Malaysia will remain the key destination for Singaporeans to spend their holidays due to its close geographical proximity and cordial bilateral ties with the country,to say the least.
Tourism Malaysia director for Singapore, Zalizam Zakaria, said strong relations between the neighbours, lifestyle similarities, appetising food, favourable exchange rate, shopping, increasing air travel affordability, especially through low-cost carriers, have made them to visit Malaysia more frequently.
"Malaysia's tourism industry has become the second largest contributor to the country's economy in terms of foreign exchange, thereby making Malaysia a premier destination, especially for holidays and travel incentives. In 2010, Malaysia received 24.6 million tourists, who spent RM56.5 billion. Of the total, Singaporeans accounted for RM28.4 billion, with 13 million arrivals," he added.
Zalizam said Malaysia offered a variety of interesting tourism products throughout the year for visitors' enjoyment including new attractions.
He said the Johor Premium Outlet, the first Premium Outlet Centre in South East Asia in Kulaijaya, near Johor Baharu City, opened on Dec 11 last year by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak offers branded names like Armani, Burberry, Coach, Gap and Nike. The products are sold at 25 per cent to 65 per cent discounts. Furthermore, it takes only less than 30 minutes from the Second Link to reach the outlet, which has 2,600 parking bays.
On a daily basis thousands of Singaporeans cross the Johor causeway to spend the day taking advantage of cheaper goods and highly favourable rate of exchange as well as enjoying the many subsidiased essentials.
NO LIES... JUST THE FACTS!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
TAPPING THE FILIPINO MARKET
Last year, tourism delivered over $4 billion in receipts. From January to November, 3,522,887 visitors came to the Philippines, 12 percent more than the number in the previous year. It spurred tourism officials to set bigger goals for this year. As in previous years, South Koreans made up the biggest group of visitors – 839,111. Our neighbors from the Land of the Morning Calm have always found our beaches and tropical climate hard to resist.
The number of tourists from ASEAN is climbing. There was a 12.04 percent rise in arrivals from ASEAN countries between 2010 and 2011. Of particular interest to Philippine authorities is Malaysia. Last year we welcomed more than 80,000 visitors from Malaysia, making that country our 11th biggest tourist market.
This year the government is launching a major campaign to attract more tourists from Malaysia. The private sector has also realized there is much to be gained from tapping that country as a tourist market. Already, a local airline company, Cebu Pacific, has plans to open a Manila-Kuala Lumpur route with twice-daily flights. It also will be flying to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, Sarawak.
The Philippines has much to offer as a tourist destination. Boracay has long been a favorite attraction. The Underground River in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, aside from being a World Heritage Site. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are as intriguing as they are unique. And festivals like the Ati-atihan and Masskara are a celebration of color and revelry. Aside from being a potential source of foreign exchange, it also opens up livelihood opportunities for thousands of people in the countryside. We must support the government’s effort to achieve this goal.
The number of tourists from ASEAN is climbing. There was a 12.04 percent rise in arrivals from ASEAN countries between 2010 and 2011. Of particular interest to Philippine authorities is Malaysia. Last year we welcomed more than 80,000 visitors from Malaysia, making that country our 11th biggest tourist market.
This year the government is launching a major campaign to attract more tourists from Malaysia. The private sector has also realized there is much to be gained from tapping that country as a tourist market. Already, a local airline company, Cebu Pacific, has plans to open a Manila-Kuala Lumpur route with twice-daily flights. It also will be flying to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, Sarawak.
The Philippines has much to offer as a tourist destination. Boracay has long been a favorite attraction. The Underground River in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, aside from being a World Heritage Site. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are as intriguing as they are unique. And festivals like the Ati-atihan and Masskara are a celebration of color and revelry. Aside from being a potential source of foreign exchange, it also opens up livelihood opportunities for thousands of people in the countryside. We must support the government’s effort to achieve this goal.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
SPECIAL FEATURES OF TTEC
The introduction of TTEC is said to be a step in the right direction towards responsible tourism. Tourism providers ought to be more knowledgeable on major issues such as licensing, legal, safety, health and environment; apart from marketing, customer service and crisis management.
To say that the only way to acquire such skills is by attending the compulsory TTEC, would be sheer bullshit. Tourists and local communities too would welcome education on their role and responsibilities, as it can bring more opportunities and better sustainability, but it does not have to be TTEC.
One of the special features of the program is that participants can extract the full value by putting forward intelligent questions in advance for the trainers to prepare and address adequately during the course. By doing so there will be nothing the participants can gain except to hope that their questions will be answered intelligently by the lecturers whose qualification is yet to be determined.
To say that the only way to acquire such skills is by attending the compulsory TTEC, would be sheer bullshit. Tourists and local communities too would welcome education on their role and responsibilities, as it can bring more opportunities and better sustainability, but it does not have to be TTEC.
One of the special features of the program is that participants can extract the full value by putting forward intelligent questions in advance for the trainers to prepare and address adequately during the course. By doing so there will be nothing the participants can gain except to hope that their questions will be answered intelligently by the lecturers whose qualification is yet to be determined.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
COMPULSORY TRAINING
Despite strong objections from many quarters of the industry, travel and tour companies are now required to enrol a senior staff for the “Travel & Tour Enhancement Course” (TTEC) as one of the conditions for the renewal of their company licence by the Tourism Ministry.
Over the past 25 years, travel and tour operators were not compelled to upgrade their professionalism and only a small number participated in the Human Resource Development Fund.
Travel industry employees learned mostly on-the-job and few are formally trained. There is a great disparity in the level of knowledge and skills across the 3,207 licensed travel and tour companies.
It is more apparent in marketing and customer service. However, hidden dangers lurk below the surface and major players are just as vulnerable.
Operators should safeguard what they have achieved through all the years of hard work.
As such, travel and tour operators ought to accord greater importance to the TTEC, which has to be attended by just one senior management staff member annually.
To say that the introduction of TTEC is a step in the right direction towards responsible tourismis a lot of bull.
Over the past 25 years, travel and tour operators were not compelled to upgrade their professionalism and only a small number participated in the Human Resource Development Fund.
Travel industry employees learned mostly on-the-job and few are formally trained. There is a great disparity in the level of knowledge and skills across the 3,207 licensed travel and tour companies.
It is more apparent in marketing and customer service. However, hidden dangers lurk below the surface and major players are just as vulnerable.
Operators should safeguard what they have achieved through all the years of hard work.
As such, travel and tour operators ought to accord greater importance to the TTEC, which has to be attended by just one senior management staff member annually.
To say that the introduction of TTEC is a step in the right direction towards responsible tourismis a lot of bull.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST AIR ASIA X
Australia’s consumer watchdog has filed legal action against AirAsia X, claiming the Malaysia based LCC failed to disclose the full price of international flights from Australia.
In documents filed in the Federal Court on Tuesday, the ACCC alleges the airline’s website did not include taxes and fees as part of advertised AirAsia X fares to London plus a range of destinations in Asia.
“Businesses that choose to advertise a part of the price of a particular product or service must also prominently specify a single total price,” the ACCC said in a statement.
The ACCC is seeking penalties, an injunction restraining AirAsia from “engaging in misleading conduct in the future,” and a court order forcing the airline to publish corrective notices on its website.
The move comes as AirAsia X ramps up services to Australia, launching highly touted daily flight between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney.
It's about time similar body be formed in Malaysia.
In documents filed in the Federal Court on Tuesday, the ACCC alleges the airline’s website did not include taxes and fees as part of advertised AirAsia X fares to London plus a range of destinations in Asia.
“Businesses that choose to advertise a part of the price of a particular product or service must also prominently specify a single total price,” the ACCC said in a statement.
The ACCC is seeking penalties, an injunction restraining AirAsia from “engaging in misleading conduct in the future,” and a court order forcing the airline to publish corrective notices on its website.
The move comes as AirAsia X ramps up services to Australia, launching highly touted daily flight between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney.
It's about time similar body be formed in Malaysia.
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