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

Ong says lion and dragon dance should be used to attract tourists

Friday January 12, 2007

ALOR STAR: The ability of our world-class lion and dragon dance teams should be exploited in the effort to attract more tourists, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said.

He said the country was home to some of the world's most skillful teams, which have won at least 19 world titles.

“Our teams have mastered superb techniques and acrobatic skills to keep spectators in awe. They are world class,'' he said when opening the International Lion Dance Invitation Championship at Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here on Friday.

The event, supported by the Tourism Ministry, was organised by the Kuala Kedah MCA in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

The event attracted 14 teams from seven countries.

Teams from Singapore and Thailand had to pull out due to injuries.

Ong said lion dance was part of Chinese culture, adding that the event could attract tourists from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan,” he said.

Event chief judge Lew Sai Fet said 25 judges from all the participating countries assessed the performers.

“The three Malaysian teams participating in the world championship are the top three winners of the national championship held on Thursday,” he said.

The national champion was Boon Seng King Lion and Dragon Dance Association from Johor.

The first and second national runners-up were Johor-based Kor Chor and SJK ( C) Yick Nan from Sabah.

Source: The Star

Keywords: Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Tourism, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, VMY'07, VMY2007