Hotel operators which have yet to obtain halal certificates from the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) have been urged to get their certifications to ensure that the food and drinks they served not only during Ramadan are halal.
Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha said the department had simplified the certification process and it can now be obtained within a day.
"We have sent out letters to them and about 80 per cent of hotels in the Federal Territories have obtained their certifications.
"There are also special officers to process the certifications should an urgent approval is needed," he said.
He added that hotel operators who failed to display the halal certificate can be fined under the Trade Descriptions Act 1972.
JAKIM will carry out operations from time to time and will also act based on complaints from the public
NO LIES... JUST THE FACTS!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
ANOTHER EAGA ROUND
Although the Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri is confident that the ongoing Transport Ministers meeting of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Filipina-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), at Cagayan De Oro in the Philippines, will result in some form of regional cooperation in the area of transportation and communications the industry feel that it would result in nothing.
Just as in the tourism sector, nothing material has resulted from th various meetings so far.
However he said cooperation in the sector would be necessary and timely as it would be in line with present efforts to create an Asean community by 2015.
"I hope the meeting today will raise the level of cooperation in the transportation and communication sector as it would be beneficial for member nations of BIMP EAGA," he added.
Abdul Rahim said the growth triangle could become a driving force to establish cooperation and facilitating the venture into the various economic areas of BIMP EAGA which has a market potential of 60 million people where transportation and communications were the major drivers.
Abdul Rahim, who is leading the Malaysian delegation to the meeting, said that Malaysia would also give its commitment towards making a success of the group's plans including its call to Malaysia Airlines' subsidiary, MASwings to expand its services to several destinations in BIMP-EAGA.
These services would provide a convenient way to facilitate trade and tourism in the region, he said.
Just as in the tourism sector, nothing material has resulted from th various meetings so far.
However he said cooperation in the sector would be necessary and timely as it would be in line with present efforts to create an Asean community by 2015.
"I hope the meeting today will raise the level of cooperation in the transportation and communication sector as it would be beneficial for member nations of BIMP EAGA," he added.
Abdul Rahim said the growth triangle could become a driving force to establish cooperation and facilitating the venture into the various economic areas of BIMP EAGA which has a market potential of 60 million people where transportation and communications were the major drivers.
Abdul Rahim, who is leading the Malaysian delegation to the meeting, said that Malaysia would also give its commitment towards making a success of the group's plans including its call to Malaysia Airlines' subsidiary, MASwings to expand its services to several destinations in BIMP-EAGA.
These services would provide a convenient way to facilitate trade and tourism in the region, he said.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Calls For Review Of New Zoning Policy For Tourist Guides
There should not be such a policy in the first place. However Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has called for a review of the federal Tourism Ministry's new zoning policy, saying it affects the livelihood of blue badge or seasoned tourist guides in Sabah.
He said the ministry had also expressed its support to the Sabah Tourist Guides Association's (STGA) move in bringing up the matter for consideration of the relevant authority at the federal level. Masidi further requested the Tourism Ministry for a thorough study on the practicality of the policy, taking into consideration the unique situation of Sabah as one of the world class eco-tourism destinations.
"If tourist guides with blue badges can only guide or are limited to picking up tourists to and from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and hotels (which is less than five kilometres away)...how do they survive? Sabah is basically promoting eco-tourism, and so realistically, a tourist guide could conduct tours all over the state; that's why I am asking them to visit Sabah or the ground and consider their grouses," he told reporters after attending Yayasan Sabah College convocation ceremony at Tun Raffae Auditorium in Likas, here Thursday.
Masidi was asked to comment on yesterday's statement by STGA honorary disciplinary officer Lillian Agama that the new zoning policy, implemented by the Tourism Ministry, has direly impacted the livelihood of blue badge tourist guides in Sabah. Lillian was quoted as saying that they were no longer allowed to take the guests out of the city and this has led the 300-odd blue badge guides to consider surrendering their badges in protest of the new policy, which they felt was highly restrictive and impractical in Sabah.
In the past, licensed tourist guides after completing their course, were issued a yellow badge for a two-year probationary period. After this they were required to undergo a confirmation examination to qualify for the blue badge, which enabled them to conduct tours all over the state, even in Peninsular Malaysia. However, few years back, the Tourism Ministry introduced the green badge to legalise mountain guides who took tourists on nature tours.
Meanwhile, Masidi said if the appeal for a review of the policy failed, his ministry would study those provisions of the law or ordinance which are related to the guides, to help the affected Sabah tourist guides.
Even tour guides are treated like taxi cabs, you can only take passengers from point A to be B etc. Are we barking at the wrong tree.
He said the ministry had also expressed its support to the Sabah Tourist Guides Association's (STGA) move in bringing up the matter for consideration of the relevant authority at the federal level. Masidi further requested the Tourism Ministry for a thorough study on the practicality of the policy, taking into consideration the unique situation of Sabah as one of the world class eco-tourism destinations.
"If tourist guides with blue badges can only guide or are limited to picking up tourists to and from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and hotels (which is less than five kilometres away)...how do they survive? Sabah is basically promoting eco-tourism, and so realistically, a tourist guide could conduct tours all over the state; that's why I am asking them to visit Sabah or the ground and consider their grouses," he told reporters after attending Yayasan Sabah College convocation ceremony at Tun Raffae Auditorium in Likas, here Thursday.
Masidi was asked to comment on yesterday's statement by STGA honorary disciplinary officer Lillian Agama that the new zoning policy, implemented by the Tourism Ministry, has direly impacted the livelihood of blue badge tourist guides in Sabah. Lillian was quoted as saying that they were no longer allowed to take the guests out of the city and this has led the 300-odd blue badge guides to consider surrendering their badges in protest of the new policy, which they felt was highly restrictive and impractical in Sabah.
In the past, licensed tourist guides after completing their course, were issued a yellow badge for a two-year probationary period. After this they were required to undergo a confirmation examination to qualify for the blue badge, which enabled them to conduct tours all over the state, even in Peninsular Malaysia. However, few years back, the Tourism Ministry introduced the green badge to legalise mountain guides who took tourists on nature tours.
Meanwhile, Masidi said if the appeal for a review of the policy failed, his ministry would study those provisions of the law or ordinance which are related to the guides, to help the affected Sabah tourist guides.
Even tour guides are treated like taxi cabs, you can only take passengers from point A to be B etc. Are we barking at the wrong tree.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
TO ATTRACT MORE HIGH YIELD BUSINESS TRAVELLERS
Malaysia wants to attract more high yield international business travellers to the country as they spent three times more than leisure tourists, says Zulkefli Hj Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).
In a media briefing recently, Zulkefli said international business tourism visitors spent an average of RM7,418 per trip in Malaysia compared with RM2,257 for leisure visitors.
International business travellers also spent an average of RM1,268 per day compared with RM337 for other travellers.
MyCEB was established by the Ministry of Tourism in 2009 to further strengthen Malaysia's business tourism brand and position for the international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) market.
Zulkefli said 1,278,014 international business travellers visited Malaysia in 2010, an increase of two per cent from 2009.
They were estimated to have spent RM10.6 billion in 2010 and the economic impact value of their spending was estimated at RM17.6 billion, he said.
Given that the average length of international conventions is 3.9 days, the length of stay for international business tourism visitors including pre- and post-touring is 5.85 days.
An estimated 46 per cent of international delegates extend their stay for pre and post travel providing benefits to regional communities and that an estimated 25 per cent of all international participants have an accompanying partner or spouse with them.
Last year, Malaysia leapt three notches to 28th position in the latest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) country rankings and the government is pushing for the country to be one of the top five destinations in the world by 2020.
In 2010, MyCEB supported 28 convention bids representing 38,500 delegates and an economic value of RM438 million. It also assisted 124 meetings and conventions, 16 exhibitions and 49 corporate incentive groups, which contributed an estimated economic impact of RM775 million to the country.
Zulkefli said the latest ICCA rankings reflected growth by Malaysia's association meetings business amidst competition from other countries.
Key developments include the expansion of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre by an additional 10,000 sq metres by end-2013, the Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre by 2014 and the proposed development of the MATRADE Centre (93,000 sq metres) by 2014.
Other new infrastructure to support the growing industry include the upcoming Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the integrated urban mass rapid transit system and the construction of a series of pedestrian walkways throughout the capital city as part of the Greater Kuala Lumpur plan.
In a media briefing recently, Zulkefli said international business tourism visitors spent an average of RM7,418 per trip in Malaysia compared with RM2,257 for leisure visitors.
International business travellers also spent an average of RM1,268 per day compared with RM337 for other travellers.
MyCEB was established by the Ministry of Tourism in 2009 to further strengthen Malaysia's business tourism brand and position for the international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) market.
Zulkefli said 1,278,014 international business travellers visited Malaysia in 2010, an increase of two per cent from 2009.
They were estimated to have spent RM10.6 billion in 2010 and the economic impact value of their spending was estimated at RM17.6 billion, he said.
Given that the average length of international conventions is 3.9 days, the length of stay for international business tourism visitors including pre- and post-touring is 5.85 days.
An estimated 46 per cent of international delegates extend their stay for pre and post travel providing benefits to regional communities and that an estimated 25 per cent of all international participants have an accompanying partner or spouse with them.
Last year, Malaysia leapt three notches to 28th position in the latest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) country rankings and the government is pushing for the country to be one of the top five destinations in the world by 2020.
In 2010, MyCEB supported 28 convention bids representing 38,500 delegates and an economic value of RM438 million. It also assisted 124 meetings and conventions, 16 exhibitions and 49 corporate incentive groups, which contributed an estimated economic impact of RM775 million to the country.
Zulkefli said the latest ICCA rankings reflected growth by Malaysia's association meetings business amidst competition from other countries.
Key developments include the expansion of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre by an additional 10,000 sq metres by end-2013, the Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre by 2014 and the proposed development of the MATRADE Centre (93,000 sq metres) by 2014.
Other new infrastructure to support the growing industry include the upcoming Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the integrated urban mass rapid transit system and the construction of a series of pedestrian walkways throughout the capital city as part of the Greater Kuala Lumpur plan.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
MALAYSIAN HOTELS IN EUROPE TO PROMOTE MALAYSIA
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board or Tourism Malaysia is mobilising representatives of Malaysian hotels operating in Europe to promote Malaysia as an attractive destination. Last week, Tourism Malaysia organised a successful meeting with 16 representatives of Malaysian hotels in Europe.
Syed Yahya Syed Othman, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Frankfurt, told Bernama that he was "extremely pleased" with the response from the representatives.
"We will organise roadshows in Germany this October. Most of the hotel representatives are in Germany, the biggest source of tourism traffic in continental Europe, though there were also others from other European countries. I am going to organise a meeting for the hotel representatives with tour operators," Syed Yahya added.
Tourism Malaysia has also invited representatives to partner hotels to organise familiarisation tours for journalists to participate in the International Press Treasure Hunt in Malaysia. Syed Yahya also said his office was launching a three-month "tactical campaign" in conjunction with Singapore Airlines in Switzerland.
"This will also attract Swiss tourists to visit Malaysia via Singapore," he said adding that in September, a similar campaign would be held in Germany with the collaboration of Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines," he added.
Another trend in the tourism field is the growing number of tourists interested in camping and caravan tourism, a trend that could benefit Malaysia if it uses this trend to its advantage by offering similar facilities and effectively highlighting them in major foreign markets. Oliver Waidelich, Managing Director, German Association for the Caravanning Industry, said:"CMT was an attractive showcase for the industry, which created desire for mobile leisure time and holidays with its displays.
Both suppliers and exhibitors of accessories and camp sites are delighted with the high standard of visitors," he added.
Syed Yahya said Malaysia would organise a big gala dinner for the tourism trade, accompanied by entertainment to be provided by a dance troupe from Malaysia and Malaysian culinary specialties that will be prepared by Malaysian chefs. "We will also organise a travel mart which will bring Malaysian tour operators and hoteliers together with their counterparts from Germany and neighbouring European countries," he said, emphasising that this was the most important consumer tourism show in Europe.
He also said the show afforded good opportunities for Malaysian tour operators, hoteliers and others to showcase their services at a venue that would attract a wide spectrum of buyers from the travel and tourism field.
Syed Yahya Syed Othman, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Frankfurt, told Bernama that he was "extremely pleased" with the response from the representatives.
"We will organise roadshows in Germany this October. Most of the hotel representatives are in Germany, the biggest source of tourism traffic in continental Europe, though there were also others from other European countries. I am going to organise a meeting for the hotel representatives with tour operators," Syed Yahya added.
Tourism Malaysia has also invited representatives to partner hotels to organise familiarisation tours for journalists to participate in the International Press Treasure Hunt in Malaysia. Syed Yahya also said his office was launching a three-month "tactical campaign" in conjunction with Singapore Airlines in Switzerland.
"This will also attract Swiss tourists to visit Malaysia via Singapore," he said adding that in September, a similar campaign would be held in Germany with the collaboration of Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines," he added.
Another trend in the tourism field is the growing number of tourists interested in camping and caravan tourism, a trend that could benefit Malaysia if it uses this trend to its advantage by offering similar facilities and effectively highlighting them in major foreign markets. Oliver Waidelich, Managing Director, German Association for the Caravanning Industry, said:"CMT was an attractive showcase for the industry, which created desire for mobile leisure time and holidays with its displays.
Both suppliers and exhibitors of accessories and camp sites are delighted with the high standard of visitors," he added.
Syed Yahya said Malaysia would organise a big gala dinner for the tourism trade, accompanied by entertainment to be provided by a dance troupe from Malaysia and Malaysian culinary specialties that will be prepared by Malaysian chefs. "We will also organise a travel mart which will bring Malaysian tour operators and hoteliers together with their counterparts from Germany and neighbouring European countries," he said, emphasising that this was the most important consumer tourism show in Europe.
He also said the show afforded good opportunities for Malaysian tour operators, hoteliers and others to showcase their services at a venue that would attract a wide spectrum of buyers from the travel and tourism field.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)