THE RM100 MILLION ERL EXTENSION

Just imagine what the RM100 million Express Rail Link (ERL) extension from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), the low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang, will do for the low cost travellers.
Already it cost RM35 to go the KLIA MTB. It would cost another RM 3 at least to go to KLIA2 which will add up to RM 38. If the red and yellow buses are allowed to take passengers from KL Sentral to KLIA2 it would only cost them RM8. So the choice is very simple and it will only take an extra 30 minutes or less to get to KLIA2.
However the rail link is on track to be completed by year-end, says Noormah Mohd Noor, Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer.
She said work was progressing at a feverish pace and the project was 45 per cent complete with a new car park already available at the new terminal.
On the progress of the 2.2 kilometre rail extension, she said:”The entire concrete pavement was almost complete and ready to be installed on the ballast. We have done about 400 metres of ballast at KLIA2.
The KLIA2 terminal is scheduled to commence operations in April next year.

Why isn’t there more travel buzz about Kuala Lumpur?

 

If you think that of Kuala Lumpur as a great city this is what a speaker from the USA Sheila Scarborough who attended the recent MITBCA conference has to say :

 

"My knowledge of Southeast Asia is not that deep (Brian Spencer’s Bangkok posts are helping to improve that) so this was my first visit to Malaysia other than steaming through the Straits of Malacca on Navy ships many years ago.

 

From what little I was able to see outside of the convention center and hotel during the conference, I honestly wondered why there isn’t more buzz about Kuala Lumpur?

 

There are interesting Indian, Malay and Chinese neighborhoods. The cuisine is delicious and unique, reflecting the heritage mix of the country. The people are friendly and welcoming.

 

The city’s architecture is a mix of British colonial history as seen in the photo; with the Petronas Towers gleaming in the background, the older building (built in 1935) is now the MaTiC  Malaysia Tourism Centre but it served as military headquarters for both the British and the Japanese during World War II.

 

There are side trips galore across Malaysia, with discount airlines like Air Asia and train systems that make it pretty easy to get around.

 

Sure, I explored the Petronas Towers – they may not be the tallest buildings in the world anymore, but they are quite impressive and a source of tremendous national pride.

 

Somehow, though, I don’t hear as much traveler buzz about this city, and I’m not sure wh, she said..

TOURISM PROMOTION IS SO SIMPLE

“Our strategy is very simple. We are trying to get children actively involved in the quiz game and also in the wildlife of Malaysia which has the perfect setting of the zoo. Once children see the orang utan in the zoo, and after participating in our quiz games, they will ask their parents to take them to the natural habitat of the animal,” said Syed Yahya Syed Othman, the director of the Frankfurt office of Tourism Malaysia in an interview with Bernama.
Tourism Malaysia’s Frankfurt office has been allowed to profile Malaysia’s wildlife and nature at the reputed Frankfurt International Zoo which has a combined population of 18 orang utans.
The strategy of arousing public interest in Malaysia’s wildlife, using the zoo as a vehicle for promotion of tourism, has been lauded by tourism promotion experts here. Indeed, there is tremendous public interest in the orang utan, which cand help further enhance the level of interest and, thus, also boost tourism traffic to Malaysia. The pitch will be made to children who, accompanied by their parents, are a common sight at the zoo, particularly on weekends.
Tourism Malaysia made a prsentation enticing children, helped by their parents, to participate in a quiz game called “Discover Malaysia and its Fascinating Nature,” said Syed Yahya Syed Othman, the director of the Frankfurt office of Tourism Malaysia in an interview with Bernama. The quiz will include questions about Malaysia’s wildlife and its natural environment; the questions will be posed to children who, according to the Tourism Malaysia’s Frankfurt office, can induce their parents to take them to the real habitat of the animals, particularly the orang utan.
Syed Yahya said in the course of their participation, Tourism Malaysia will seek the active participation of the children and, also the parents. “This will enable them to not only see the animals but also motivate them to visit places in Malaysia where the orang utan live,” he said.
The full-day event  opened up new avenues of opportunities for promoting tourism to Malaysia. “Europeans, particularly Germans appreciate nature and environment. We have organised a treasure hunt game for the children and parents can, of course, also join in. The children will provide answers to questions put to them, and this also indicate their level of knowledge about Malaysia,” Syed Yahya said, adding that the first prize is a free flight to Malaysia for two persons.
Syed Yahya said that Germany was a “promising market” with tremendous business potential inherent in nature tourism. The idea of stepping up interest in Malaysia by organising an event at the zoo has, meanwhile, travelled far and wide, reaching Malaysian envoys in other countries as well.
Syed Yahya, who recently held a meeting with German hoteliers inducing them to join in promotional work in conjunction with Tourism Malaysia, said that the idea of organising a wildlife quiz event was also well timed because of the success of the film “We bought the zoo” which has aroused public interest in wild life and nature.
We wish Syed Yahya all the best.

TOURISM IS ALSO SPORTS AND HEALTH

Tourism has now spread its wings to do sports and health as well. Read on :

Tourism Malaysia is promoting the ‘Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Bike Ride George Town Bicycle & Trishaw Tour’ in efforts to liven up the tourism sector and help generate income for the local community.

Tourism Malayysia domestic marketing director Musa Yusof said besides promoting bicycle touring, which has become a global trend, the activity was also a healthy hobby.

“The Tourism Ministry hopes to turn bicycle touring into a tourism product as it is not only a mode of transportation, but encourages a healthy lifestyle.

“It is also a recreational activity which brings families closer and strengthens communities,” he said at the “Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Bike Ride George Town Bicycle & Trishaw Tour” launching ceremony at Tanjung City Marina, here today.

He added that cycling activities in George Town, which are cheap and economical, started in 2010 and was a unique way to bring visitors to explore Penang’s rich culture and heritage.

PROTECT AND CONSERVE

All tourism stakeholders should work together to create products and services that are more value-based with “protect, preserve and conserve” as the national mantra for any process of balanced growth, especially tourism, says Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen.
She said the partnership between private and public sectors assumed an important role in sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism industry, including for Kazakhstan that was diverse in ethics.
“We should work more closely with our friends from here and everywhere around the world who share the same belief and understanding to be mindful of the challenges we face and our missions and business interests with sustainable development objectives,” she said. She suggested that investments be looked at as an instrument of change to influence social and economic outcomes.
“We must understand that good planning is essential to ensure that value for money is created, risk is shared and problems in implementation are minimised,” she said in her speech on “Public-Private Partnership in the Sphere of Investments” on the second-day of the Astana Economic Forum last week
The Minister  said new products must be created and niche markets identified to attract tourists and make their visits memorable as demand for meaningful travel was increasing.
Such products are necessary for a nation to spur the industry going forward, especially for Kazakhstan that was developing aggressively with investment opportunities as a strong emerging market in Central Asia, she said. Dr Ng added that the long-term economic success of any nation depended on its ability to invest surplus resources wisely and all new ideas and innovation may mean tremendous investment opportunities abound in emerging markets.
“But it is always wise to ensure that we have sustainable development,” the minister added.