Friday, November 23, 2007

Association:Offer new air route

Friday November 23, 2007

A LANGKAWI-ALOR STAR air route should be introduced to give visitors a better transportation option in view of Visit Kedah Year next year, according to Matta's Kedah chapter.

Its vice chairman A. Gunasagaran said AirAsia or Firefly could service the untapped air route.

“I hope the authorities will look into this option,” he said in response to a recent announcement that the return ferry fare would be increased by RM10 (for Langkawi-Kuala Kedah route) and RM6 (for Langkawi-Kuala Perlis route) effective Dec 1.

The return ticket will cost RM46 for Kuala Kedah-Langkawi route (from RM36 currently) and RM36 for Kuala Perlis-Langkawi route (from RM30).

Gunasagaran said AirAsia and Firefly could offer cheaper fares during promotions.

“If we have other transport options between the island and mainland, it will break the ferry operators’ monopoly,” he said.

Gunasagaran said tourism players were disappointed with the increase in ferry fare, as it would adversely affect domestic tourist arrivals in the long run.

He said it would be better for the Kedah or Perlis government to run the ferry services.

Source: The Star

AirAsia Keen To Operate From Subang Airport

November 22, 2007 19:18 PM

SEPANG, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- AirAsia Bhd is keen to operate from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport at Subang, a move that it says will enhance business and make the airport more competitive regionally.

AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said today the company will do the necessary to help develop Subang airport.

It will be a good idea for the government to allow AirAsia to operate from Subang Airport, he told reporters after the company's annual general meeting here.

AirAsia had, among others, suggested that it too be allowed to operate from Subang just like community airline FireFly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

Yesterday, Air Asia X chairman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan was reported as saying that Malaysia needs a larger low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) soon to accommodate the increasing passenger volume if it wants to become the regional hub for low-cost travel.

Fernandes said the Subang airport operations, apart from attracting more foreign investors to locate their businesses in Malaysia due to easier access to the Federal Capital, will also make it easier for foreigners to come here for medical, education and tourism reasons.

"Let's make Kuala Lumpur a relevant hub. If we are good and become a strong aviation player, there are so many aspects we can cater for, especially in the medical, tourism and education industries," he added.

"It is a fantastic cause-and-effect business. If we have our own airport close to town, it will attract more foreign investors and more visitors to Malaysia."

Fernandes also said that if AirAsia is allowed to operate from Subang Airport, the LCCT at Sepang can be converted into a cargo terminal.

Source: BERNAMA

Malaysia's Tourism Revenue Expected To Hit RM44.5 Billion This Year

November 22, 2007 17:40 PM

Minister of Tourism Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (centre) at a press conference to announce the month-long sale which will be launched on Dec 1. Pix: Syed Muhammad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The tourist ringgit is expected to ring Malaysia's coffers to the tune of RM44.5 billion this year.

The figure, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, was based on the targeted 20.1 million tourist arrivals in the country.

He said it constituted an increase of RM8.3 billion compared with last year when the tourism revenue totalled RM36.2 billion.

"I'm confident of the total tourism revenue target, based on what tourists spent on shopping alone for the first six months of the year.

"Between January and June, tourists spent RM6.8 billion in tourist ringgit compared with RM3.6 billion for the same period last year, indicating an 86.3 per cent increase.

"I hope the Malaysia Year End Sale 2007 (M-YES) will help promote the country as a shopping haven," he told a news conference today to announce the month-long sale which will be launched on Dec 1.

The highlights of the sale include "It's a Girl Thing Shopping Fair" and a "Journey Through Time" watch and jewellery exhibition.

Tengku Adnan said: "We are looking at the various shopping trends of tourists to boost the sale.

"For example, tourists from India buy lots of electronic items while those from other countries spend on jewellery."

Singling out The Gardens and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the two newest shopping malls in the city, he said they could enhance a unique shopping experience for tourists.

He also said that a "Best Decorated Mall" contest with the theme "Christmas Magic" would be held on Dec 5-26 to encourage participating malls in the Klang Valley to create the best possible festive shopping ambience.

"We hope the shopping malls will put on a good show to lure more customers as we are working with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to encourage funding for window dressing, among others," he added.

On extending the "late night sales" past midnight for selected malls nationwide during the M-YES event, Tengku Adnan said it would depend on the response of shoppers.

Source: BERNAMA

Debate over Kelantan tourism promotion

Thursday November 22, 2007

TOURISM promotion was the focal point of yesterday's debate, with questions raised over whether efforts to lure tourists to Kelantan had been fruitful.

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah (PAS-Kota Lama) accused state tourism action council chairman Ab Aziz Derashid (BN-Kuala Balah) of looking down on the state by making remarks to the media that insulted the committee.

Aziz, he added, told the media that he (Anuar) had carried out tourism promotion in a poor country like Morocco which was not true.

“The promotion was carried out in Dubai (UAE) and United Kingdom,” Anuar told the House.

He added that the state government had taken steps to double activities to attract more tourists to visit Kelantan.

Such activities were carried out through the tourism information centre (TIC) in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2007.

The committee also allocated funds to enhance cultural shows at Gelanggang Seni and organise events that involved other countries such as kite-flying and cock fighting competitions.

He said tourist arrivals had increased and as of August this year, a total 4.2 million people visited the state, including 1.2 million foreign tourists. For the entire 2006, there were 3.146 million tourists.

Earlier, Aziz hit out at Anuar, claiming he was not well-trained in tourism and advised him to heed advice and constructive criticism from others.

Aziz said the tourism action council was targeting 5.1 million visitors next year, adding that Kelantan had the potential to do better than Malacca if the state got her act together.

Source: The Star

Group to improve tourism products

A TOURISM product audit sub-committee has been formed to improve and upgrade existing tourism products.

State Tourism Development and Environment committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the sub-committee members were tasked to do research and formulate strategies.

“The aim is to identify areas with potential that could be further developed or upgraded.

“Focus will be on district level products on the island as well as the mainland,” he said.

Teng said this to a written question submitted by Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN-Seberang Jaya) on measures taken to improve tourism products.

Among the researchers is Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Prof Dr Amran Hamzah.

Appointed by Tourism Malaysia, Dr Amran’s role is to study tourism products on the island and Seberang Prai.

Teng said Universiti Sains Malaysia was engaged to study bumiputra participation in the tourism sector.

“We will also utilise the Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute (SERI) to collect data on tourist arrivals,” he said.

Based on the findings, the state could implement more effective strategies to make Penang a premier tourist destination, he added.

Source: The Star

AirAsia not raising its fuel surcharge

SEPANG: AirAsia will not raise its fuel surcharge despite the rise in world crude oil prices, which topped US$99 (RM333) a barrel yesterday.

“No, not at the moment. One must build a sustainable business, at whatever the cost of oil is,” AirAsia Bhd founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes told reporters at the AirAsia Academy here yesterday after two signing ceremonies.

He added that heavier planes required more fuel, “but it’s not fair to put a fuel surcharge on someone who’s not carrying a bag, as opposed to someone who’s carrying six bags.”

“We like to investigate different ways of doing different things,” he said.

Earlier, AirAsia signed an agreement with Aviation Australia to have its existing technicians trained in aircraft maintenance, fulfilling the requirements by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

AirAsia X, the group's long-haul budget carrier, also signed a five-year agreement with Tourism Queensland to promote Gold Coast, Australia.

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman Rani said that currently there were four flights a week to Gold Coast. Its first flight there was on Nov 2.

“We plan to increase it to a flight a day, as more aircraft become available,” Azran said.

Also present at the event was Australian Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle, Tourism Queensland chairman Don Morris, and Aviation Australia chief executive officer Paul Bredereck.

Source: The Star

Thursday, November 22, 2007

PNB Ready To Help Sabah With Homestay Tourism Product

Thursday 22 November 2007

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is ready to help Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) establish a homestay tourism product as a franchise business in the state.

Chairman of PNB Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said homestay programme had the potential of becoming a franchise business considering Sabah's powerful and attractive tourism pull.

"Homestay is a good programme and we are ready to work with Secdo to develop it as a franchise business."

Under the concept of a homestay programme, tourists get to stay and enjoy their visits in traditional homes and among people who have opened up their homes to the tourists.

"If tourists are given the assurance that a homestay has quality especially in terms of hygiene, convenient accommodation and food, I feel that the concept can be developed and we can work with Sedco to make it a success," Shahrir told reporters after the launch of a seminar here today on the franchise business by Sabah's Minister of Industry Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.

He said PNB was also ready to help Sabah government market its herbal products through franchising via its newly introduced "Forest Secret" outlets.

"We will repack the herbal products found in Sabah before marketing them through our Forest Secret outlets," he said.

Source: BERNAMA

VKY targets foreign tourists

Wednesday 21 November

At the Kedah State Assembly

SEVERAL tourism promotion programmes have been carried out in foreign countries to attract tourists for Visit Kedah Year (VKY) 2008.

State Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Othman Aziz told the House that the state had allocated RM3mil for the promotional activities.

He said 18 tourism projects, costing RM69.8mil, were listed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, of which only one at Sungai Merbok had taken off while the others were now open for tenders.
Replying Datuk Abdul Razak Hashim (BN – Guar Chempedak), he said the state had also allocated RM13mil to renovate facilities at Gunung Jerai.

He said construction work at the resort atop Gunung Jerai had started since March.

“All activities at the resort area on the mountain have been postponed until April next year when the construction work is expected to be completed,” he said.

Othman said there were more than 8,700 hotel rooms available to accommodate tourists next year, of which 7,500 were in Langkawi and 1,200 in Alor Star and Sungai Petani.

He said that the state Economic Planning Unit had also sorted out homestay facilities in Kedah to woo tourists.

Othman also said the two resorts at Pedu Lake, which were closed due to financial problems last year, would re-open early next year.

Source: The Star

No rise in AirAsia fuel surcharge for now

SEPANG: AirAsia will not raise its fuel surcharge despite the rise in world crude oil prices, which topped US$99 (RM335) a barrel Wednesday.

“No, not at the moment. One must build a sustainable business, at whatever the cost of oil is,” AirAsia Bhd founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes told reporters at the AirAsia Academy after two signing ceremonies.

He added that heavier planes required more fuel, “but it’s not fair to put a fuel surcharge on someone who’s not carrying a bag, as opposed to someone who’s carrying six bags.
“We like to investigate different ways of doing different things,” he said.

Earlier, AirAsia signed an agreement with Aviation Australia to have its existing technicians trained in aircraft maintenance, fulfilling the requirements by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

AirAsia X, the group's long-haul budget carrier, also signed a five-year agreement with Tourism Queensland to promote Gold Coast, Australia.

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman Rani said currently there were four flights a week to Gold Coast. Its first flight there was on Nov 2.

“We plan to increase it to a flight a day, as more aircraft become available,” Azran said.
Also present at the event was Australian Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle, Tourism Queensland chairman Don Morris, and Aviation Australia chief executive officer Paul Bredereck.

Source: The Star