Instead of promoting Kashimiris to come to Malaysia,MATTA plans to do just the opposite: promote Kashmir to Malaysians
According to MATTA: When people think of Kashmir in north India, it is usually about unrest due to the overlapping claims on the disputed region between India and Pakistan.
However, the area is actually peaceful and filled with beautiful landscapes. It even has three world-class golf courses to boot.Therefore, (MATTA) hopes to change the perception of Malaysians about Kashmir in an effort to lure more tourists to the region.
“We hope to work together with the Jammu and Kashmir tourism authorities for this purpose,” said MATTA president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun at the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department roadshow here yesterday. “Malaysians, in general, will not find it a problem to visit Kashmir as it shares similarities with our country such as the presence of halal food and a large Muslim community there,” he said.
He added that Jammu attracts Hindu devotees for its numerous temples and shrines. Mohd Khalid said nature lovers would also enjoy taking in the sights of the area’s green valleys and lakes.
Jammu and Kashmir minister of tourism and culture Nawang Rigzin Jora assured Malaysian tourists that Kashmir was as peaceful as any place in India and dismissed media reports which had painted it as unsafe. “Kashmir is to Asia what Switzerland is to Europe with its beautiful natural landscapes,” he said
.
He added that Jammu and Kashmir would send its team to the MATTA Fair from Aug 12 to 14 at the Putra World Trade Centre here so that Malaysians could learn more about the state. “We believe Malaysia would be a good market to tap. We hope to receive an intitial batch of about 3,000 Malaysian visitors to Jammu and Kashmir,” Nawang said.
NO LIES... JUST THE FACTS!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
FOLKLORE FESTIVAL IN SABAH
The 6th Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF) to be held from July 17 to 26 this year will feature 18 international cultural dance troupes. The festival is an international event to promote cultural tourism, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment through the Sabah Cultural Board.
"Sabah will be hosting delegates from India, Slovakia, Indonesia, Latvia, Namibia, Taiwan, Belgium, Estonia, Philippines, Egypt, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Korea and Turkey," said Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister, Datuk Bolkiah Ismail. It will be held at the Penampang Cultural Centre.
New elements will be introduced in this year's festival, namely the "Bal-bal" mascot, which is derived from the ethnic Iranun folklore, exhibition and selling of traditional Sabah food and also a cultural parade, he said at the sponsorship cheque handing over here, Wednesday. "Art enthusiasts will also be able to attend the International Folk Art Festival with participating artists from Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Russia and Malaysia," said Bolkiah, who is also the festival's organising chairman.
The festival has raised a total of RM33,500 in sponsorship from Malakun Holdings Sdn Bhd, Tung-E Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Hotel Juta Sdn Bhd, Progressive Insurance Bhd, Sabah Tea Sdn Bhd, Pantai Dalit Resort, Malaysian Timber Industry Board, Perkasa Tenom, Sabah Softwood Berhad, Saujana Environment and Montis Sdn Bhd.
"This is a yearly event and we hope more agencies and companies will come forward to give their support," he said. The main objectives of the festival are to promote understanding and harmony through culture; promoting brotherhood through culture; promoting cultural tourism among participating nations; and promoting the State as a tourist destination in Asia in accordance with the "Malaysia Truly Asia" slogan.
The festival will hold events such as Sabah Folkdance Competition which will be held from July 20 to 21 at the Penampang Cultural Centre, followed by the "Prime Show" on July 22 at Magellan Sutera Harbour and the International Folkdance Competition from July 23 to 24 at the cultural centre.
Also present was Sabah Cultural Board Chairman, Datuk Wences Anggang.
For further information, the public can contact the Sabah Cultural Board at Tel: 088-268 851, Fax: 088-264 235, e-mail: borneosiff@gmail.com or browse their website at
"Sabah will be hosting delegates from India, Slovakia, Indonesia, Latvia, Namibia, Taiwan, Belgium, Estonia, Philippines, Egypt, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Korea and Turkey," said Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister, Datuk Bolkiah Ismail. It will be held at the Penampang Cultural Centre.
New elements will be introduced in this year's festival, namely the "Bal-bal" mascot, which is derived from the ethnic Iranun folklore, exhibition and selling of traditional Sabah food and also a cultural parade, he said at the sponsorship cheque handing over here, Wednesday. "Art enthusiasts will also be able to attend the International Folk Art Festival with participating artists from Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Russia and Malaysia," said Bolkiah, who is also the festival's organising chairman.
The festival has raised a total of RM33,500 in sponsorship from Malakun Holdings Sdn Bhd, Tung-E Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Hotel Juta Sdn Bhd, Progressive Insurance Bhd, Sabah Tea Sdn Bhd, Pantai Dalit Resort, Malaysian Timber Industry Board, Perkasa Tenom, Sabah Softwood Berhad, Saujana Environment and Montis Sdn Bhd.
"This is a yearly event and we hope more agencies and companies will come forward to give their support," he said. The main objectives of the festival are to promote understanding and harmony through culture; promoting brotherhood through culture; promoting cultural tourism among participating nations; and promoting the State as a tourist destination in Asia in accordance with the "Malaysia Truly Asia" slogan.
The festival will hold events such as Sabah Folkdance Competition which will be held from July 20 to 21 at the Penampang Cultural Centre, followed by the "Prime Show" on July 22 at Magellan Sutera Harbour and the International Folkdance Competition from July 23 to 24 at the cultural centre.
Also present was Sabah Cultural Board Chairman, Datuk Wences Anggang.
For further information, the public can contact the Sabah Cultural Board at Tel: 088-268 851, Fax: 088-264 235, e-mail: borneosiff@gmail.com or browse their website at
Sunday, July 3, 2011
MASSAGE PARLOURS ON THE RISE
A group of women NGOs is outraged over the rising number of massage parlours in Selangor, saying these vice dens have caused much heartbreak to many families.
They said innocent lives had been affected when husbands, fathers and even sons became regulars of the illicit services offered at some of the outlets.
“Many families have been affected by the mushrooming of these massage centres.
“Money that is meant for the family is spent on unnecessary activities,” beautician and Malaysian Beauty Therapy Association president Datin Clara Chee said.
Teenagers, she said, were also being lured to such places.
“Family values are affected and this is bad for the moral fibre of society,” she said yesterday.
Chee was joined by representatives from the Federation of Kwang Tung Associations (Women Section), Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), the Malaysian Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Foundation, Malaysia Hindu Sangam and several other groups.
The Federation of Kwang Tung Associations (Women Section), which was represented by Chong Moi Heong, said it was high time the state government drew the line and regulate the licence holders and clamp down on illegal operators.
“If this does not happen, it may lead to serious social problems,” she said.
It was reported that massage centres and reflexology outlets were just a front for masseuses who offered sexual favours for between RM50 and RM150.
However, many operators of these places had set up business complete with signboards to advertise their supposedly legitimate services.
State Local Government Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said only 60 massage and foot reflexology centres in Selangor had been issued licences, with most of them in Ampang Jaya.
However, Wanita MCA secretary-general Senator Chew Lee Giok claimed last week that there were about 220 massage centres in Petaling Jaya alone.
They said innocent lives had been affected when husbands, fathers and even sons became regulars of the illicit services offered at some of the outlets.
“Many families have been affected by the mushrooming of these massage centres.
“Money that is meant for the family is spent on unnecessary activities,” beautician and Malaysian Beauty Therapy Association president Datin Clara Chee said.
Teenagers, she said, were also being lured to such places.
“Family values are affected and this is bad for the moral fibre of society,” she said yesterday.
Chee was joined by representatives from the Federation of Kwang Tung Associations (Women Section), Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), the Malaysian Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Foundation, Malaysia Hindu Sangam and several other groups.
The Federation of Kwang Tung Associations (Women Section), which was represented by Chong Moi Heong, said it was high time the state government drew the line and regulate the licence holders and clamp down on illegal operators.
“If this does not happen, it may lead to serious social problems,” she said.
It was reported that massage centres and reflexology outlets were just a front for masseuses who offered sexual favours for between RM50 and RM150.
However, many operators of these places had set up business complete with signboards to advertise their supposedly legitimate services.
State Local Government Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said only 60 massage and foot reflexology centres in Selangor had been issued licences, with most of them in Ampang Jaya.
However, Wanita MCA secretary-general Senator Chew Lee Giok claimed last week that there were about 220 massage centres in Petaling Jaya alone.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
MEDICAL TOURISM
MASholidays, the travel arm of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), aims to fly 200,000 medical tourists here to seek treatment in the next two years.
MAS executive vice president, commercial strategy, Datuk Dr Amin Khan, said Malaysia has emerged as the most popular destination for medical tourism in Association of South-East Asian Nations due to competitive prices offered by the sector.
"Malaysia boasts a high number of specialists with extensive international qualifications," he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tropicana Medical Centre (TMC) here Thursday.
He said under the MOU, TMC would offer MASholidays customers different types of executive health screening packages such as basic, wellness, elite and premier at attractive rates.
"The airline will then incorporate the programmes into an all-inclusive travel, accommodation and tour packages to be introduced to international holidaymakers," he said.
Group chief executive officer of TMC Life Sciences Bhd, Francis Lim Poon Thoo, said the first-of-its-kind partnership between the private hospital and the airline marked a significant development in TMC's effort to reach out to medical tourists from around the globe.
"This is in line with the government's effort to develop Malaysia into a global medical tourism hub. We are confident that international holidaymakers would take this opportunity to experience Malaysia while ensuring that their health is well taken care," he said.
Lim said the 180-bed TMC would focus on patients from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Currently, there are at least 35 hospitals in Malaysia that are being geared towards medical tourism. All are accredited locally by the Malaysian Medical Society for Quality of Health and are licensed by the Malaysian Ministry of Health.
According to Malaysia Medical Tourism Outlook 2012 research report, the Malaysian medical tourism industry's revenue was anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 16 per cent during 2011-2014.
MAS executive vice president, commercial strategy, Datuk Dr Amin Khan, said Malaysia has emerged as the most popular destination for medical tourism in Association of South-East Asian Nations due to competitive prices offered by the sector.
"Malaysia boasts a high number of specialists with extensive international qualifications," he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tropicana Medical Centre (TMC) here Thursday.
He said under the MOU, TMC would offer MASholidays customers different types of executive health screening packages such as basic, wellness, elite and premier at attractive rates.
"The airline will then incorporate the programmes into an all-inclusive travel, accommodation and tour packages to be introduced to international holidaymakers," he said.
Group chief executive officer of TMC Life Sciences Bhd, Francis Lim Poon Thoo, said the first-of-its-kind partnership between the private hospital and the airline marked a significant development in TMC's effort to reach out to medical tourists from around the globe.
"This is in line with the government's effort to develop Malaysia into a global medical tourism hub. We are confident that international holidaymakers would take this opportunity to experience Malaysia while ensuring that their health is well taken care," he said.
Lim said the 180-bed TMC would focus on patients from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Currently, there are at least 35 hospitals in Malaysia that are being geared towards medical tourism. All are accredited locally by the Malaysian Medical Society for Quality of Health and are licensed by the Malaysian Ministry of Health.
According to Malaysia Medical Tourism Outlook 2012 research report, the Malaysian medical tourism industry's revenue was anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 16 per cent during 2011-2014.
Friday, July 1, 2011
HARD ROCK CAFE IN MALACCA
I think this issue is only seen from one side of the fence. Yes I do acknowledge Melaka should preserve it historical sites for the future generation and to showcase to the world what we have. However it should also know how to balance it’s self to exist between past and present.
We must understand tourist that goes to any destination in the world, needs to unwind after a long day and this is lacking in our country. Due to this we are loosing out to others especially to our immediate neighbors like Singapore. Which are able to balance itself between preserving it historical sites and modern building including many establishments that tourist can patronize.
Why we need to be negative on anything that is originated from America? Whether we like it or not we can’t live or ignore them – that is reality! Instead we should look into positive effect that Hard Rock will bring to Melaka in term of tourist arrival.
Thank you.
Ganneesh Ramaa
We must understand tourist that goes to any destination in the world, needs to unwind after a long day and this is lacking in our country. Due to this we are loosing out to others especially to our immediate neighbors like Singapore. Which are able to balance itself between preserving it historical sites and modern building including many establishments that tourist can patronize.
Why we need to be negative on anything that is originated from America? Whether we like it or not we can’t live or ignore them – that is reality! Instead we should look into positive effect that Hard Rock will bring to Melaka in term of tourist arrival.
Thank you.
Ganneesh Ramaa
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