Despite objections from the industry, the Tourism Ministry will go ahead with its plans to introduce a Travel And Tours Management Course (TTMC and TTEC). A launch will be held today at 10.00 am. at Saloma Restaurant. MATIC, Kuala Lumpur.
A joint memorandum signed by the Presidents of Bumitra, MCTA, MITA, MITTA and CRAM was forwarded to the Minister on 11 May 2011 made several reservations to the introduction of this course. All existing travel and tours agencies be eligible to renew their licences as in the past and be fully exempted from participating in this management course was highlighted in the memorandum.
However, if the course be made mandatory by the Ministry, the industry proposed that the course be conducted annually and on a complementary basis.
Industry players are urged to attend this launch in large numbers not so much to care about it but more to enjoy the fellowship and makan that will follow.
NO LIES... JUST THE FACTS!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
MALAYSIAN THEMES ON LONDON BUSES
Since last Friday, five of London's iconic red double-decker buses were fully wrapped with Malaysian themes including eco, nature and underwater. These buses will be plying certain London routes as part of an advertising campaign by Tourism Malaysia to attract British tourists to visit Malaysia.
The bus campaign was launched by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen at a special reception at the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square, London Thursday.
In her speech text emailed to the local Malaysian media here Friday, Dr Ng said besides taking over the five buses, Tourism Malaysia was also participating in the Chelsea Flower Show 2011 from May 24 until Saturday. It is not known how many London based media were present at this event.
She said the advertising campaign would run for 12 weeks from this week to Aug 15.
"The buses will ply routes 414 (Battersea), 19 (Brixton) and 11 (Stockwell) and the hope is to capture the interest of British tourists and other international tourists to visit Malaysia.
"We are excited about the working partnership with Transport for London to promote our fantastic destination on the most recognised public transport system and the world's most iconic city that presents a great opportunity for Tourism Malaysia.
"Londoners will be able to see giant exotic jungle and aquatic images of Malaysia as part of a drive to promote the country's hugely diverse nature, fantastic diving and growing ecotourism industry," she added.
The bus campaign was launched by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen at a special reception at the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square, London Thursday.
In her speech text emailed to the local Malaysian media here Friday, Dr Ng said besides taking over the five buses, Tourism Malaysia was also participating in the Chelsea Flower Show 2011 from May 24 until Saturday. It is not known how many London based media were present at this event.
She said the advertising campaign would run for 12 weeks from this week to Aug 15.
"The buses will ply routes 414 (Battersea), 19 (Brixton) and 11 (Stockwell) and the hope is to capture the interest of British tourists and other international tourists to visit Malaysia.
"We are excited about the working partnership with Transport for London to promote our fantastic destination on the most recognised public transport system and the world's most iconic city that presents a great opportunity for Tourism Malaysia.
"Londoners will be able to see giant exotic jungle and aquatic images of Malaysia as part of a drive to promote the country's hugely diverse nature, fantastic diving and growing ecotourism industry," she added.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
MORE LONG HAUL ROUTES FOR LOW COST CARRIERS
The industry is of the opinion that the government should not restrict low cost carriers, Malaysian homegrown especially, from flying to new destinations. Afterall expansion is a commercial consideration and not determined by government policy.
Datuk Seri Dr Tony Fernandes CEO of Air Asia has warned that with Singapore Airlines jumping into the long-haul budget carrier business, holding back routes for AirAsia X will only put the country at a disadvantage, despite Malaysia being the pioneer in this business.
The island-state flag carrier, Singapore Airlines Ltd has announced on Wednesday that it would establish a budget airline catering to cost-conscious travellers on longer-distance routes.
The new carrier will likely compete with Jetstar Airways, the low-cost unit of Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd, and AirAsiaX, the longer-haul unit of Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd, for routes beyond the reach of traditional low-cost airlines that don't fly for more than five hours.
"If the Malaysian government does not give the route rights, Singapore will gain advantage in building a hub because now they have a long haul (budget) airline and a short haul airline," said Fernandes, who is the Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia and founder of AirAsia X.
Hence, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and the Ministry of Transport must provide the necessary support for AirAsia X to grow and not to lose out, he told reporters at the inaugural Malaysia Investor Relation Awards 2011 ceremony here Thursday.
Currently AirAsia X, the country's first long haul budget carrier is awaiting government approval for its new routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Osaka and Jeddah.
Datuk Seri Dr Tony Fernandes CEO of Air Asia has warned that with Singapore Airlines jumping into the long-haul budget carrier business, holding back routes for AirAsia X will only put the country at a disadvantage, despite Malaysia being the pioneer in this business.
The island-state flag carrier, Singapore Airlines Ltd has announced on Wednesday that it would establish a budget airline catering to cost-conscious travellers on longer-distance routes.
The new carrier will likely compete with Jetstar Airways, the low-cost unit of Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd, and AirAsiaX, the longer-haul unit of Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd, for routes beyond the reach of traditional low-cost airlines that don't fly for more than five hours.
"If the Malaysian government does not give the route rights, Singapore will gain advantage in building a hub because now they have a long haul (budget) airline and a short haul airline," said Fernandes, who is the Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia and founder of AirAsia X.
Hence, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and the Ministry of Transport must provide the necessary support for AirAsia X to grow and not to lose out, he told reporters at the inaugural Malaysia Investor Relation Awards 2011 ceremony here Thursday.
Currently AirAsia X, the country's first long haul budget carrier is awaiting government approval for its new routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Osaka and Jeddah.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
ANOTHER LOW COST BY SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Singapore Airlines (SIA)a five-star premium airlines has surprised the aviation industry by announcing plans to set up a wholly-owned low-cost carrier that will ply medium and long-haul routes in a year's time.
SIA said it had intentions to set up a new no-frills low-fare airline operating wide-body aircraft which will be operated independently and managed separately from SIA.
The Singapore carrier like other premium airlines in the region is facing intense competition, including from budget carriers, and the move may be its way of positioning itself to take advantage of the growth in air passenger traffic expected in Asia in the coming years.
In a statement issued yesterday, SIA said the new airline was being established following extensive review and analysis and it would enable the SIA group to serve a largely untapped new market and cater to the growing demand among consumers for low-fare travel.
SIA is not new in the low-cost game as it already owns a third of Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways. It also owns regional carrier SilkAir. Tiger mostly flies within five hours of Singapore 's Changi airport while SilkAir flies to a slightly more upmarket set of regional destinations.
Analysts are saying the new airline will compete with Asia's largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia, and its long-haul low-cost sister airline, AirAsia X, besides Australia 's Qantas low-cost unit, JetstarAsia.
SIA said it had intentions to set up a new no-frills low-fare airline operating wide-body aircraft which will be operated independently and managed separately from SIA.
The Singapore carrier like other premium airlines in the region is facing intense competition, including from budget carriers, and the move may be its way of positioning itself to take advantage of the growth in air passenger traffic expected in Asia in the coming years.
In a statement issued yesterday, SIA said the new airline was being established following extensive review and analysis and it would enable the SIA group to serve a largely untapped new market and cater to the growing demand among consumers for low-fare travel.
SIA is not new in the low-cost game as it already owns a third of Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways. It also owns regional carrier SilkAir. Tiger mostly flies within five hours of Singapore 's Changi airport while SilkAir flies to a slightly more upmarket set of regional destinations.
Analysts are saying the new airline will compete with Asia's largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia, and its long-haul low-cost sister airline, AirAsia X, besides Australia 's Qantas low-cost unit, JetstarAsia.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Fresh funds to win major events
A fresh funding of RM10 million (US$3.26 million) to support international and homegrown sporting, arts and culture and lifestyle events has been set up.
This comes on top of its recent RM25 million funding to support business tourism, which saw 16 international association meetings approved for subsidies in the last five months.
The new directive to attract international events is part of the Prime Minister's Economic Transformation Programme and is under the charge of the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), which has set up an International Events Unit. The division currently has two staff, a general manager and a project manager, reporting to MyCEB's CEO Zulkefli Hj Sharif. Both are "events specialists".
Criteria for an event to receive support include the number of international participants it can draw, length of stay, the event's publicity value and opportunities to package and promote extended stays.
MyCEB is targeting to rope in two major events by 2015, and another three by 2020, Ho said.
Peter Brokenshire, general manager of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, said a firmer events calendar was an added bonus to draw meetings delegates and extend their length of stay. He said giving the charge to MyCEB would not dilute MyCEB's focus to increase business tourism, pointing to the two specialists appointed to identify and support events.
With MyCEB and subvention in place, along with the new bid for international events, Malaysia appears to be gaining traction in business tourism. Last year saw a two per cent increase in tourism business arrivals to 1.28 million.
Capping it all will be the launch of a separate business tourism branding, targeted for July. "Malaysia Truly Asia is well-known as a tourism brand. Business tourism needs to be treated differently. The brand needs to address the high-yield aspects of business tourism, for example," Ho said.
A new website, an association development programme and a CRM system are also being worked on.
This comes on top of its recent RM25 million funding to support business tourism, which saw 16 international association meetings approved for subsidies in the last five months.
The new directive to attract international events is part of the Prime Minister's Economic Transformation Programme and is under the charge of the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), which has set up an International Events Unit. The division currently has two staff, a general manager and a project manager, reporting to MyCEB's CEO Zulkefli Hj Sharif. Both are "events specialists".
Criteria for an event to receive support include the number of international participants it can draw, length of stay, the event's publicity value and opportunities to package and promote extended stays.
MyCEB is targeting to rope in two major events by 2015, and another three by 2020, Ho said.
Peter Brokenshire, general manager of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, said a firmer events calendar was an added bonus to draw meetings delegates and extend their length of stay. He said giving the charge to MyCEB would not dilute MyCEB's focus to increase business tourism, pointing to the two specialists appointed to identify and support events.
With MyCEB and subvention in place, along with the new bid for international events, Malaysia appears to be gaining traction in business tourism. Last year saw a two per cent increase in tourism business arrivals to 1.28 million.
Capping it all will be the launch of a separate business tourism branding, targeted for July. "Malaysia Truly Asia is well-known as a tourism brand. Business tourism needs to be treated differently. The brand needs to address the high-yield aspects of business tourism, for example," Ho said.
A new website, an association development programme and a CRM system are also being worked on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)