Tourism Malaysia “Ekspresi Media – Kenyir 2019” Programme To Uncover Hidden Gems Of Terengganu

PUTRAJAYA, 19 MARCH 2019 – A total of 22 media representatives from various newspapers, magazines and social media platforms, are taking part in the Ekspresi Media - Kenyir 2019 programme from 18 to 21 March. This initiative by Tourism Malaysia is to engage with local media and encourage them to promote tourist destinations in Terengganu, especially as a build-up to the Visit Malaysia 2020 promotion campaign.

Organised for the first time, the programme has elements of sightseeing and product inspections, hands-on experiences and product briefings by professionals in the industry to provide a well-rounded experience of Terengganu and showcase some of the state’s hidden touristic gems. Moreover, the programme also aims to forge closer relations between the tourism promotion board, the tourism private sector players and the media.

The media will gain some fascinating experiences including feasting on local cuisine such as nasi dagang at popular establishments that have gone “viral” on social media; praying at the beautiful Tuanku Nur Zahirah Mosque which is also known as Masjid Terapung; trekking to explore the Bewah Cave; staying the night on a houseboat on Kenyir Lake; swimming with the kelah species of fish; and feeding elephants.

They will also have opportunities to get photography tips from Canon Malaysia and learn from the experience of famous Malaysian comic artist, Ujang. Several Terengganu tourism industry players will also come forward to explain about their development plans for the state’s tourism growth. 

Tourism Malaysia hopes that the media will share stories of their Terengganu explorations with their readers and audience in their respective publications or social media platforms and in turn create the interest for them to visit Terengganu. 

It is expected that some 40 to 50 stories will be generated by this group of participants, consisting of feature articles and postings and stories on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and blogs. From the sharing and re-posting of these entries, Tourism Malaysia looks forward to gain between 2 million and 4 million audience reach as the outcome of the Ekspresi Media – Kenyir 2019 programme.

Fully utilizing the power of social media, hashtags such as #tourismmalaysia, #malaysiatrulyasia, #cuticutimalaysia, #vm2020 and #ekspresimedia2019 will be used throughout the programme to gain more traction for the publicity. 

For this inaugural edition, Tourism Malaysia has partnered with Terengganu Tourism Department, KETENGAH, PERHILITAN, Kuala Terengganu Police Department and Canon Malaysia.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Sabah picked as Malaysia's favourite destination at MATTA Fair

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah is honoured to be selected "Malaysia's Favourite Destination" at the 47th edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair 2019.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that the MATTA Fair 2019 was a great opportunity for Sabah to be promoted as a world-class premier eco-tourism destination.

He said this was in line with the state's target of hitting four million tourist arrivals in 2019, comprising 2.57 million domestic travellers and the rest from overseas.

"In 2018, Sabah tourism set a new record with the highest tourism receipts ever at RM8.34bil on the back of a record-high 3.879 million arrivals, an increase of 6.6% in tourism receipts and a 5.3% increase in arrivals compared to 2017," he said at the opening of the MATTA Fair 2019 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here Saturday (March 16).

"I am glad to see that Sabah tourism has been proactive in implementing new products, enhanced services and productivity improvement. The state government will continue to support in transformation efforts.

"We are also constantly reviewing our tourism strategies to see how we can further enhance Sabah's attractiveness as a destination for different groups of visitors.

"We will continue to work hard and look for areas where we can improve and do even better," he said in his speech read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew, who is also state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister.

Shafie said that in a highly competitive global tourism market, "we need to offer attractive reasons for tourists to visit Sabah, and to return for subsequent visits after their initial experience in Sabah."

He reiterated that the Sabah government remains committed to growing its tourism sector to create economic opportunities for businesses and generate jobs for locals.

"While the road ahead is not without its challenges, our passion gives us the courage to come up with ambitious plans and the resilience to take risks and sustain our journey," he said.

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Ken Pan Ying led a delegation of 30 co-exhibitors comprising 25 tour operators, two dive operators, two hotels and one hotel association.

STB's 16 booths showcased the state's tourism products under the Sabah Pavilion ranging from heritage and culture, scenic island visits, scuba diving, jungle trekking, bird watching to adventure and other attractions that are top notch and considered to be good value for money.

One of the highlights of the fair was the introduction of "Cuti-Cuti Tawau" to promote tourism in the east coast of Sabah, taking visitors and tourists beyond the already popular Kota Kinabalu on the west coast.

Tawau is the gateway to the eastern part of the state where the towns of Semporna, Lahad Datu and Sandakan are located.

-thestar online.

Tourism Malaysia Travel Mart 2019

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 MARCH 2019 – The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi has officiated the Tourism Malaysia Travel Mart 2019 programme organised by Tourism Malaysia at Seri Pacific Hotel here today. The one-day programme, organised in conjunction with the MATTA Fair 2019 which opens from 15 to 17 March, was aimed at gathering tour operators and tourism product owners and hoteliers under one roof to develop various domestic tourism travel packages together.

The Tourism Malaysia Travel Mart 2019 programme, a Business-to-Business (B2B) format, involves the 2-way meeting between product owners and hoteliers from each state and potential buyers who are the tour operators participating in the MATTA Fair 2019.

Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, in his speech, said that the programme would enhance relations among those involved in the tourism industry and is a commendable business networking platform.

”In addition, the Tourism Malaysia Travel Mart programme will help to drive the growth of the domestic tourism sector, thus, creating revenue for the country’s tourism industry,” he added.

The Minister added, cooperation from the tourism industry players is much needed especially to develop tourism packages that are exciting and creative as this would help make Visit Malaysia 2020 a success.

A total of 200 buyers and 60 sellers from around the country took part in this programme. Tourism Malaysia estimates the programme to generate a value of RM1 million in sale contracts made.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Malaysia Surfcasting Tour... A Journey To VISIT MALAYSIA 2020 @ Pantai Puteri, Melaka ( 17 Mac 2019 )

-Wak Jali Event Management.

AIRMARINE CUP 2019 @ Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur ( 20 & 23 March 2019 )

AIRMARINE Malaysia (MALAYSIA) Sdn. Bhd. yang merupakan sebuah syarikat logistik terkemuka telah tampil ke hadapan untuk merancakkan saingan bolasepak membabitkan pasukan kebangsaan dengan memperkenalkan kejohanan Piala AIRMARINE yang akan berlangsung pada 20 dan 23 Mac 2019 di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil.

Kejohanan edisi sulung ini akan menampilkan Malaysia selaku tuan rumah, Singapura, Oman dan juga Afghanistan yang akan berentap pada kejohanan yang diadakan pada kalendar perlawanan antarabangsa Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangasa (FIFA).

Piala AIRMARINE 2019 akan menjadi platform untuk memberi saingan yang lebih kompetitif buat skuad kebangsaan bagi memanfaatkan kalendar perlawanan antarabangsa FIFA untuk meraih seberapa banyak pendedahan dan juga mata untuk memperbaiki kedudukan di dalam ranking antarabangsa FIFA.

Sejajar dengan pelan hala tuju pembangunan bolasepak selama 12 tahun atau dikenali sebagai F.30 yang diperkenalkan oleh FAM, Piala Airmarine 2019 akan menjadi titik permulaan untuk pelan jangka masa panjang bolasepak negara bagi membawa skuad kebangsaan ke satu tahap yang lebih tinggi.

Tiket untuk kejohanan ini akan mulai dijual pada 1 Mac 2019 menerusi Proticket Malaysia dengan harga RM45 untuk tempat duduk Grandstand dan RM35 bagi tempat duduk Terbuka. Tiket boleh didapati menerusi atas talian di proticket.com.my dan menerusi talian hotline Proticket 03-7880 7999. 

20 March 2019

Semi-Finals
4:30 pm: Oman vs Afghanistan
8:45 pm: Malaysia vs Singapore

23 March 2019

3^rd Place Play-Off
4:30 pm: Loser 1 vs Loser 2

Final
8:45 pm: Winner 1 vs Winner 2

-Proticket Malaysia.

https://proticket.com.my/airmarine-cup-2019/

Selangor plays up natural and cultural attractions to draw more European visitors

Aerial view of Sekinchan paddy fields

To capture a larger slice of the European market, Tourism Selangor is intensifying efforts to promote the abundance of offerings in the Malaysian state.

Abdul Rashid Asari, Selangor state government chairman of standing committees for cultural and tourism, Malay tradition and heritage, believes that a new crop of hotels, infrastructure, ecotourism and cultural attractions will put the destination in good stead to attract the European market.

He said: “We have a lot to offer in the city that will appeal to the taste of the Europeans.”

Key attractions include the Selangor Fruits Valley, Sekinchan paddy fields, Sky Mirror in Kuala Selangor and Sunway Lagoon – the oldest and largest theme park in Selangor, according to Abdul Rashid.

Having received some 300,000 tourists from Europe in 2018, Abdul Rashid hopes to grow the market by at least 10 to 20 per cent this year.

To raise awareness of the destination, he said Tourism Selangor has beefed up its online presence through social media channels, and will be participating in more events and tradeshows this year.

European buyers at ITB Berlin are seeing potential in Selangor, which is gaining traction among European travellers, most of whom were previously more familiar with destinations like Langkawi.

While Maren Spohr, junior product manager Asia, Art of Travel Germany, has yet to see any interest from her clients in Selangor, she sees potential in the exotic offerings there. Spohr said: “The luxury travellers are interested in exclusive resorts which offer unique experiences, so it will be a good selling point if we can find such offerings.”

Neil Gregory, representative from Vavoyage in the UK, said: “Selangor would appeal largely to the special interest groups which forms a smaller percentage of the mass market. “It would be better if there are a lot of new mass market developments,” he suggested.

Overall, awareness of Malaysia is visibly drummed up this year, with Tourism Malaysia being the official partner country at ITB Berlin this year.

“I believe Malaysia’s cultural uniqueness is a big draw for the European market,” commented Mohamaddin Bin Haji Ketapi, minister of tourism, arts and culture for Malaysia. “As such the highlight of our presence at ITB this year will be the cultural aspects that we bring to the show.”

Malaysia’s participation as ITB partner countrywas deemed an instrumental step leading up to the Visit Malaysia 2020campaign, as Malaysia targets 30 million arrivals and tourist receipts of RM100 billion (US$24 billion) by 2020.

Meanwhile, the move is also part of Tourism Malaysia’s efforts to rebuild promotions in Europe since Malaysia Airlines suspended flights to the key European cities of Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris in 2015 and 2016, while working to collaborate further with foreign airlines and foreign tour operators to sell the destination.

-TTG Asia.

Sabah wants to boost domestic tourism

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded a 2.8% increase in domestic tourist arrivals in 2018, with 2.518 million visitors compared to 2.449 million the previous year, which state believes can be boosted further.

Based on a domestic outbound survey conducted in 2018, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) said there were many opportunities to increase domestic tourism to Sabah.

The survey found that approximately 209,000 visitors came to Sabah every month, and these visitors are connected by 442 weekly flights to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan from nine Malaysian cities.

The survey conducted by STB's research division, revealed that the top five preferred holiday activities for domestic travellers were viewing natural scenery (71.1%), relaxing by the beach (54.4%), visiting local markets (54.4%), visiting famous landmarks (52%) and island hopping/snorkelling (41.5%).

"Sabah has all the right ingredients for a holiday destination catering to domestic travellers. Although the domestic market is our biggest market source, we believe that there are many who have never been to Sabah," said STB general manager Suzaini Sabdin Ghani.

The survey showed that those intending to visit Kota Kinabalu increased from 29.6% to 85.7%, Sandakan from 7.8% to 33% and Tawau from 6.3% to 23.1%.

Suzaini said STB plans to use the MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur from March 15 to 17 as a platform to explore opportunities to boost domestic visitors.

She said that Sabah is pushing community-based tourism especially to rural areas, as well as homestay and camping which have shown to be areas of interest among domestic travellers who prefer self-driving to travelling in groups.

-thestar online.

Playing up Selangor’s attractions at tourism trade fair

TOURISM Selangor continues to promote its new tourism products and cultural and heritage tourism segment in an effort to attract foreign tourists into the state, through cooperation with Tourism Malaysia at the Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin (ITB2019).

ITB2019, which is the world’s biggest tourism trade fair, focuses on promoting hotels, tourist boards, tour operators, system providers, airlines and car rental companies, to name a few.

ITB2019 recently hosted a five-day business-to-business event for the worldwide travel industry at Messe Berlin in Germany.

Tourism Selangor took part in the Tourism Business to Business (B2B)

In the midst of incorporating new programmes and methods to attract tourists, Tourism Selangor launched three new tourism initiatives: Selangor Local Host Community Programme to train local tour guides to provide genuine information to tourists.

Three districts have been chosen this year comprising Hulu Selangor, Hulu Langat and Kuala Langat.

For the pre-launch of Visit Sepang 2020 Campaign – various activities will be carried out throughout the year with a RM10mil target for people visiting Sepang.

Meanwhile, the launch of the Selangor Cultural Map (consisting of cultural information showcased during ITB2019) will provide valuable information for cultural and heritage enthusiasts touring Selangor.

“Selangor has huge potential to be one of the best tourism destinations.

“Apart from that, with evolving visitors’ expectations, we will provide affordable tourism attractions through our eco-nature and culture adventure cluster products such as Sky Mirror, Mah Meri indigenous people, Batu Caves and the Klang Town Heritage Walk,” said Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari.

Selangor Culture, Tourism, Malay Customs and Heritage committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari said last year, more than 3.25 million international tourist arrivals to Selangor were recorded and 242,000 of them were from Europe.

“ITB Berlin has the capacity to attract tourists, so the target of 7.7million tourists visiting Selangor this year can be accomplished,” he said.

With various airlines now offering more than 45 flights with 7,000 seats a week to Malaysia, this advantage will provide a positive impact on Selangor.

“As Malaysia is the country partner for this year’s ITB, we will maximise efforts to promote our tourism hotspots with media collaborations.

“Tourism Selangor is also actively promoting destinations in Selangor internationally with the support and collaboration from our preferred agent, Kowamas Holidays, which focuses on promoting Selangor to the European market,” said Tourism Selangor general manager Noorul Ashikin Mohd Din.

Malaysian delegates comprising local council heads from the Sepang, Kuala Selangor, Kuala Langat and Hulu Selangor were present to provide insights on their respective districts.

A special cultural performance by the Mah Meri tribe in Carey Island was showcased during the opening ceremony of ITB2019.

-thestar online.
http://www.tourismselangor.my/

Call For Entries: VISIT MALAYSIA 2020 Logo Competition

PUTRAJAYA, 11 MARCH 2019: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Tourism Malaysia is calling all Malaysian citizens aged 18 years and above to enter the Visit Malaysia 2020 Logo Design Competition. The competition, held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign, begins today (11 March) and ends on 24 March, giving participants 14 days to design and submit a suitable logo.

The winner of the competition will walk away with a cash prize of RM3,000 along with a certificate while the first runner-up will receive RM2,000 in cash and a certificate, second runner-up will receive RM1,000 and a certificate and five consolation prize winners will each receive RM250 and a certificate.

The competition is part of the Ministry’s efforts to encourage Malaysian citizens to participate in the VM2020 campaign by contributing their creative ideas to the logo creation. The chosen logo design will then be used in the local and international promotion of VM2020.

The Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign is founded on Vision 2020 and focuses on promoting the sustainability of tourism, arts and culture.

The VM2020 logo shall depict the cultural aspects of Malaysia and integrate the existing Malaysia Truly Asia logo into the design. Each submission must include the logo design and design rationale, all of which have to reflect Malaysia’s diverse ecotourism attractions.

The logo should be in English for ease of international promotions, while the rationale of the design is to be submitted in dual language, i.e. Bahasa Melayu and English.

Entrance into the competition is free, however each participant is limited to ONE submission only.

For further information on the competition, please visit www.tourism.gov.my, www.malaysia.travel and www.motac.gov.my or call Infoline at 1-300-88-5050.

-Tourism Malaysia.

It’s national heritage personified

Renowned Kenyah musician Jau performing his art during practice.

PETALING JAYA: From the majestic Sultan Abdul Samad building to the lush greenery of our national parks, Malaysians know the country is not short of places that display our national heritage.

However, not many are aware national heritage does not only refer to a physical space – it could also be a living, breathing human being.

Under the National Heritage Act 2005, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister can declare a living person a national heritage, or a National Heritage Living Person, or Warisan Kebangsaan Orang Hidup(Wakoh).

Since the initiative started in 2005, the title has only been granted to 27 individuals.

Cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, or popularly known as Lat, is on the list for his humorous and even poignant comics which depict Malaysian life.

The title has also been granted to renowned Kenyah musician Mathew Ngau Jau for his skill in playing lilting melodies on the sape.

Indian classical dancer and choreographer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim and 24 Festive Drums co-founder Tan Chai Puan were also acknow­ledged as Wakoh.

Eyo Hock Seng, who hails from Pasir Mas, is also recognised for his work as a non-Malay wayang kulitpuppet master and storyteller.

Another living national heritage is Maznah Unyan, from the Mah Meri community, who weaves handicraft items.

Abu Bakar Jaafar is also on the list for his performance of boria, a form of Malay theatre popular in the northern states, especially in Penang.

Others include Mohd Bahroodin Ahmad (boria performer), Tan Hooi Song (Chinese drum musician), Ali Badron Sabor (penglipur lara or storyteller), Losimin Majanil (bobohizanor Kadazandusun shaman), Vatsala G. R. Kurup (Bharatha­natyamand Katakali dancer), Tan Sri Ahmad Othman Merican (musician), Mek Jah Deris (mak yong dancer), Jati Ju (pua kumbuor Iban cotton cloth weaver), Intan Sulga Kk Tiring (Bajau Laut traditional dancer), Nyonya Tan Abdullah (Dondang Sayang singer – traditional Malay love ballad), Datuk Mohd Baharim Mohd Sharip (Dondang Sayang singer), Norhaiza Noordin (Malay wood carving), Kumaresan Karthigesu (sitar musician), Siri Neng Buah (various cultural arts), Romli Mahmud (Awang Batil or storytel­ler), Datuk Aripin Said (national folk song writer), Saad Taib (Mek Mulungor traditional Malay theatre performer), Omar Md Hashim (boria performer), Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Rosli Saludin (teromba storyteller) and Razak Senik (rodator Malay folk dance performer).

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said any figure or “local genius” in the cultural art field can be nominated as Wakoh.

Calling it a “special acknowledgement”, Mohamaddin said the title was to preserve the heritage embodied in the traditional creative arts upheld by these figures.

“The idea to give recognition to these figures sparked from the realisation that there are now fewer and fewer of these cultural art practitioners.

“It would be such a loss if these figures, who possess such a high level of creative genius, who are knowledgeable and skilled in the culture and traditions of society, are not appreciated or given their due place,” he said in a statement.

The Wakoh, he added, will also become the point of reference in their respective fields and would receive financial assistance to enable them to pass down their knowledge.

The rewards given to the Wakoh for the years of hard work and effort poured into developing their art are also substantial.

Besides other gifts, each Wakoh is given RM20,000 and can also enjoy first class medical facilities at government hospitals.

To nominate someone for the Wakoh title, Mohammadin said any individual, government agency or NGO can submit a person’s name to the National Heritage Department.

-thestar online.

http://www.heritage.gov.my/ms/

Pertandingan Mencipta Kempen Logo VM2020 - Syarat dan Terma Pertandingan

Sila layari https://www.tourism.gov.my/pdf/uploads/vm2020contest.pdf

-Tourism Malaysia.

Famed Ryder Cup comes to town during Maybank Championship

For the first time in Malaysia, the revered Ryder Cup Trophy will be making its much anticipated appearance! Catch a glimpse of the legendary trophy on Sunday, March 24, from 8.30am to 10.30am – exclusively at #MaybankChampionship.

Tickets now available at http://mybk.co/v2wp50kxi5h.

#WheretheBestMeet

-Maybank Championship.

Taiping is No 3 most sustainable city in the world

IPOH: Taiping has been recognised as among the top three sustainable cities in the world.

Touted as Peninsular Malaysia’s wettest town, Taiping was placed third, behind Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and Vancouver, Canada in the "Best of Cities" category, which awards cities that show leadership in urban sustainability and in avoiding disruptive over-tourism.

The recognition was given during the 2019 Sustainable Top 100 Destination Awards at the International Tourismus-Börse (ITB) travel trade show in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday (Mar 6).

Taiping Municipal Council president Datuk Abd Rahim Md Ariff received the award. This is the first time we received a prestigious international award.

“This achievement is due to the hard work of the community and all relevant governmental agencies,” he said. “The council always work hard to make Taiping a popular tourist destination,” Abd Rahim added.

Also present at the ceremony were Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and state Tourism Committee chairman Tan Kar Hing.

Taiping waslisted as one of the 100 Sustainable Cities by Green Destinations in December last year.

The list, made available at greendestinations.org, s aimed at recognising efforts by authorities in the tourism industry that contribute a sustainable environment.

Green Destinations is a non-profit organisation which focuses on efforts to create sustainable tourism, leading global cooperation between experts, firms and academy institutions in 80 countries.

-thestar online.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Attractions-g670111-Activities-Taiping_Larut_Matang_dan_Selama_District_Perak.html

http://www.tourismperakmalaysia.com

Malaysia And Condor Airlines Initiate Summer 2019 Charter Flight Campaign

BERLIN, GERMANY, 6 MARCH 2019, 2 PM: Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airports have signed a Memorandum of Joint Collaboration (MoJC) with Condor Airlines today, marking efforts to initiate Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur charter flight operations for the summer 2019 season.

The MoJC, signed by Datuk Musa Yusof, Director General from Tourism Malaysia, Mr. Mohamed Sallauddin Mohamed Shah, General Manager, Marketing from Malaysia Airports and Condor Airlines, was witnessed by Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia.

This development follows the success of a similar initiative undertaken for the winter 2018 season by all three parties. The first three months of the winter campaign saw Condor Airlines plying the Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur route with more than 90% load factor.

Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau, said, “We are pleased with the success of the first partnership with Condor Airlines in 2018. It helped us gain a stronger footing in the German market, resulting in a 17.1% growth in German tourist arrivals to Malaysia last year.”

He added, “We hope to continue strengthening our market presence here with this Condor Airlines and Malaysia Airports partnership especially as we build up towards Visit Malaysia 2020.”

Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin, Group CEO of Malaysia Airports said, “Since starting its operations in November 2018, Condor Airlines has carried more than 16,000 passengers into KLIA. Malaysia has often been Germany’s primary trading partner among ASEAN countries, with the continuation from winter to summer schedule, we strongly believe that this will enable both countries to further strengthen both the tourism and economy sectors.”

He added, “Condor Airlines” presence into Malaysia is made possible with the joint collaboration between Malaysia Airports and Tourism Malaysia, under the Joint International Tourism Development Programme (JITDP), which had benefited 20 main projects for short and long-haul markets. I hope to see more beneficiaries take up the opportunity in using the JITDP fund to promote tourist arrivals into Malaysia.”

For the summer 2019 season, Condor Airlines will commence a twice-weekly service from 2 May to 31 October 2019, operating a fleet of B767-300 with a configuration of 235 seats, totaling 25,000 seats for the duration of the campaign.

With the scheduled flight by Condor Airlines, along with other strategic collaborations and promotions in the market, Tourism Malaysia is eyeing German arrivals to rise to 147,000 in 2019.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Wyndham to plant Malaysia flagship in Klang

Rendering of the upcoming property

Wyndham Acmar Klang will open in 3Q2019 as the first international upscale hotel in the Malaysian city of Klang.

Housing KLIA, Malaysia’s main international air gateway, and Port Klang, one of the world’s busiest container ports and Kuala Lumpur’s main cruise hub, Klang is an integral part of Malaysia’s national economy.

“As the commercial gateway to Malaysia and a highly connected urban centre, Klang is at the core of Malaysia’s economic success. The entire Klang Valley area is enjoying tremendous growth making this an (opportune time) to introduce a world-class hotel,” said Joon Aun Ooi, president and managing director, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, South-east Asia and Pacific Rim.

Wyndham Acmar Klang will offer 488 guestrooms across two wings – from Deluxe Rooms to 188 suites. Guests staying in the suites can also make use of the Executive Lounge which provides private check-in, daily breakfast and all-day drinks and snacks.

For meetings and events, the hotel has a Grand Ballroom seating up to 2,200 guests. A selection of 11 other flexible spaces provides options for every type of event.

Facilities include an outdoor pool, spa, fitness centre, retail outlets and a selection of dining venues including Japanese and Chinese restaurants and an all-day dining outlet serving Malaysian favourites and Western cuisine. Also available are a lobby lounge; pool bar; and a sky lounge.

At present, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has a portfolio of four hotels and resorts across Malaysia, including a Days Hotel & Suites property in Kuala Lumpur and Ramada-branded hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Johor Bahru.

-TTG Asia.

New Attractions, Niche Tourism And Increased Connectivity To Attract Visitors To Malaysia For VISIT MALAYSIA 2020

BERLIN, GERMANY, 6 MARCH 2019, 2 PM: Tourism Malaysia is stepping up its promotions this year in preparation of Visit Malaysia 2020, a landmark campaign that’s targeted to bring in 30 million international tourists and approximately £21.63 billion (RM100 billion) in tourist receipts into Malaysia.

Its participation in ITB Berlin 2019 as Official Partner Country is a key initiative to ensure the campaign’s success where it is enjoying prominent visibility among the event’s industry visitors from around the world. 

The event is a timely platform for Malaysia to highlight its new tourist attractions, featured destinations and interest to work with key industry players for strategic growth. 

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, YB Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi says, “Malaysia has all the attractions that appeal to travellers from this region, from nature retreats, to modern and affordable shopping, cuisine, culture and luxury experiences.”

This year’s delegation to ITB Berlin comprises of 11 state tourism boards, 32 tour operators, 30 hotels and resorts, two airlines, four tourism service providers and four tourism related agencies. There are a total of 136 participants representing 83 organisations taking part from Malaysia, with major players and sponsors being Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Putrajaya Corporation, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Condor Airlines and Desaru Coast.

Malaysia’s presence at ITB Berlin this year focuses heavily on ecotourism and cultural attractions, with Putrajaya Corporation, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and Desaru Coast aggressively promoting their latest tourism offerings such as birdwatching in Putrajaya, Sky Mirror in Selangor, Danum Valley in Sabah, heritage trails in Sarawak, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Penang, and the new integrated destination attraction of Desaru Coast.

The Malaysia Healthcare Tourism Council will also take centre-stage at ITB to present on Malaysia as a high quality yet affordable healthcare destination among travellers seeking treatments. The Malaysia Year of Healthcare Travel 2020 will also be promoted, along with plans for more public-private partnerships to grow the niche sector.

Banking on Malaysia’s rich culture appeal, Tourism Malaysia has engaged Istana Budaya, Sarawak Cultural Troupe, Mah Meri, Putrajaya and Sabah Cultural Board to perform and showcase Malaysia’s music and dance repertoire for the public. 

Last year, tourist arrivals to Malaysia from Western Europe countries (including Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland), grew by 12.1%, bringing in a total of 411,067 tourists. Germany contributed 9,542 tourists to Malaysia, a growth of 17.4%.

“We are encouraged by the growth of the West Europe market thanks to the implementation of several key initiatives last year,” the Minister said. He was referring to several initiatives implemented last year including Malaysia being made ECTAA Preferred Destination Partner for 2018; the tactical campaign with Condor Air for the winter scheduled charter flights from Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur; and the joint partnership with TUI for a Fly and Cruise initiative.

Plans to further grow and support this market include Tourism Malaysia’s intention to work with international airlines to increase connectivity to Malaysia from several long-haul destinations. A Memorandum of Joint Cooperation (MoJC) will be signed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Toruism Malaysia and Condor Airlines for summer scheduled charter flights. This follows the successful implementation of the winter scheduled charter flights which began last year.

The German market has demonstrated to be a potentially strong market for Malaysia to pursue. In 2018, Malaysia received a total of 128,644 German tourists, representing a 17.1% growth from 2017. In 2019, Malaysia targets 147,000 tourists from Germany to revive Malaysia’s position as a choice holiday destination particularly from this market.

Key highlights of Malaysia’s tourism products:

Desaru Coast

One of the newest tourist attractions in Malaysia is Desaru Coast, an integrated destination spanning 3,900 acres along a pristine 17 km beachfront with world-class golf, hotels, theme park, retail and food & beverage facilities. The surrounding area of fruit farms, agriculture farms and natural mangroves add to the scenic appeal.

Selangor
One of the most-visited states in Malaysia, Selangor has several attractive new tourism offerings including Sky Mirror, a secret “island” right in the middle of the sea that has become popularly known as the “Salar de Uyuni” of Malaysia; free guided heritage walks of the royal town of Klang; Selangor Fruit Valley; and Tanjung Sepat coastal town, an emerging eco/agrotourism destination.

Sabah

Sabah is known as an adventure paradise for good reason. The three highest peaks in Malaysia are all located in Sabah, i.e. Mount Kinabalu, Mount Trusmadi and Mount Tambayukon. In addition, it offers underwater adventures with diving and water activities at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and Sipadan Island. There are opportunities to see the orangutan, sun bears, the proboscis monkey and many species of birds. Exciting adventures also await travellers at Danum Valley, a pristine forest that was once visited by Sir David Attenborough.

Sarawak

Sarawak has a rich history and cultural background. Explore its historic legacies with a walking tour of Kuching city, a beautifully-romantic riverside settlement. Or visit central Sarawak into Iban heartland with settlements along Malaysia’s longest river, the mighty Rejang that reaches the last frontier town of Belaga and passing through some rugged yet beautiful sceneries. 

Penang

Penang’s capital, George Town, was inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2008 where it features Malaysia’s well-restored traditional architecture plus a multitude of heritage trades and arts. According to UNESCO, the city represents an exceptional example of a multicultural trading town in Southeast Asia forged from the mercantile and civilisation exchanges of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences. All this results in a modern and vibrant Penang that offers unique and colourful experiences centred around food, architecture, lifestyle, art and culture.

Putrajaya

The administrative capital city, Putrajaya, is an urban ecotourism destination and home to one of the most unique green spaces in the world with 40% of the area made up of wetlands, lakes, parks and open spaces, creating a perfect balance between development and nature.

Malaysia Healthcare Tourism Council

Malaysia has grown to become a globally renowned destination for healthcare at its finest, providing affordable healthcare services to all. Since 2011, Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry has recorded a double digit growth annually and in 2017, more than 1 million healthcare travellers sought treatments in Malaysia. 

Culture

Experiential travel is a form of tourism in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by actively and meaningfully engaging with its history, people, culture, food and environment. Malaysia with its unique cultural make-up and key historical role in the region is rich in story and big on authenticity. The country is a melting pot of cultures; past and present collide creating a unique experience that can’t be found in any other region in Asia.

Birdwatching

Strategically positioned in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is the perfect stopover for travellers who linger in the country to sample its many delights before moving onwards to their next destination. However not all of these visitors are human; Malaysia plays host to more than 100 species of migratory birds that fly thousands of kilometres annually to escape the winter or to reach breeding grounds. Malaysia itself is home to more than 1,100 species of birds both in Peninsular and East Malaysia. Lush rainforests cover more than 60% of Malaysia with 18.7% (3.82 million hectares) classified as primary forest (the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest). With world-class tourism infrastructure, a wealth of tourism attractions, an active and avid bird-watching community and extensive connectivity options, bird-watchers to the region will not be disappointed with their visit.

-Tourism Malaysia.

http://www.malaysia.travel