Exorbitant RM1000 Rates in Terengganu Hotels?

The Tourism Ministry is investigating claims that some hotels in Kuala Terengganu are charging exorbitant rates, some as high as RM1,000 a night, during the by-election, said its minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“I have brought this matter up to the Cabinet. There are claims that one company was snapping up all the rooms and selling them to customers at a much higher price.

“We have received many complaints, including claims of block bookings, and rooms at RM1,000 a night and rental homes at RM2,000 night,” she told the Malaysian media yesterday at the sidelines of the Asean Tourism Forum here.

The high rates, she said, would make it difficult or even offend tourists who wanted to make hotel bookings in Kuala Terengganu.

“I have asked Tourism Malaysia Terengganu to investigate. Our rates are normally very low and cannot be hiked up just like that,” she added.

Kuala Terengganu, she said, had big tourism potential and Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh could further propel it to greater heights if he won the coming by-election.

“Barisan Nasional has brought many changes to Kuala Terengganu compared to PAS, especially in tourism. I hope voters choose Wan Ahmad Farid and not disrupt the stability they are currently enjoying,” she added.

The parliamentary seat was previously held by Barisan Nasional MP and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail, who died in November.

After the tourism ministers’ meeting on Thursday, Azalina said Asean members had agreed to co-operate to promote the region as a one-stop tourist destination in an effort to cushion the impact of the global financial crisis.

More focus would also be given to youth tourism, she said.

The eight-day forum aims to increase awareness of Asean travel destinations while discussing current challenges, especially the economic crisis.

The year 2009-2010 will be named Youth Travellers Year in Asean, in an effort to tap into the potential market of young tourists, Azalina said.

The ministers also agreed to give a Green Award next year to hotels that practise environment-friendly and sustainable policies.

On youth tourism, Azalina said Malaysia and Singapore had agreed last year for Singaporean students to come to Malaysia as part of their learning experience.

She said about 1,000 Malaysian schools were also part of a student tourism club programme to help promote the tourism industry.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

Residents unhappy with proposed mini theme park nearby their homes in Melaka

Residents at the Tun Sri Lanang Flats in Pengkalan Rama here are unhappy over the proposed construction of a mini theme park just several metres away from their homes.

Located next to the Malacca River, the theme park is to include a monorail train, a roller-coaster and glider that would be built less than 10 metres away from two blocks of the five-storey flats housing 110 families.

The other shocking information was the fact that the Malacca History City Council had acquired some 668 square metres of the flat’s common area for the proposed project without even calling the residents for a dialogue.

Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him, who visited the site early last week, said that residents were unhappy that they were not informed of the project earlier although the plans were initiated late last year.

Inconvenient: Residents at the Tun Sri Lanang Flat are upset that the project is located less than 10m away from their homes.

“We are considering looking at legal options to see if the council is allowed to acquire private property for a project that is not entirely beneficial to the general public but more for tourism purposes,” he said in an interview.

He added that the city council could have at least consulted the residents to get their feedback before going ahead with the acquisition.

Besides sending the city council a letter of protest signed by the residents, Sim said that he would try to arrange a meeting between the flat dwellers and the authorities.

A resident who wanted to be known as Chang said : “I am not against the project but only its location because it is so close to our homes. I am worried of the noise pollution and the possibility of mishap occurring,”

Meanwhile, when contacted, city council Mayor Yusof Jantan confirmed that the proposed project was part of the council’s plant to further develop the Malacca River as a tourist attraction.

“It’s is a proposal by the state which is being undertaken by the council.

“We had acquired only what was necessary in October last year after an agreement from the landowners,” he said,

He admitted that there would be slight inconvenience during initial construction work, adding that the project was scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

Firefly now flies to Kerteh

Budget airline Firefly will now fly to Kerteh in Terengganu twice daily from Subang.

Firefly managing director Eddy Leong said in a statement that the route was the company’s way of committing itself to providing alternative and affordable travel for all Malaysians.

“In addition, the Kerteh route will add convenience to leisure travellers. Well known tourism spots such as Kijal and Cherating are just a few minutes drive from Kerteh.”

Leong said Kerteh would be the airline’s second destination in Terengganu after the state capital.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

Malaysia a role model in campaign

Malaysia’s tourism advertising and promotions are being emulated by other Asean countries, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She said that they considered Malaysia a frontrunner in forging ties with West Asian countries, India and China in the last few years.

“They have always looked up to us because of our ability in tapping new markets. We are one step ahead of them,” she told a press conference held by Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with the Vietnam Exhibition Fair here yesterday.

Asked if the new interest shown by the Asean countries would affect tourist arrivals from the new market in Malaysia, she said: “Sharing of tourists is the way forward. After travelling for 14 hours to Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia, I do not think they will head home without visiting the neighbouring countries.”

Azalina said Asean countries could collaborate by choosing neighbouring countries as the second, third or fourth destinations in the tour packages.

The collaboration was discussed at the 12th Asean Tourism Ministers Meeting here, she said

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

2008 Tourism Stats

Malaysia saw a 5.1 per cent increase in tourist arrivals last year despite the global economic challenges. Tourist arrivals numbered 22.052 million, compared with 20.972 million in 2007. Attributing it to her ministry's intense promotional efforts, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said long-haul markets showed the highest percentage increase.

The number of tourists from Canada grew by 65.6 per cent, followed by those from the Netherlands (63.3 per cent), Russia (56 per cent), France (44.4 per cent), Norway (43.9 per cent ) and Germany (41.9 per cent).

Singapore maintained its position as the largest tourist generating market last year, with some 11 million Singaporeans visiting the country.

Speaking at a press conference at the Vietnam Exhibition Fair Centre here, Azalina said the country's approach to promoting the tourism industry had become a point of reference for other Asean countries.
Malaysia was also being viewed as the front-runner for new markets such as the Middle East, India and China.

"They have always looked up to us because of our ability to tap new markets.

"We are one step ahead of them (Asean member countries)."

She also said the collaboration among member countries to promote tourism in the region was discussed widely during the Asean Tourism Forum held here.

"Asean countries could collaborate by choosing neighbouring countries as the second, third or fourth destinations in tour packages," she added.

Azalina said she would be appealing to the Finance Ministry to restore its advertising and promotion budget, which was cut by 10 per cent for this year.

"If we want more people to visit Malaysia, we need to carry out more aggressive campaigns."

Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

FIRE at Low Cost Carrier Terminal - flights delayed

Passengers gather outside the LCCT Departure Hall on Friday after it was declared fully operational again about 12.30pm following a fire in the storeroom of a duty free shop.

Budget airport terminal LCCT is now fully operational.

Budget airline Air Asia’s head Datuk Tony Fernandes said that no flights were cancelled due to fire at the LCCT Friday morning but more than 20 flights would be delayed.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd Senior General Manager Datuk Azmi Murad said that even when the fire was being put out, only check-ins had been briefly halted.

He said the fire started in the storeroom of a duty free shop in the current international departure hall.

“The small fire started at about 11.15am and was caused by a spark from some of the ongoing works near there landing on a box in the storeroom.”

Azmi said it was normal procedure in the event of a fire to evacuate passengers from the airport and stop check-ins.

“The terminal was not closed. There was a lot of smoke but it was a small fire that was put out immediately,” he said, adding that operations fully resumed at 12.30pm.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

Now Air Asia wants their own Airport

Low cost carrier AirAsia will move to its own US$460 million airport outside Kuala Lumpur, and abandon its overcrowded terminal next to the main KLIA international airport.

AFP said the move has thrown into doubt the national airport operator's plans to build a new Low Cost Carrier Terminal next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), to replace the existing facility that opened in 2006.

“The new airport, which will be known as KLIA East, will provide more capacity for aircraft and passengers, and enable us to bring down fares,” Fernandes said, indicating that costs could be lowered by 30 per cent.

Fernandes rejected criticism that KLIA has more than enough capacity to handle AirAsia's growth plans

“I think we know what we need, we are not silly," he said. "There is nothing here (at the old terminal) to add value to our passengers. Allow us to take our destiny in our own hands.”

Fernandes said the new airport would be exclusively for AirAsia, and designed to handle up to 30 million passengers annually. Construction could begin within six months with a completion date of March 2011.

The airport would be linked by new train and road links, and be about 30 minutes' drive from the city centre - less than the journey to KLIA.

Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby had said it has won government approval to begin the project, which is to be the centrepiece of its new development at Labu in Negri Sembilan state.

“We have a fantastic partner, it will enhance tourism. We will also have a theme park, it will be like Orlando airport where Disneyland is located,” Fernandes said.




Source : TravelMole
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]