REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Thailand-based developer's foray into Langkawi signals a new trend

Bangkokpost.com, January 21, 2008

As he sees it, Langkawi's emergence is not a threat to Phuket and actually complements the Thai resort island. The trend, he believes, is to view the whole Thai-Malaysian-Singaporean peninsular area as the ''Caribbean of the East''.
''Stretching from the Andaman Sea is Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, the coastal area of Trang, then there is Langkawi, the coastal area of Penang all the way down to Singapore, then the northern islands of Indonesia,'' notes Mr Lai. ''From there it goes back up the Gulf of Thailand to Pattaya and from there a little bit east to Rayong and then Sihanoukville in Cambodia. This area is now being identified as the Caribbean of the East and I think this trend will become more and more obvious and significant.

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MALAYSIA - Malaysian tourism targeting big spenders next

eTN, Jan 08, 2008

Malaysian tourism has said it is seeking to increase the numbers for mid to long-haul visitors market by 20 percent during its extended Visit Malaysia Year campaign.
"They will in bring in more revenue as they would usually spend twice more than the average tourist," said Malaysian Deputy Tourism Minister Donald Lim, explaining Malaysian tourism's new marketing strategy, following encouraging visitor numbers during its Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign.
The tourism ministry has estimated that the campaign brought in 20.7 million tourists, bringing the total receipt to US$13.7 billion.

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MALAYSIA - Malacca highlights Dutch connection

eTN, Dec 19, 2007

The Malaysian state of Malacca has announced its latest tourism product, repackaging its Dutch historical link into a 2-kilometer "Dutch Heritage Trail."
The trail follows the Holland Days in Malacca event organized by the state tourism, culture and heritage department along with the Dutch embassy and other departments in September. "We hope more local tour companies will organize guided tours to boost the trail" said Rahman Karim, state tourism, culture and heritage head, at the launching ceremony.
Covering buildings, shipwrecks, gravestones, "golden era" as a shipping port of call for ships plying between the West and the East route.excavations and artifacts, tourists taking the 2-km trail will be taken on a tour of the Dutch influence during Malacca's" golden era" as a shipping port of call for ships plying between the West and the East route.

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MALAYSIA - Langkawi cashes in

TTGasia.com, Dec 14 - 20, 2007

THE tourism industry in Langkawi is pinning its hopes on its new Geopark status to capture the imagination of leisure and meetings and incentives travellers seeking a unique beach destination in South-east Asia.The trade is banking on more tourist traffic coming from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur in 2008 with the deregulation of Singapore-Kuala Lumpur flights to allow low-cost carriers to ply the route. The anticipated boost in traffic is expected to spill over from the Malaysian capital to secondary destinations.In 2008, all infrastructure and tourism projects are directed towards enhancing and promoting the Langkawi Geopark. An important project on Tuba Island is the provision of access and a viewing gallery at Wang Buluh Cave. “The people of Tuba Island are getting excited about the projects coming into their backyard, including a coastal rural road that would provide a scenic drive and also potentially attract fishing enthusiasts,” Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) general manager, Datuk Kamarulzaman Abdul Ghani, said.

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MALAYSIA - Malaysia, Iran venture

TTGasia.com, Dec 14 - 20, 2007

Tourism stakeholders in Malaysia and Iran want to set up a joint committee to promote tourism related activities between the two countries and curb illegal practices among agents. Bumiputra Travel Agents Association president, Mr Syed Razif Al Yahya, and 14 other travel agents from his association met with Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization general-director of Foreign Tourism Development, Mr Mohammad Ali Pakseresht, early last month in Tehran, where the latter had, in principle, agreed to a joint committee. Mr Syed Razif said he would meet Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor this week, to moot the idea of having tourism ministry officers in the committee to give it effective enforcement powers to curb bad practices among travel agents in Malaysia.

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AVIATION - Get ready for cheap S’pore-KL flights

Traveldailyasia.com, 11/26/2007

Finally, the cost of air travel between the capitals of Singapore and Malaysia are to become more affordable – and reasonable – as low-cost carriers were given the green light to launch limited flights on the route. From February 1 next year, the 30-year monopoly on the route held by the national carriers of both countries - Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines – end.
LCCs would be allowed to operate four flights daily - two from each side – initially but by December 1 next year, there will be full liberalisation, allowing airlines to operate as many services as they want. “It will also bring both countries closer to ASEAN’s goal to remove all restrictions on passenger flights between ASEAN capitals by December 2008,” a statement from Singapore’s transport ministry said at the end of two-day talks between air transport officials from both sides.

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MALAYSIA - Penang’s polluted beaches keeping tourists away

The star.com.my, November 14, 2007

Polluted beaches is the main reason why tourists from Europe and Australia are avoiding the state in favour of Bali and Phuket.
State Tourism Development Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said he was informed of the matter by the management of Malaysia Airlines during a meeting on Monday.
“The number of tourists from these regions has been steadily declining over the past decade.
“Tourists come to the state for the surf and sand but they usually return home disappointed.
“We are even losing out domestically to Pangkor and Langkawi,” he told reporters after a press conference on the Penang Career and Entrepreneur Expo 2007 yesterday.
He said RM10mil had been allocated for the rehabilitation of Batu Ferringhi.

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MALAYSIA - medical tourism on upward trend

Theedgedaily.com, 19-11-2007

“SJMC today receives referrals from the UK on a weekly basis. The momentum is starting,” Thomas said.
“Prior to (1985), people had to go to the UK or Australia for specialised care. Today, there is little reason to refer a patient outside of Malaysia and quite the opposite, people are being referred to Malaysia for nearly every possible procedure needed,” Thomas said.
OBG said Asia attracted over 1.3 million visitors annually for medical tourism and was expected to generate more than US$4 billion (RM13.27 billion) a year in revenues by 2012. “Within five years, Malaysia is expected to bring in US$590 million per annum in medical tourism receipts,” it said.
OBG said while Malaysia was still catching up with countries such as Singapore, Thailand and India, the authorities believed Malaysia could provide state-of-the-art facilities at affordable prices to compete in this growing field.

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MALAYSIA - Sustainable tourism: Malaysia 'buys' home for landing turtles

eTN, 19 Nov 2007

The Malaysian government, through its Fisheries Department, has purchased an island that will be turned into a home and sanctuary for landing turtles, which have long been an attraction for tourists, in what is believed to be the largest nestling population in Malaysia. Costing an estimated US$2.5 million, the 2.8ha Upeh island, off the coast of Malacca together with the beaches along the mainland had long been the favorite landing sites in Malaysia for the hawksbill turtle.

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AVIATION - Tourism Players Want A Say In BIMP-EAGA Air Links

Bernama.com.my, Nov 3 2007

Tourism players want their input considered when airlines initiate air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).The call follows the disclosure that a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, FireFly, is considering serving the sub-region.Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Wee Hong Seng said Saturday such feedback would help create a win-win situation for the airline industry as well as the BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the four participating countries."We need to promote two-way traffic for both inbound and outbound tourists, otherwise the load may not be enough for the airlines to be viable in this sub region," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Value Chain Tourism Forum held in conjunction with the Third BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange 2007 here.

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AVIATION - Tourism Players Want A Say In BIMP-EAGA Air Links

Bernama.com.my, Nov 3 2007

Tourism players want their input considered when airlines initiate air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).The call follows the disclosure that a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, FireFly, is considering serving the sub-region.Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Wee Hong Seng said Saturday such feedback would help create a win-win situation for the airline industry as well as the BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the four participating countries."We need to promote two-way traffic for both inbound and outbound tourists, otherwise the load may not be enough for the airlines to be viable in this sub region," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Value Chain Tourism Forum held in conjunction with the Third BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange 2007 here.

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AVIATION - A deregulated Singapore-Malaysia skies opens fierce debate

TTGasia.com, Nov 2 - 8, 2007

Malaysian outbound agents find the prospects of dirt-cheap air fares between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (KL) scary, while Singapore agents who work with budget carriers cannot wait for them to crack the route finally.Twice daily services by AirAsia and a Singapore low-cost carrier (LCC) on the Singapore-KL route could begin as early as December if Singapore agrees. Malaysia’s government gave its in-principle nod last week.This route has been monopolised by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysia Airlines (MAS), resulting in one of, if not the highest, fares in the region in relation to distance flown. Its deregulation is a real breakthrough and will have various implications for various sectors.Malaysian outbound agents argue business at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will suffer, likewise, tourism in Johor, Malaysia’s southern gateway.

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MALAYSIA - The death of Malaysia’s travel agencies?

eTN, 18 October 2007

Many mostly locally-owned travel agencies in Malaysia face imminent "closure of business" due to shifting business practices including the move by airlines to implement zero commission and the onslaught of online travel bookings.Travel agents, almost entirely dependent on businesses conducted on contract basis with government departments and entities for the majority of their ticket sales, will face a "big hole" in their income source with the decision by national carrier Malaysia Airlines to migrate towards zero commission.

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MALAYSIA - Northern Malaysia’s major plans

Asia Property Report - September 19 2007

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, announced on July 30 the government’s plan to develop the country’s northern region. Dubbed the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the plan will introduce a slew of projects to spur growth and boost income levels in the states of Perlis, Kedah and northern Perak. Penang is also included in the masterplan and is expected to play a major role as a logistics and transportation hub and a gateway to the region.
The government hopes to attract up to RM177 billion (about US$50 billion) in investment over 18 years, with two-thirds of it coming from the private sector, according to government estimates. Sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and logistics will be the major beneficiaries of the NCER project.

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MALAYSIA - PGCC to create 40,000 jobs

The egde daily, 13-09-2007

PENANG: The Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) will give Penang a major boost in economic development, particularly the tourism sector, and is expected to create some 40,000 jobs.
The PGCC will initially generate 5,000 jobs in the construction industry, and when completed, will create over 20,000 jobs in the retail industry, 10,000 office jobs, 2,000 jobs in the service and health care industry, 1,000 in the convention centre and 4,000 in the hotel industry.
The project, with a gross development value (GDV) of over RM20 billion, is being developed by Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Equine Capital Bhd over the next 18 to 20 years.
The PGCC, to be developed under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), will comprise two towers, a metropolitan park, the Penang Performing Arts Centre, high-end retail outlets, a convention centre and condominiums.

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MALAYSIA - New economic zone to focus on tourism

ttnworldwide.com, sept 2007

A newly announced economic development zone in northern peninsular Malaysia will give a fillip to the tourism industry in the northern states, eTN reported.
The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) blueprint was announced last week and will focus on tourism, in addition to diversifying the area into a more modern manufacturing, agricultural, services and logistics center.A combined government and private sector initiative, the plan aims to boost the economy and raise income levels in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak in peninsular Malaysia. Covering a span of 18 years, the $51 billion masterplan aims to create half a million jobs by 2012, rising to one million by 2018.

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MALAYSIA - Middle East investment boost for IDR

thestar.com.my, August 28, 2007

Investors from the Middle East are expected to ink an agreement tomorrow to commit billions of ringgit into the Iskandar Development Region, making them the pioneer investors.
Malaysia’s reputation as a destination for foreign investment will certainly be burnished with the news that these Middle Eastern investors would be making a significant investment in the project.
Government officials are tight-lipped about the matter but several analysts believe that the initial investment could be more than RM3bil. This investment will kick-start the Iskandar project, an ambitious plan to develop a large swathe of south Johor into a global city.

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MALAYSIA - launches massive northern development plan

Channelnewsasia.com, 30 July 2007

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday launched a 51-billion-dollar development masterplan to spur economic growth and reduce poverty in northern Peninsula Malaysia. The Northern Corridor Economic Region (Northern Corridor) is a government initiative to boost the economy and raise income levels in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak over 18 years. "Projects and programmes to enhance human capital, infrastructure, and competitiveness in the region will involve about 177 billion ringgit public and private sector investments from 2007 to 2025," a government statement said.
"The focus will be to turn the Northern Corridor into a modern food zone of Malaysia, increase the value-add in the manufacturing sector and strengthen tourism," it said.

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MALAYSIA - Reinventing and boosting tourism in the northern region

The edge daily, 25-07-2007

Over the years, tourism remains one of the healthiest sectors in the country due to our unique cultural ‘melting pot’ characteristic. Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism indicate that Malaysia received RM36.27 billion in tourist receipts last year, up 13.5% from RM31.95 billion in 2005.
Although two major tourist spots, Penang and Langkawi, are located within the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the four states — Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak — collectively capture only 4.8 million visitors per annum, while average spending per tourist in the NCER stands at RM1,890, compared to the national average of RM2,066.
This is surprising, as the two island resorts have always been promoted heavily on the national and international scale. However, this is possibly caused by a shorter average length of stay and cheaper prices as compared to other parts of Malaysia and especially, East Malaysia.

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SABAH - steers harder

TTGmice.com, June 2007

Having experienced a slight drop in MICE events from 536 in 2005 to 451 last year, the Sabah Tourism Board is stepping up measures to bring up the numbers again.The fall in numbers was due in part to a reduction in the number of flights. Since May 15, 2006, the number of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flights between Tokyo, one of the emerging source markets, and Sabah’s state capital of Kota Kinabalu, fell from thrice- to twice-weekly. As such, the board plans to focus on Asian markets with direct air links to Kota Kinabalu this year.

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