If we want 1 million Indian tourists to Malaysia just give them the visas. No big deal. However the Ministry of Tourism expects tourist arrivals from India to increase from 689,000 last year to 700,000 this year while that of West Asian countries from 228,668 to 235,000, said its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. She said the ministry also expected tourist arrivals from South Africa, which at present stood at about 20,000 yearly, to rise.
The ministry has set a target of tourist arrivals to increase from 24.6 million last year to 25 million this year, she told Bernama after chairing a meeting of directors of tourism from Malaysia, India, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Saudi Arabia here Tuesday.
Datuk Seri Dr Ng is leading a Malaysian delegation to the three-day Arabian Travel Market 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition, starting today. Eighty-seven private and public agencies from Malaysia are taking part in the exhibition.
On the Indian and West Asian markets, Dr Ng said Tourism Malaysia would collaborate with tourism authorities in the countries and create products that would suit the preferences of the tourists.
She said Tourism Malaysia would collaborate with Indian tourism agencies to promote wedding packages, which have captivated Indian tourists, who liked Malaysian scenic natural beauty and multiracial harmony.
"We already have a rich couple planning to hold a fabulous wedding in Malaysia in November. They are expected to spend more than USD1.5 million (RM4.45 million) for the wedding, including flying their guests into Malaysia," she said.
On Dubai tourists, Dr Ng said they were interested in Malaysian cultures and diverse products, especially those arrayed at the Petaling Street and night markets.
She said tourism promotions would also be intensified in Saudi Arabia, including in cities like Dammam, Al-Khobar and Dhahran for the Saudis would love to come to Malaysia following turmoil in Egypt and Syria.
Dr Ng said Tourism Malaysia also urged tour and travel agencies from Iran to set up offices in Kuala Lumpur for there had been cases of tourists from the country being cheated by Iranians tourist guides in Malaysia.
NO LIES... JUST THE FACTS!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
HERITAGE TAX DRAW PROTESTS
THE MALACCA state government’s plan to impose a five per cent heritage fee on hotel guests from September 1 has drawn flak from the local travel trade.
“The heritage tax is unreasonable and irrelevant,” said Stadhuys Tours and Travel managing director William Chan. “It makes no sense to impose a tax, especially with the current economic situation. The state had already raised the water tariff recently, so an additional tax is a burden for the industry.
Malacca Budget Hotels Association chairman Hendon Puteh said that as many members were already charging six per cent government tax, with some charging an additional 10 per cent service charge on hotel bills, the total 21 per cent fee imposed on guests would be too much of a disincentive for overnight stays.
Chan said that representatives from tour operators, hotels and the Malaysian Association of Hotels and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents were planning to present a memorandum to the Chief Minister to hold a discussion to review the tax.
According to Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the estimated RM12.0 million (US$4.04 million) generated annually from the new tax will enable the state government to conduct maintenance and conservation of heritage sites and beautification programmes.
“The heritage tax is unreasonable and irrelevant,” said Stadhuys Tours and Travel managing director William Chan. “It makes no sense to impose a tax, especially with the current economic situation. The state had already raised the water tariff recently, so an additional tax is a burden for the industry.
Malacca Budget Hotels Association chairman Hendon Puteh said that as many members were already charging six per cent government tax, with some charging an additional 10 per cent service charge on hotel bills, the total 21 per cent fee imposed on guests would be too much of a disincentive for overnight stays.
Chan said that representatives from tour operators, hotels and the Malaysian Association of Hotels and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents were planning to present a memorandum to the Chief Minister to hold a discussion to review the tax.
According to Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the estimated RM12.0 million (US$4.04 million) generated annually from the new tax will enable the state government to conduct maintenance and conservation of heritage sites and beautification programmes.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
TIGER VALLEY TO OPEN
Nature lovers can watch tigers roaming in their natural habitat when the Pahang government opens its Tiger Valley' at the Klau Forest Reserve in Temerloh at the end of the year.
State Tourism, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Shafiq Fauzan Sharif said the project would be an open-zoo concept using facilities that were already available "with some new twists for added value."
The state government received RM3.2mil from the Tourism Ministry to roll out the project under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
"Although it is based on an open-zoo concept, there is still a need for it to be fenced. But it will be huge enough for the wild animals to roam freely. It will be back to nature for the animals as that is where they are supposed to be, not living in a cages,'' Shafiq told The Star yesterday.
He added that the "Tiger Valley" would have facilities for visitors to watch the animals from a safe distance, such as a viewing tower and specially-built walkways.
Shafiq said the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) would be roped in to work with the state on the project and to provide proposals on the tigers' habitat.
He said some tigers in zoos nationwide have lived in cages for more than 20 years. "These animals should be allowed to move about in their natural habitat," he said, adding that an open zoo is good and healthy for wild animals and a niche area that can be developed for the tourism industry.
Shafiq hoped the planned "Tiger Valley" would be integrated with the popular Kuala Gandah elephant sanctuary located in the same forest reserve.
State Tourism, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Shafiq Fauzan Sharif said the project would be an open-zoo concept using facilities that were already available "with some new twists for added value."
The state government received RM3.2mil from the Tourism Ministry to roll out the project under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
"Although it is based on an open-zoo concept, there is still a need for it to be fenced. But it will be huge enough for the wild animals to roam freely. It will be back to nature for the animals as that is where they are supposed to be, not living in a cages,'' Shafiq told The Star yesterday.
He added that the "Tiger Valley" would have facilities for visitors to watch the animals from a safe distance, such as a viewing tower and specially-built walkways.
Shafiq said the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) would be roped in to work with the state on the project and to provide proposals on the tigers' habitat.
He said some tigers in zoos nationwide have lived in cages for more than 20 years. "These animals should be allowed to move about in their natural habitat," he said, adding that an open zoo is good and healthy for wild animals and a niche area that can be developed for the tourism industry.
Shafiq hoped the planned "Tiger Valley" would be integrated with the popular Kuala Gandah elephant sanctuary located in the same forest reserve.
Monday, May 2, 2011
5% HERITAGE CHARGE ?
The Malacca government will impose a 5% “heritage charge” on hotel guests from Sept 1. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the decision to impose the new tax on hotel rooms was reached at the weekly state executive council meeting yesterday. There are 193 hotels and resorts in the state.
The tax was crucial for the state to carry out its beautification programmes as well as to maintain cleanliness, conservation and promotion of heritage sites, he said.
“The state has no source of tax collection for the maintenance of heritage sites. The assessment tax and quit rent collected in the city are insufficient to upkeep these sites. Hence, it is necessary to make the heritage fee compulsory. The heritage charge will be based on the rental rates of hotels, resorts, chalets, apartments and other tourism facilities that provide lodging,” he said.
Mohd Ali said about RM12mil was expected to be collected annually.
Asked if the ruling would have a negative effect on tourism in the state, Mohd Ali claimed that it would offer better prospects for growth to the industry.
However, Malacca Budget Hotels Association chairman Hendon Puteh begged to differ, saying the total 21% charge was too high. “Most of our members are already charging their guests the 6% government tax, with some charging another 10% service charge.
Hang Out Hotel manager and State Tourism Association committee member Tan Lee Lee also questioned the need to impose such a charge, especially after the Tourism Ministry had said that more than 70% of its allocation would be channelled to Malacca under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
The big question is how was this money spent. There has been many instances where money was spent for the wrong purpose and heritage would be the last on the list.
The tax was crucial for the state to carry out its beautification programmes as well as to maintain cleanliness, conservation and promotion of heritage sites, he said.
“The state has no source of tax collection for the maintenance of heritage sites. The assessment tax and quit rent collected in the city are insufficient to upkeep these sites. Hence, it is necessary to make the heritage fee compulsory. The heritage charge will be based on the rental rates of hotels, resorts, chalets, apartments and other tourism facilities that provide lodging,” he said.
Mohd Ali said about RM12mil was expected to be collected annually.
Asked if the ruling would have a negative effect on tourism in the state, Mohd Ali claimed that it would offer better prospects for growth to the industry.
However, Malacca Budget Hotels Association chairman Hendon Puteh begged to differ, saying the total 21% charge was too high. “Most of our members are already charging their guests the 6% government tax, with some charging another 10% service charge.
Hang Out Hotel manager and State Tourism Association committee member Tan Lee Lee also questioned the need to impose such a charge, especially after the Tourism Ministry had said that more than 70% of its allocation would be channelled to Malacca under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
The big question is how was this money spent. There has been many instances where money was spent for the wrong purpose and heritage would be the last on the list.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
ROYAL WEDDING A BIG BOOST FOR BRITISH TOURISM
The biggest royal wedding for 30 years struck a balance between time-honoured tradition and youthful exuberance, the British press and newspapers across the world said Saturday.
Front pages from Warsaw to Sydney were emblazoned with pictures of Prince William and Kate at their spectacular wedding in Westminster Abbey on Friday, followed by their procession to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage.
The Times in Britain summed up the lighter mood of the day with a wraparound front-page photograph of the couple as they made their impromptu drive down The Mall in an open-top Aston Martin sportscar.
"Every element of the wedding reflected the couple's shared humour and taste, and a determination to remain as anchored as possible in their own normality," the newspaper said.
For us in Malaysia, the Royal Wedding in was indeed very refreshing to watch over the various channel on Astro. Everyone was glued on the TVs after lunch last Friday to watch an event of the decade and to see for themselves what a royal wedding and British tradition is all about.
What this event has done for British tourism is beyond everyone's imagination.
Front pages from Warsaw to Sydney were emblazoned with pictures of Prince William and Kate at their spectacular wedding in Westminster Abbey on Friday, followed by their procession to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage.
The Times in Britain summed up the lighter mood of the day with a wraparound front-page photograph of the couple as they made their impromptu drive down The Mall in an open-top Aston Martin sportscar.
"Every element of the wedding reflected the couple's shared humour and taste, and a determination to remain as anchored as possible in their own normality," the newspaper said.
For us in Malaysia, the Royal Wedding in was indeed very refreshing to watch over the various channel on Astro. Everyone was glued on the TVs after lunch last Friday to watch an event of the decade and to see for themselves what a royal wedding and British tradition is all about.
What this event has done for British tourism is beyond everyone's imagination.
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