Sarawak is the only state so far having excellent networking arrangement amongst all tourism stake holders. A good example is that the Tourism Ministry, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Federation of Sarawak Tourism (STF) will be working together to promote interesting local products through attractive documentations and promotions.
Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip said the state had the potential to contribute to the expected 36 million tourists arrival to the country by year 2020. "We have a lot of natural attractions that are potentially tourist destinations. Sarawak also has its own unique natural settings that are suitable for activities like kayaking, mountain climbing, and jungle trekking, which are still unknown to foreigners,” he said in a phone interview yesterday.
He was responding to Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen’s statement on the 36 million foreign tourists expected to arrive here in 2020 with estimated RM168 billion revenue. However, he said air transportation issues that the state is currently facing should be adressed immediately as they would affect the state government’s efforts to reach that figure.
STF’s president Audry Wan Ullok said they would cooperate with STB and Tourism Ministry to identify new tourism products that had the potential to attract international toursits. She explained that tourists from peninsular Malaysia were the main contributors to the state’s tourists arrival and as such, there was an urgent need to resolve the air accessibility issues. “To increase foreign tourists arrival to the state, Kuching International Airport (KIA) should be the hub for international flights in the region especially to enable direct flights from Singapore,” she said.
STB’s chief executive officer Dato Rashid Khan stressed they were on the right path based on an overwhelming tourists arrival of 16.5 per cent. “Our role is to promote and market Sarawak tourism products, not only focus on luxury tourism but also eco-tourism because it have been identified to improve the income of local community,” he said.
According to him, from January to August this year, there was an increase of 26.09 per cent tourists arrival, which was about 1.84 million, compared to 1.49 millon in the same period last year. As for tourists from peninsular Malaysia, he said the state recorded 4.2 per cent which was 918,747 this year compared to 882,285 last year. “Over all, the number of foreign and domestic tourists arrival to the state is 2.41 million from January to August this year, compared to 2.06 million last year,” he said.
NO LIES... JUST THE FACTS!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
NEW IDENTITY FOR MICE
THE MALAYSIA Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has embraced a new brand identity, Asia’s Business Events Hub, which will position the country as an entry point for international organisations wanting to engage with Asian businesses and professionals through events. A revamped standalone website showcasing MyCEB’s new branding, as well as a Quick Response (QR) code which directs smartphone users to the website when scanned with a QR reader, were unveiled at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Ho Yoke Ping, general manager-sales & marketing, MyCEB, said that the new branding and website would enable the bureau to clearly demarcate its role, and distinguish its efforts from Malaysia’s broader tourism promotion initiatives. “The focus of this major branding exercise is to communicate our value proposition to the market, and to give MyCEB and Malaysia a competitive edge," she said. "Our ultimate goal is to position Malaysia as one of the top five destinations in Asia-Pacific for international meetings, and to hit a target of 2.9 million business arrivals by 2020.”
Ho added that the website would be constantly updated to inform meeting planners of Malaysia’s latest MICE-related service and facility offerings, and would be linked to a customer relationship management (CRM) system developed in partnership with Simpleview, a US-based CRM solutions provider.
Other MICE initiatives due to be rolled out include an Association Ambassador Programme, which will enable MyCEB to identify and train potential local hosts for international conventions, and a certification programme for Malaysia’s MICE industry stakeholders, which is still under development.
MyCEB will also be increasing its sales representation in Europe, followed by North America, Australia and key markets in Asia. The move will strengthen MyCEB’s bidding activities, promotions, lead generation process and marketing programmes in these markets.
The Ministry of Tourism has allocated a budget of RM50 million (US$16 million) to MyCEB for 2012, half of which will be channelled into the bureau’s existing subvention programme.
Ho Yoke Ping, general manager-sales & marketing, MyCEB, said that the new branding and website would enable the bureau to clearly demarcate its role, and distinguish its efforts from Malaysia’s broader tourism promotion initiatives. “The focus of this major branding exercise is to communicate our value proposition to the market, and to give MyCEB and Malaysia a competitive edge," she said. "Our ultimate goal is to position Malaysia as one of the top five destinations in Asia-Pacific for international meetings, and to hit a target of 2.9 million business arrivals by 2020.”
Ho added that the website would be constantly updated to inform meeting planners of Malaysia’s latest MICE-related service and facility offerings, and would be linked to a customer relationship management (CRM) system developed in partnership with Simpleview, a US-based CRM solutions provider.
Other MICE initiatives due to be rolled out include an Association Ambassador Programme, which will enable MyCEB to identify and train potential local hosts for international conventions, and a certification programme for Malaysia’s MICE industry stakeholders, which is still under development.
MyCEB will also be increasing its sales representation in Europe, followed by North America, Australia and key markets in Asia. The move will strengthen MyCEB’s bidding activities, promotions, lead generation process and marketing programmes in these markets.
The Ministry of Tourism has allocated a budget of RM50 million (US$16 million) to MyCEB for 2012, half of which will be channelled into the bureau’s existing subvention programme.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
MELAKA AIR TO FLY OUT OF BATU BERENDAM
Melaka Air will operate domestic services from Malacca to Penang and Kota Baru by year end, the Dewan Rakyat was told after questions about Batu Berendam Airport turining into a white elephant. The government has spent more than RM 200 million to upgrade the airport and presently having only three flights a week to Pekan Baru, Indonesia.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the flights, operated with cooperation of Firefly, will boost Malacca International Airport in Batu Berendam.
"The only airline using the airport is Wings Air which operates three weekly flights from Pekan Baru, Indonesia to Malacca since last year," he told Sim Tong Him (DAP-Kota Melaka) who wanted to know of efforts to enhance the airport and the traffic volume.
Abdul Rahim said the airport handled 21,687 passengers until December last year.
Malacca signed agreements with Asean airlines allowing Melaka Air to operate flights to Asean destinations with unlimited frequency.
"The airport also gives Passenger Service Charge discount of RM26 to international passengers," he added.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the flights, operated with cooperation of Firefly, will boost Malacca International Airport in Batu Berendam.
"The only airline using the airport is Wings Air which operates three weekly flights from Pekan Baru, Indonesia to Malacca since last year," he told Sim Tong Him (DAP-Kota Melaka) who wanted to know of efforts to enhance the airport and the traffic volume.
Abdul Rahim said the airport handled 21,687 passengers until December last year.
Malacca signed agreements with Asean airlines allowing Melaka Air to operate flights to Asean destinations with unlimited frequency.
"The airport also gives Passenger Service Charge discount of RM26 to international passengers," he added.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
NOW ITS RM65 AIRPORT TAX
MALAYSIA’s Transport Ministry has finally approved the implementation of increased airport taxes for passengers travelling to international destinations, originally slated to begin on September 15.
Starting November 15, passengers departing from the country’s international airports will pay RM65 (US$23) as passenger service charge – an increase of RM14 (28 per cent).
Passengers leaving from the low-cost carrier terminals in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu will pay RM32, a rise of RM7 (28 per cent).
Airport taxes for passengers on domestic flights remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, new aircraft landing and parking charges imposed on airlines will be implemented in three stages, by nine per cent and 18 per cent a year respectively, in January 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The decision to raise airport fees – first made in 2009 – had not been implemented earlier because of the need for review and to gather feedback from stakeholders, said transport minister Kong Cho Ha, adding that the delay had cost the government RM100 million a year.
The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents, among other organisations, had protested the tax hike as an impediment to travel.
Meanwhile its former Secretary General also World Discovery Travel (M), business development manager, Joseph Xavier, said: “The tax hike is minimal and negligible. It is not a factor which is going to affect the decision to travel.”
Starting November 15, passengers departing from the country’s international airports will pay RM65 (US$23) as passenger service charge – an increase of RM14 (28 per cent).
Passengers leaving from the low-cost carrier terminals in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu will pay RM32, a rise of RM7 (28 per cent).
Airport taxes for passengers on domestic flights remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, new aircraft landing and parking charges imposed on airlines will be implemented in three stages, by nine per cent and 18 per cent a year respectively, in January 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The decision to raise airport fees – first made in 2009 – had not been implemented earlier because of the need for review and to gather feedback from stakeholders, said transport minister Kong Cho Ha, adding that the delay had cost the government RM100 million a year.
The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents, among other organisations, had protested the tax hike as an impediment to travel.
Meanwhile its former Secretary General also World Discovery Travel (M), business development manager, Joseph Xavier, said: “The tax hike is minimal and negligible. It is not a factor which is going to affect the decision to travel.”
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
TOURISM MINISTER TRIES TO CLARIFY
The Tourism Ministry has denied the Auditor-General's Report 2010 that it overspent on advertisements to a tune of RM270mil.
“Ministry of Tourism Malaysia did not spend more. The report says that the amount of direct buy is more but not the total amount of promotion is more, there's a difference,” Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.
The report said the ministry had resorted to direct negotiations instead of open tenders which led to the overpayment of advertising fees.
Dr Ng said with direct negotiations, the ministry could do away with the middleman. She is avoiding the issue here. Direct negotiations means that there will be intermediaries as has been the practice in Malaysia for years and more so in MOT.
"The prices we paid are never above the market price,” she said. We cannot believe this.
"Our promotion budget was the lowest in 2009 and 2010, but the amount of direct [negotiations were] higher because we wanted to go right on and get as much value for money as possible,” she said at the launch of Art Expo Malaysia 2011 here. This is where she contradicts. It is very typical of her to say such things. We have heard it all. There is nothing new here. Same old jazz.
“Ministry of Tourism Malaysia did not spend more. The report says that the amount of direct buy is more but not the total amount of promotion is more, there's a difference,” Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.
The report said the ministry had resorted to direct negotiations instead of open tenders which led to the overpayment of advertising fees.
Dr Ng said with direct negotiations, the ministry could do away with the middleman. She is avoiding the issue here. Direct negotiations means that there will be intermediaries as has been the practice in Malaysia for years and more so in MOT.
"The prices we paid are never above the market price,” she said. We cannot believe this.
"Our promotion budget was the lowest in 2009 and 2010, but the amount of direct [negotiations were] higher because we wanted to go right on and get as much value for money as possible,” she said at the launch of Art Expo Malaysia 2011 here. This is where she contradicts. It is very typical of her to say such things. We have heard it all. There is nothing new here. Same old jazz.
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