforest, sandstone, cave, sea and river landscapes; and being among the first to experience the new integrated destination attraction of Desaru Coast and theme park Legoland in the southern region of Malaysia.

Datuk Musa will hold a special media briefing at 5pm in each city to cover Malaysia’s tourism performance and future developments as well key tourist attractions (see below “Key Highlights of Malaysia’s Tourism Products”).

Australia is an important tourist source market for Malaysia. In 2018, a total of 351,500 Australians visited Malaysia, which contributed to the overall 25.8 million international tourist arrivals to Malaysia. Malaysia aims to bring in 378,500 Australians to Malaysia next year. There are currently 121 total flights/week offering 32,565 seats from Australia.

Malindo Air will launch the Adelaide-Kuala Lumpur via Bali route on 16 April 2019. In conjunction with this inaugural flight, Malindo Air is offering special air fares to Kuala Lumpur from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne starting from AUD558 and from Perth starting from AUD228 to Kuala Lumpur.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF MALAYSIA’S TOURISM PRODUCTS:

Terengganu
Located on the eastern peninsula of Malaysia, the State of ‘beautiful' Terengganu is considered to be a "bucket list" item for visitors to Malaysia. A diverse and vibrant mix of history, culture, nature and eco experiences, Terengganu is world renowned for its turtle sanctuaries and pristine, white sandy beaches and islands.

Sarawak
Sarawak is a kaleidoscope of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals. It is home to one of the oldest rainforests on Earth and the largest cave chamber in the world. There is adventure around every corner, from the breezy highlands to the quiet beaches. Some 27 ethnic groups celebrate their unique cultures and festivals throughout the year, an eclectic blend of modern and traditional life, food, music and religious practices that can be found nowhere else. In Sarawak, there is always ‘More to Discover’. www.sarawaktourism.com

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council
The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Finance, that has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing the country’s healthcare travel scene. It was founded in 2009 to facilitate and grow Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry under the brand “Malaysia Healthcare” with the intended goal of making Malaysia the leading global healthcare destination. Since then, MHTC has worked to streamline industry players and service providers into a more focused development strategy to raise Malaysia’s profile in healthcare travel on an international stage. It is an example of a successful model of public-private partnerships (PPP) in growing the healthcare travel sector in Malaysia. 

Potential healthcare travellers can also obtain information on seeking healthcare in Malaysia including medical treatments, accommodation and travel at these websites:

Desaru Coast
Desaru Coast is a new integrated destination resort in Malaysia with a portfolio of globally renowned hotels and resorts, namely Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, as well as One&Only Desaru Coast. Desaru Coast is also home to Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark - one of the world’s biggest waterparks; Desaru Coast Conference Centre - a fully equipped conference facility; The Els Club Desaru Coast – 45 holes of golf in total with two distinct clubs; Ocean Course and Valley Course; and Desaru Coast Riverside – a 23-acre waterfront landscaped retail and lifestyle village. Desaru Coast spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17 km beachfront that faces eastwards over the clear ocean waters. The destination is set amid a rich bio-diverse location. 

LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort brings together a LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park, SEA LIFE and Hotel in one LEGO® themed location. It is the ideal family holiday destination with more than 80 hands-on rides, slides, shows and attractions offering adventure, education and fun for action-packed day trips or short holidays. The Resort is specifically designed for families with children aged 2 to 12. SEA LIFE is the world’s largest aquarium brand and the latest addition to the Resort.

Malaysia Airlines – Your Preferred Airline to Malaysia & Beyond
Malaysia Airlines (MH) is the national carrier of Malaysia, currently operating 57 weekly services from Australia & New Zealand to its hub in KL International Airport (KLIA), Kuala Lumpur. Beyond KLIA, Malaysia Airlines connects 62 destinations in 20 countries with a modern fleet of Airbus A380-800, A330-300, A330-200 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

The network includes extensive domestic and regional coverage across Malaysia. No other Malaysian carrier offers a comparable domestic, regional or global network solution when thinking about travel to, from and within Malaysia. 
As a member of one world®, Malaysia Airlines and its partners in the global alliance offer a seamless travel experience to more than 1,000 destinations across the world. 
For more information, please visit www.malaysiaairlines.com

MalindoAir
Malindo Air is a Malaysian airline with main hubs at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and city airport Subang Skypark in Selangor, Malaysia. The airline took to the skies in March 2013 and the fleet has grown exponentially to 13 ATR72-600 and 29 Boeing 737 as of Jan 2019. The airline also obtained the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Today, the airline operates over 800 flights weekly across a continuously growing network of about 57 routes covering 17 countries in the region of Asia and Australia. Also an IATA airline member, Malindo Air codeshares with Turkish Airline, Lion Air, Batik Air and is an interlining partner to Xiamen Air, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Turkish Airline, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Oman Air.

For updates on Malindo Air’s latest activities and promotions, please connect with us via Twitter (https://twitter.com/malindoair), Facebook (facebook.com/MalindoAirMalaysia) or Instagram (instagram.com/malindoair).
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 -Tourism Malaysia.

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Facilities for tourists at Niah Caves to be improved, developed

image: Sarawak Tourism

KUCHING: Facilities at the Niah Caves near Miri will be improved to develop it into a leading tourism attraction.

Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Niah has the potential to draw tourists, because of its historical significance.

"Human habitation at Niah was previously thought to date back 40,000 years from the utensils and turtle shells found there. But, the latest findings from New South Wales researchers indicate that humans had been staying there for 65,000 years.

"This will trigger a lot of interest when it comes to tourism, and it is something that we can showcase," he told reporters after chairing a Sarawak tourism steering committee meeting here on Wednesday (Apr 3).

"We want to make it easier to visit the Niah Caves. The project will be fast-tracked and we hope to see the infrastructure work starting within this year," he said.

Abdul Karim also said the ministry would continue to improve tourism infrastructure and products as part of the Visit Sarawak Campaign, which was launched last Dec 31.

He also said that efforts are being made to increase air connectivity to Sarawak. 

"My ministry is actively engaging with local and several airlines from China to explore the possibilities of direct flights from China. We are also working hard to realise a direct flight between Kuching and Jakarta," he said.
-thestar online.

Wednesday, 3 April 2019

Thumbs up for shuttle bus

Tourism Perak Hop-On Hop-Off shuttle allows locals and tourists a chance to see Ipoh and its tourist attraction sites on a bus. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star

PERAK’s newly-commissioned Hop-On Hop-Off bus has got members of the public excited.

Those interviewed by StarMetro believe that it is a good initiative by the Perak government and hope to board the bus soon.

Administrative assistant Syamimi Adzha, 29, from Kuala Lumpur said she will be visiting Ipoh soon and would like to give it a try.

“I got to know about this service from my friends in Ipoh. They too will be joining me for the ride,” she said. “There are some interesting stops along the route. I hope they can expand the stops to other locations like Kampung Kacang Puteh in Buntong.”

The bus service was launched during the Perak MATTA Fair in Ipoh recently.
Presently, the route includes areas such as Panglima Kinta Mosque, Ipoh Old Town, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Movie Animation Park Studios, Weil Hotel and Amanjaya Bus Terminal. Operations will be from 8.30am to 9pm daily.

Ticket prices are RM20 for adults and RM10 (children) with MyKad while for foreigners, it is RM55 (adult) and RM20 (children).

Tickets are available at the Perak Tourism office in Jalan Teh Hawa, Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, Ipoh Railway Station, Perak World of Wonder Merchandise shop in Jalan Sultan Yussuf and Ipoh Tourist Information Centre (weekends only) in Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

Video producer Moses Francis, 35, praised the state government for its initiative and said the bus would definitely be convenient for tourists to see Ipoh.
“Tourists will find visiting the interesting sites in the city easier.

“Public transport in Ipoh has always been a problem, unlike in Kuala Lumpur where you can get around with LRT or MRT,” said the Ipoh-born Francis.
“In Ipoh, it is easier to have someone drive you around, walk or book a ride through e-hailing services,” he added.

Moses believes the bus would have a lot of passengers initially as people are curious to try it. “Some locals will likely board the bus out of curiosity. “Let’s also hope the weather will be kind for tourists to enjoy the open deck platform,” he added.

Ipoh-based journalist Tan Mei Kuan, 28, suggested for the bus tickets to be sold at more locations such as popular tourist spots.

“I think the government should make it more accessible for tourists to buy the tickets. “It would be better if they sold them at places near Kinta Riverwalk, Panglima Kinta mosque and Ipoh Parade shopping mall.

“This will make things easier for tourists and locals who wish to get around the city. “It will also eliminate the hassle of finding parking spots, which is one of the biggest setback when I take my friends around the city,” she added.
-thestar online.

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Malaysia Airlines Inaugural Flight to Kochi Takes Off


KLIA, 1 April 2019: Malaysia Airlines yesterday commenced its inaugural daily service from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi with a casual send-off ceremony at KL International Airport (KLIA).

MH 108 departed KLIA on 31 March at 10:40 pm and arrived Cochin International Airport at 12.01am the following day.

All 70 passengers on MH108 were greeted by Malaysia Airlines’ staff and were treated to some goodies at the boarding lounge.

Upon arrival in Kochi, the aircraft was given a traditional water salute and passengers were greeted with flowers and cake by Malaysia Airlines’ Regional Head of Operations for United Kingdom, Middle East and South Asia, Mr Khirrol Mohamad as well as Cochin International Airport, Airport Director & Executive Director (Operations) Mr Chandrakumaran Nair Aand and General Manager Mr Dinesh Kumar Dy.

The return flight MH 109 departed Kochi on time at 1:00 am on 1 April and arrived KLIA at 7:50am the same day.
-Malaysia Airlines.

Domestic travel heats up in Malaysia amid economic uncertainty

Lake Kenyir in Terengganu is a popular holiday spot domestically

Malaysian travel agents are reporting a cut back on travel spend and shift towards domestic holidays, with the Central Bank of Malaysia lowering its projection for the year’s GDP growth from 4.9 per cent to between 4.3 per cent to 4.8 per cent due to headwinds from global events such as the US-China trade spat and Brexit deadlock.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) secretary-general, Nigel Wong, said: “Cautious in a period of economic uncertainty, Malaysians tend to holiday locally. The recent MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur recorded domestic sales in excess of RM20 million (US$4.9 million) as compared to last year’s RM12 million. There was more demand for booths at the domestic hall this year. MATTA sold 255 booths in the domestic halls, compared with 246 booths last year.

Wong shared: “We have seen a trend for a year now of travellers choosing regional and medium haul destinations in Asia over longhaul travel. Outbound longhaul travel has plateaued. This is based on MATTA Fair figures and feedback from the industry.”

John Chan, business advisor at Isma Holidays in Johor, said: “Malaysians are still upbeat travellers but we notice they are optimising their budget spend. We notice that the middle class, instead of going on two holidays, one longhaul and one medium haul destination, are now opting to travel to more regional destinations in Asia. South-east Asia including Indochina is popular, as are Japan, South Korea and China.

“On our part, we have increased our travel product offerings in Asia and South-east Asia, and we are running more promotional campaigns. We are also working with travel suppliers to come up with attractive and affordable travel packages. The tour packages we have are about five to 10 per cent lower across the board as compared with prices in 2018.”

Alex Lee, CEO, Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours in Terengganu, said he saw a 10 per cent increase in sales for the recent week-long school holiday period, especially to the islands off Terengganu and also to Lake Kenyir.

He said: “There is increased demand for snorkelling activities. On our part, we are promoting sustainable activities such as collecting rubbish from the islands and donating to NGO efforts on wildlife conservation. This is well received by the public who are keen to do their small part in conservation efforts.”

Andy Yow, director of sales and marketing, Vivanta Rebak Island, Langkawi, shared that the hotel works with select OTAs to further drive domestic sales through special packages during the upcoming May/ June Malaysian school holidays.

It recently rolled out a package for members of Glenmarie Golf & Country Club during the March school holidays, promoting a 4D2N “escape to a private island resort” for two adults and two children.
-TTG Asia.

Monday, 1 April 2019

New hostel allows more climbers on Kinabalu

image: Sabah Tourism

RANAU (Bernama): The number of people allowed to climb Mount Kinabalu has been increased to 165 a day with the opening of two new accommodation blocks, named Mokodau and Kinateki, at Panalaban Tuesday (April 2).

The two-block accommodation, called Panabalan Hostel, is run by Sabah Parks (TTS) and has 25 beds each.

TTS director Dr Jamili Nais said with the additional beds, it could now accommodate more people, with the number increased to 165 from 135 people a day, previously.

Initially, the number was 194, but reduced to 135 following the earthquake tragedy in 2015, he said during a dinner hosted for media members participating in the Mount Kinabalu climb held in conjunction with the opening of Panalaban Hostel at Kinabalu Park near here Sunday (March 31).

The project also involved the construction of an office for the mountain guides and members of the Mountain Search and Rescue Team (Mosar), check point, and an accommodation block for the mountain guides and porters.

He said TTS hoped to increase the number of climbers to 185 a day.

Meanwhile, participants for the Mount Kinabalu climb in conjunction with the opening of Panalaban Hostel were flagged-off by state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary William Baya.

A total of 49 media members and TTS staff, including Jamili, participated in the climb.
-bernama.

New Visit Malaysia 2020 logo to be ready in May

image: PelanconganKini

KUALA LUMPUR: The new official logo for the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign, to be announced in May, will have a design symbolising the arts and culture of communities.

He said the design competition began on March 11 and ended on March 24.

“The first prize winner selected from 586 participants will be chosen as the new official logo for Visit Malaysia 2020,” he said after opening a U-Pustaka Bookworm Run 2019 at Dataran Merdeka yesterday.
-bernama.