KK-Singapore Flights Set To Boost Sabah MICE Sector

December 02, 2008 21:45 PM

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Direct Sabah-Singapore flights, besides boosting tourism, would also give the state an opportunity to promote its MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) facilities.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, said Singapore was well-known as a premier hub in the Asian region that acted as a gateway to other international cities around the world.

"I trust the flights will attract more inbound international tourists and professionals and we see this as a partnership to enhance business," he said after welcoming 161 passengers of the Jetstar Asia's inaugural flight from Singapore here Tuesday.

He said Jetstar Asia, a subsidiary of Australia's Qantas Airways based in Singapore, could open more doors for other international airlines to operate flights to Kota Kinabalu.

Jetstar Asia's chief executive officer, Chong Phit Lian, said the airline hoped to bring international tourists to Sabah from or via Singapore to make up for the decreasing number of tourists affected by airline companies that ceased to operate flights to Sabah.

"Jetstar Asia will be flying daily between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore beginning Dec 20 to encourage visitations in both destinations whether for business or pleasure.

"Currently, Jetstar Asia operates four flights a week," she said.

Source: BERNAMA

Sabah May Host Monsoon Cup Next Year - Azalina

November 30, 2008 17:27 PM

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Sabah may host the Monsoon Cup Sailing Championship next year, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She said the final decision rest with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Tourism Ministry has proposed the event not to be held at the same place every year but instead rotated among certain states, Azalina told reporters after holding a dialogue with non-government organisations and Sabah tour and travel agencies at Sutera Harbour Resort here, Sunday.

"Datuk Masidi Manjun (Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister) and me will discuss the proposal with the prime minister at the closing of the Monsoon Cup in Terengganu early next month," said Azalina.

She cited Sutera Harbour Resort as a suitable venue for the event should Sabah host the championship as the hotel could accommodate the participants and visitors.

-- BERNAMA

Azalina: Some tourism offices abroad to close

2008/11/27

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia offices abroad risk closure if they do not bring in the projected number of tourists.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the move was necessary because maintaining the offices were expensive and if they failed to meet their target, they would have to be closed down.

"We won't hesitate to do this, if the market is slow and the numbers projected do not come through.

"For example, if the offices in New York and Los Angeles are not doing well because of the decline in tourists, we will ask them to close shop immediately," she said, adding that it would be better to focus on the more aggressive markets such as those in the Middle East.

There are 44 Tourism Malaysia offices abroad, among them in Guangzhou, China; Perth, Australia; and Seoul, Korea, besides those operating in New York and Los Angeles.
Azalina said a review of the offices abroad would begin from January next year, and if the targets were not met by March, they would be closed.

The minister was speaking at a press conference following an annual meeting with Tourism Malaysia overseas directors, to review next year's tourism marketing strategy and plans in light of the global economic slowdown.

"We are already changing our approach of promoting the country in our advertisements overseas by showing more visuals of unknown places such as Danau Labaung in Sabah.

She added that the ministry would also be announcing a new target number for next year's tourist arrivals during the cabinet meeting on Dec 3.

"The tourism consultative council will meet before that to deliberate on the issue.

"Earlier, the target was 22.9 million tourist arrivals. We will review this target, as we have a lot of factors to consider such as the economic crisis, which would affect the number of tourists."

On strategies to woo more tourists next year, Azalina said the ministry would focus more on collaborations with neighbouring countries and online marketing to promote Malaysia.

"We are also looking at suggestions by neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore on reducing technicalities and adopting a more open policy for all our citizens."

Azalina also said that the ministry was planning to set up a Tourism Malaysia office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Source: NST

Cheap, Quality Goods At Tawau's 'Pasar Rombengan'

November 10, 2008 14:58 PM

By Nashir Mansor

TAWAU, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Are you looking for good quality hand-me-down apparels? Head for the pasar rombengan and you would not be disappointed with the goods offered here.

Just name any of the worlds leading brand names like Yves Saint Laurent, Polo Club, Lazenger, Giordano, Boss, Edwin, Nautica and many more. All of them are available here.

Men's and ladies wear like shirts, pants, sweaters, belts and shoes as well as roomwear including blankets, bed sheets and pillow cases bearing the famous signature varieties can be easily found at this bazaar.

Never mind the secondhand merchandise. They are in good condition and the bonus is that their price is ridiculously cheap.

Even members from the high levels of the society including those with the Datuk title could be seen patronising this bazaar, looking for items to satisfy their whims and fancies.

THREE MAIN LOCATIONS

This bazaar is well known as the wholesale trading centre in Sabah offering used clothing and household items. Tawau is the only district in the state that provides a special spot for this activity.

Similar activity is in existence at the weekly tamu or bazaars in other districts but the traders usually move around depending on the location of these markets.

Here, the pasar rombengan are spread over three localities -- Sabindo, Jalan Damai and Kampung Titingan that is also known as the Ice Box.

The market, which operates from 6/7am until 6pm daily, is immensely popular with patrons coming from outside Sabah and even as far as from Peninsular Malaysia across the South China Sea.

In Tawau, it is not a surprise if one hears residents joking with each other with words like:

"Cantik baju, beli di mana? (Nice shirt, where did you buy it?)

Di Rom (At Rom).

Betul bah (Is that so?)

"Ya, di Rombengan (Yes, at the Rombengan)

ARTISTES

"Many popular artistes in the country including the singers and actors patronise this market," said 45-year-old Bahri Shahrir, a trader at the market in Sabindo.

According to Bahri, professionals like lawyers could be regularly seen coming to the bazaar looking for the garment brands of their choice.

"Foreign tourists are also regulars here. Usually they come to take pictures or look for items that they want to acquire", he told Bernama at the market here.

Bahri, who has been trading at pasar rombengan for more than 10 years, said his income has been good and the market has the potential to be turned into a great tourist spot for Tawau.

"This market would be more attractive for the tourists if more facilities are provided, he said.

A trader at the Jalan Damai pasar rombengan, Dayang Syahilin, said initially she was only a patron at the market looking for secondhand garments.

However realising that selling used items could earn her a lucrative income, the 30-year-old decided to start a business there two years ago.

TOUGH JOB

In the initial weeks, the going was tough for her business, admitted Dayang, who earns between RM450 and RM600 from selling secondhand apparels at the market.

However Dayang's perseverance as well as encouragement and assistance given by her husband and children has managed to push her through the acid test.

"We obtain the supplies from an agent here. We purchase the clothes in bulk and each of the bundle costs between RM300 and RM800 depending on the type of items", she said.

The goods are sourced from various countries including Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Australia.

According to Dayang, apart for the quality and relatively low price offered for the goods on sale, the other factor that pulls the people to patronise the market is that they can bargain for the items they are interested to buy.

A patron of the market, 45-year-old Jaudin Ganang said he came to know the markets existence from a family member who is a policeman in Tawau.

"He told me that if I am looking for cheap but good quality goods, then I should visit the pasar rombengan. Therefore I came here and found that goods offered for sale are attractive and cheap," said the Ranau-born Jaudin.

Source: BERNAMA

Airasia X Flying From Kota Kinabalu?

November 01, 2008 22:27 PM

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- In future, Sabah may see AirAsia X, the long-haul franchise of AirAsia, commencing its service from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), according to an AirAsia top official.

AirAsia Bhd chairman Datuk Aziz Bakar has not denied this possibility but declined to elaborate on those destinations they were eyeing.

While not specifying the time period to achieve this, he said: "I am sure AirAsia X will look into it.

"But right now, the airline probably does not have sufficient aircrafts (to accomodate the flights)," he told reporters at the launch of the Kota Kinabalu-Singapore route at Terminal 2 of KKIA here Saturday.

Aziz was asked if the airline was interested in introducing long-haul services from KKIA, such as Australian destinations. AirAsia X's inaugural flight was on Nov 2, last year to Gold Coast, Australia.

The airline currently operates with just one A330-300, which undertakes four return flights a week between Kuala Lumpur and Gold Coast, as well as China's Guangzhou.

The long-haul budget airline is 48 per cent owned by Aero Ventures (a venture of AirAsia's chief executive Datuk Tony Fernandes and several of his business associates), followed by 16 per cent by Virgin Group and 16 per cent owned by AirAsia.

AirAsia X has also secured rights to land in China, Korea and West Asia and future destinations, include those in India, the Middle East and Europe.

AirAsia X is expected to launch its second Australian destination which is Perth Airport tomorrow, with six flights a week between the two cities, and services to Melbourne expected from Nov 12.

It is also expected to fly to Britain in the first quarter of 2009.

Source: BERNAMA

Asia Upbeat Tourism Industry Will Grow Despite Economic Slowdown

October 22, 2008 16:52 PM

SINGAPORE, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The tourism industry in Asia may have been affected by the current economic slowdown but the region is expected to rebound and grow in the medium term, said Singapores Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang.

He said the industry's downturn in Asia would be cushioned by the continued increase of intra-regional travel with demand largely driven by travellers from China, India and South Korea.

"Other Asian source markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam would similarly grow and contribute to the rebound of the industry in the region," he said when opening the inaugural ITB Asia Convention at Suntec here today.

ITB Asia is the Asian edition of ITB Berlin, the worlds largest travel trade show in Europe, jointly organised by Messe Berlin and Singapore Tourism Board.

About 850 travel companies from 58 countries including Malaysia, and 5,000 travel representatives are taking part in the three-day show.

Exhibitors from Malaysia include Tourism Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak tourism authorities.

Lim said destinations in Asia such as Macau and Dubai had also boosted their destination appeal to international visitors in recent years and this had resulted in rising interest in Asia as a travel destination.

He said the current turmoil in the global financial markets, combined with higher air travel costs and rising fuel prices had impacted consumer sentiment and discretionary spending in many tourism destinations around the world including Singapore.

He urged the local and international tourism players to work together, forge new partnerships, invest in the development and training of their workers, as well as commit to capability building in Asian markets.

According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, Asia would continue to be a well sought after destination with close to 400 million total visitor arrivals to the East Asia and Pacific region by 2020.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association had forecast that the Asia-Pacific region would see growth of seven to eight percent in international arrivals for 2008 to 2010 with the Asian region attracting 460 million visitors by 2010, up from some 350 million visitors in 2006.

Source: BERNAMA

Gomantong Cave, Sabah's Largest Bird Nest Producer

October 06, 2008 14:31 PM

By Haslin Gaffor

KINABATANGAN, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The largest limestone cave in Sabah, Gua Gomantong, is not only a tourism attraction but is also home to thousands of swifts, the bird famously known for its edible nest.

Hence, the cave plays an important role in Sabah's production of this famous bird nest.

The bird nest is renowned for its high commercial value and is a favourite among the Chinese due to its medicinal significance.

Spread over 3,297 hectares of area, Gua Gomantong is located in the Gomantong Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan and is under the Class VI Forest Reserve Category.

In Sabah, there are about 25 limestone caves that are home to the swifts but only two have high number of the bird nest -- Gua Gomantong and Gua Madai in Lahad Datu.

CARE OF THE CAVES

Gua Gomantong is under the care of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Office which is the authority in charge of the bird nest under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

Wildlife Enforcement Officer for Gua Gomantong, Hussein Muin, said there are four swift species in Sabah.

They are that which spawn the white nest (Collocalia Fuciphagus), black nest (Collocalia Maximus), moss-like nest (Collocalia vanikorensis) and white-bellied birds (Collocalia Esulenta).

He said only the white and black bird nest are edible and have high nutritional and medicinal value.

"There are 19 caverns in Gua Gomantong that produce the white, black and moss nests while four others only produce the black and white varieties," he told Bernama.

Hussein said management of Gua Gomantong takes into account the conservation of the swifts as well as sustainable generation of the bird nest.

BIRD NEST COLLECTION

According to Hussein, to ensure sustainable production of the bird nest, harvesting is carried out for only two seasons in a year.

He said the first harvesting season is from February to April with the second on August-September where only the white and black bird nest is harvested.

The bird nest harvesting at the 19 caverns of Gua Gomantong is sub-divided into seven lots and carried out by contractors who were awarded tenders.

Before harvesting, the Kinabatangan Wildlife Office would check on the size of the bird nest and prepare the report on it.

He said the tender to harvest the bird nest is then offered followed by the harvesting work.

Hussein said the contractors need to follow several regulations like registering their vehicles and workers, duration of harvesting period allowed, time of harvesting and other aspects like the name tags of their workers and safety measures applied.

He also said harvesting the bird nest in Gua Gomantong is by the traditional method involving the use of Guggulug (wooden ladder), Piatau (bamboo), rope and Ambong (container to keep the bird nest as well as other equipment like the Sesungkit and Serapong.

"This traditional method is to ensure conservation of this cave as well as as sustainable production of the bird nest," he said.

SAFETY MEASURES DURING HARVESTING

Among the risks that could be encountered by the harvesters is the danger of slipping and falling down. However the work is carried out by experienced workers and they are also covered by insurance in case any untoward incident happens.

Hussein said after the harvesting work, the contractors are required to make sure that the caverns are free from debris and other rubbish while all the harvesting tools should be well kept and stored properly.

"This is crucial for the conservation of the caves and sustainability of the bird nest," he said.

After harvesting, the bird nest is cleaned, graded and packaged.

HIGH COMMERCIAL VALUE

Hussein said the post-harvest processing should be done cautiously as well as vigilantly to ensure that the bird nest is really clean and ready for sale in the domestic or overseas market.

Before being moved to the market, the pre-processed bird nest is priced at between RM2,500 and RM6,000 a kg but the figure could reach RM12,500 a kg after processing, according to the respective grades.

Source: BERNAMA

AirAsia To Operate New Routes Between Singapore And Cities In Sabah, Sarawak

October 04, 2008 19:04 PM

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Low-cost carrier AirAsia has been given the green light to operate new routes between Singapore and three cities in Sabah and Sarawak.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said those cities are Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Miri.

"Detailed negotiations between my ministry and the Singapore authorities will be finalised this month and we hope AirAsia can operate those routes as soon as possible. Definitely this year," he told reporters after attending the Sabah MCA convention here.

Ong also said that the negotiations would involve increasing AirAsias frequency between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by December.

Currently, AirAsia is operating the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route twice daily.

Meanwhile, Ong quashed misconceptions that Malaysia was not practising the open sky policy.

"People seem to have a misconception on the open sky policy when it is actually in place," he said.

"We have reached agreements with other countries to practise this policy in Sabah and Sarawak as well as at our secondary airports," he added.

Source: BERNAMA

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

KK’s seventh year as a city

Tuesday February 6, 2007

By RUBEN SARIO

Fireworks lighted the skies on Feb 1 as Kota Kinabalu folk celebrated the seventh anniversary of the state capital’s city status.

The 15-minute pyrotechnic display brought cheers and applause from the 10,000 crowd that included Sabah Yang DiPertua Negri Tun Ahamadshah Abdullah and Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman.

The event and festivities were held at the seaside Promenade Boulevard.

Imposing: The 1 Borneo Hypermall float taking part in the parade.

The evening’s programme got underway with a parade of colourfully lighted floats from various departments including Sabah Railways, Yayasan Sabah, City Hall and various shopping centres.

Among the highlights of the evening were performances by international cultural troupes from Australia, South Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and China as well as a group from the Kuching North City Hall.

The entertainment continued with the Punjabi Bhangra cultural folk dance troupe from Kuala Lumpur and this was followed by performances by local artistes including singers Rohayu Baharudin and Mohd Firdauz Abd Halim.


From overseas: Indonesian dancers performing a traditional dance.

Also making an appearance was guitar virtuoso Roger Wang, Atama, Anthony Chong, Melanie Abd Rani, Abu Bakar Ellah, Joanne Henley Rampas and Peter Dicky Lee.

The evening was capped by a march-past bearing the Kota Kinabalu City flag which was then raised and this was followed by a fireworks display.

Other events held as part of the City Day festivities included a batik exhibition at the Centre Point shopping centre.

Source: The Star

AirAsia offering more flights out of KK and Kuching

Friday January 19, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Budget airline AirAsia will fly to Macau daily from Kota Kinabalu next month.

At the same time, it will also fly four times weekly from the Sabah capital and Kuching to Penang.

AirAsia executive vice-president (commercial) Kathleen Tan said the flights to Macau from Feb 6 were an expansion of the Kota Kinabalu hub’s international connectivity and a response to market demands.

“Our low fares are expected to attract traffic from not just Macau but also from southern China,” she said, adding that visitors from Sabah and Sarawak could now take direct flights to Macau.

“We added our third frequency to Macau early last month from our Kuala Lumpur hub due to exceptionally-high demand for the route.

“We are confident that our new flights from Kota Kinabalu will be another winner,” she said.

The flights to Penang will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the first flights from both Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on Feb 7.

Tan said: “The rapid expansion of flights connecting Sabah and Sarawak to the peninsula will help boost tourism and stimulate economic growth.

“The current market has increased demand for the two hubs to connect to Penang,” she said.

The introductory fares for the Kuching-Penang flight will start from RM19.99 while the Kota Kinabalu-Penang flight will cost at least RM29.99. Tickets from Kota Kinabalu to Macau will start from RM49.99.

Source: The Star

Cargo aircraft crash-lands, airport runway forced to close for six hours

Sunday January 14, 2007

KUCHING: A cargo aircraft from Kuala Lumpur crash-landed at Kuching International Airport here early yesterday, causing the airport runway to be closed for six hours.

The Boeing 737-200 aircraft belonging to Gading Sari Aviation Services Sdn Bhd was trying to land at 5.52am when it skidded and spun 180 degrees before coming to rest on a grassy area off the runway.

Its wheels and right engine came off during the crash-landing and the fuselage was badly damaged. Several taxiway and runway lights were also destroyed.

The four crew members on board the plane were unharmed in the incident.

The aircraft was operating as a mail courier for Pos Malaysia Bhd and had left Subang airport at 4am.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah said the plane skidded to a stop about 1,500m from the start of the runway.

“It was about 80m from the centre of the taxiway and 87.5m from the centre of the runway. Its position was affecting incoming and outgoing flights, so airport authorities had to close the runway to allow the aircraft to be towed away and debris to be cleared,” he told reporters at the airport.

The closure delayed 16 Malaysia Airlines and 14 AirAsia flights, affecting some 2,200 passengers.

“We apologise to all passengers,” Uggah said, adding that the airport was re-opened at noon.
According to Uggah, debris including engine parts, tyres and broken pieces of lights had been strewn across the runway.

“Luckily, the runway surface was not damaged.”

The Department of Civil Aviation will investigate the cause of the incident.

In Petaling Jaya, Pos Malaysia chief operating officer Mohd Zarif Hashim said Pos Malaysia uses one aircraft to send mail from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah and Sarawak on Monday and two from Tuesday to Saturday.

Pos Malaysia Bhd and Gading Sari Aviation Services are now rushing to get approval from the authorities which would allow an aircraft to be brought in from Indonesia as a stop-gap measure.

“There will be minimal disruptions in mail services to Sabah and Sarawak,” said Mohd Zarif.
He said if efforts to get the replacement plane fail, Pos Malaysia would give priority to its Poslaju service on its single flight.

Source: The Star - Nation

FAX considering regional flights from Miri

Friday January 12, 2007

MIRI: Malaysia's third national airline Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) is mulling over plans to operate regional flights from Miri to neighbouring countries.

In the pipeline are flights from Miri to cities and towns in Kalimantan to "test" the Indonesian market, said FAX CEO Raja Mohd Azmi Razali.

FAX, recently licensed by the Government to operate international long-haul flights using the Air Asia X brand, has its headquarters in this oil capital of Sarawak.

Raja Azmi said Friday FAX wanted Miri as the base for regional operations to countries in the east Asean zone if it was commercially-viable.

"We will operate our international flights from Kuala Lumpur first before we start similar overseas long-haul flights from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

"These two cities in Sarawak and Sabah would serve as the bases for our international operations from east Malaysia, while Miri may be used as the base for regional flights.

"We may start with flights from Kuching and Kinabalu to cities in China, and then from Miri to Kalimantan. If the response is good, we will fly to more countries from east Malaysia," he said.

Raja Azmi was asked to comment on the feasibility of using these three cities to operate international direct flights now that Air Asia X had been given the greenlight to go international from July.

"Our foremost concern now is to establish the links between Kuala Lumpur and the international destinations we want to fly to.

"Once we have established this, then we can think of operating similar flights to overseas from east Malaysia," he explained.

FAX operates the rural air service in east Malaysia, serving some 700,000 people, many of whom are from remote places.

Source: The Star

External Links:
Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) - http://www.flyasianxpress.com

Russian tourist drowns off Sabah

Friday January 12, 2007

KOTA KINABALU: A Russian tourist drowned while swimming at Karambunai near here Friday.

The man, Boris Puchkov, 59, had gone for a swim at about 10am and after a while, a lifeguard at a nearby resort noticed him struggling in the water.

The lifeguard rushed into the water, pulled Puchkov to the shore and administered first aid.

Puchkov was rushed to the Sabah Medical Centre and arrived there at about 11.10am. He was pronounced dead 30 minutes later. The body was later sent to the Queen Elizabeth hospital here for a post mortem.

Kota Kinabalu district police chief Asst Comm Ku Chin Wah confirmed the incident.

The incident comes just four days after a boat carrying 11 people, including seven tourists, capsized in rough seas near Sandakan, leaving one local dead.

Source: The Star