Tourism News in Malaysia December 2015

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year 2016. As we round up the year, here is a compilation of travel and tourism news in Malaysia for the month of December 2015 taken from various sites. Once again, we at Malaysia Travel News would like to wish all our followers, friends and partners a wonderful and happy new year 2016.

AirAsia wins three awards at the World Travel Awards 2015

Morocco, 13 December 2015 – The AirAsia group, who recently celebrated its 14th anniversary received three prestigious recognitions at the World Travel Awards, winning the ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline’ title for the third consecutive year and clinched the ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline Website’ and ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline App’ titles for the first time.

Aireen Omar, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad represented the AirAsia Group to receive the awards at the World Travel Awards Gala 2015.

The World Travel Awards serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry; and is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality with over 650,000 votes casted by travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers. Full story here: http://www.airasia.com/id/en/press-releases-2015/december/airasia-wins-three-awards-at-the-world-travel-awards-2015.page

Lithium Battery-powered Transportation Devices Banned On AirAsia, Airasia X Flights

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 30 (Bernama) — All lithium battery-powered personal transportation devices are prohibited as check-in and hand baggage on all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights effective Wednesday. It includes hoverboards, Segways, mini-Segways, electronic scooters, solowheels, airwheels, balance wheels and similar equipment.

“Under certain circumstances, the carriage of battery operated wheelchairs or mobility devices might be accepted, subject to removal of the battery by guests. The maximum weight allowed for wheelchairs and mobility devices is 85kg,” said AirAsia in a statement.  Guests travelling with battery operated items are encouraged to refer to AirAsia’s guideline available on www.airasia.com/ask.

More cancel Sabah trip over insurance

Kota Kinabalu: There have been low occupancies even in budget accommodation, particularly backpacker lodges, in Sabah for the year ending this month. One top operator rated by Trip Advisor revealed that occupancy rate at his hostel was below 50 per cent – on average around 40 per cent. The blame went to the perception of the State’s security where news of repeated curfew renewals by the police, although only applied to the East Coast, cast a blanket over the whole State as if a state of security siege exists.

The most common reason received by operators here was that bookings by overseas clients had to be cancelled because there was an insurance coverage problem due to some travel advisories in the past where the destination was marked in the red zone. “Some cancelled their trip booked because they could not get any insurance coverage or that their insurance company would disclaim any liability should they travel to places like Sabah,” said Wong Su Kong, a hostel operator at Mosque Valley next to Bandaran Berjaya. Full Story: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=105515

LMNS To Study On Monument And Heritage Site In Negeri Sembilan

Seremban, Dec 27 (Bernama) — The Negeri Sembilan Museums Board (LMNS) constantly carries out studies on monuments and heritage sites in the state to ensure the historical interests could be preserved in the form of knowledge and artifact for future generations.

LMNS Museum Curator Aziz Mohd Gorop said the study involved traditional houses, colonial buildings, heritage mosques, historical sites, mausoleums and megalithic stones. “The study was done for inventory purposes and to be nominated as the state heritage. Negeri Sembilan is rich in history from the various eras,” he told Bernama here Sunday. Full Story: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?cat=ctid=1202375

Visual Art Museum Planned For Langkawi

Langkawi, Dec 29 (Bernama) — A visual art museum is being planned to be developed in Langkawi as a new tourist attraction, especially for art enthusiasts. State executive councillor in charge of Tourism, Datuk Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid said the site for the museum had been identified by the National Visual Arts Gallery board and when completed, it would feature a collection of paintings and other visual art pieces by leading artists.

“It will be another world-class destination in Langkawi soon,” he told reporters after the launching of a new product of the Langkawi Underwater World, here, today. Full Story: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1202882

George Town among top 16 ‘must-see’ destinations

The Unesco world heritage site here has been picked as one of the 16 “must-see” destinations by the Los Angeles Times. In its Boxing Day edition, the paper wrote that “George Town (population about 500,000), Penang’s main city, is a Unesco World Heritage site with a 500-year history of trading and a hotel boom in progress”. It stated that as many as 10 new hotels may open in 2016, and a bevy of cruise lines call at the port in inner George Town.

“With luck, this growth will leave intact the city’s most historic architecture and encourage its lively food scene. George Town was a British trading post from the early 19th century (hence its name) until Malaysian independence in 1957.  It gives you British echoes, Malay essence, Chinese and Indian commercial traditions, scattered rickshaws and a stew of religions,” the paper added. Full story: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/12/28/george-town-in-top-16-must-see-destinations/

New flight route will make HK gateway to Borneo

With the papers inked for the twice-weekly Hong Kong-Kuching-Hong Kong route starting April 2016, the local tourism has some work ahead in preparing to receive visitors from Hong Kong and Southern China. Planet Borneo Group of Companies’ director/principal consultant Gracie Geikei is happy to see that the Hong Kong-Kuching sector is back again. “This will open up markets, making Hong Kong the gateway to Borneo – if we align our tourism marketing efforts to support this,” she told The Borneo Post.

She added that the influx of tourists was very much dependent on the local tourism operators and stakeholders and how the tourism board could work with them to synergise their marketing efforts. “Engagement and execution are vital to ensure we do not miss this opportunity. There have been too many international flights coming in, only to pull out because of poor load.” Gracie opined there were tremendous opportunities for working expatriates in China to visit Sarawak. Full story: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/12/28/new-route-will-make-hk-gateway-to-borneo/

Putrajaya expects 30.5 million tourists to contribute RM103 billion next year

Malaysia are expecting 30.5 million tourists to contribute RM103 billion in revenue to the country next year, said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. Nazri was confident that the target could be achieved through various programmes in the pipeline and the existing yearly events, including the festive season open house practised in Malaysia.

“The tourism industry and cultural activities is expanding at a tremendous pace with new approaches like health tourism, education and sports tourism initiatives to attract tourists to historic destinations. For the Tourism and Culture Ministry, the open house concept is not only a yearly event for Christmas and New Year but aimed at boosting the tourism industry, especially in a historical state like Malacca,” he said at a Christmas open house celebration in Bandar Hilir, Melaka. Full story: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-expects-30.5-million-tourists-to-contribute-rm103-billion-next-ye

Putrajaya’s indoor theme park receives five titles from Malaysia Book of Records

Putrajaya’s District 21 adventure theme park in IOI City Mall was awarded five Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) titles in the presence of finalists of Miss Tourism Queen International 2015. The ceremony saw five different rides in District 21 being awarded MBR titles – the First Indoor Pump Track in Malaysia, First Indoor Rope Course for Children in Malaysia, First Indoor High-Rope Course in Malaysia, First Indoor Roller Glider in Malaysia and First Indoor Maze in Malaysia.

IOI Properties Group Berhad’s Property Investments chief operating officer Cheah Wing Choong said shopping malls have to be innovative and District 21 has successfully managed to attract customers. Cheah also said the rides in the 70,000sq ft theme park were suitable for children, teenagers and adults alike. “We get some 400 to 500 visitors a day and we even had 1,000 visitors on a peak day once. The crowd is bigger during the school holidays,” he added. The theme park also caters to corporate companies looking to use the place for team-building activities as well. Full story: http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2015/12/24/sweeping-up-firsts-malls-indoor-theme-park-receives-five-titles-from-malaysia-book-of-records/

Etihad teams up with Tourism Malaysia

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has entered into a partnership agreement with Tourism Malaysia, presenting an opportunity for travellers from Kuwait to have the best travel experience in Malaysia.  The agreement was signed during the Expo Milano 2015 exhibition. It is aimed at boosting inbound tourism to Malaysia by leveraging the airline’s global passenger network, Etihad Airways and Tourism Malaysia will put into effect a range of joint marketing activities targeting Malaysia’s leading inbound visitor markets – the UK, US, Europe (Germany, France and Italy), and the Middle East region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait).

Research by Tourism Malaysia revealed in 2014 there were more than 1.2 million visits from these key markets, a 10 per cent increase compared to 2013. Malaysia is one of the top destinations of Etihad Airways. Since 2007, the airline has carried more than one million passengers to and from the country, offering travellers from all around the world the chance to enjoy the many attractions of the country. Full story: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/TTN_297297.html

Exploring Penang the easy way with ELT Passbook

Getting around Penang will now be easier with the newly launched Eat, Look, Tanoshii (ELT) discovery passbook. The 40-page passbook will act as a guide for tourists visiting the state. Its marketing executive Michelle Ng said the book featured all the popular attractions in Penang. “It also has the listing of all the exciting events that should not be missed in 2016.

“The history of cultural and heritage sites are explained,” she said after the launch of the passbook at Straits Quay Retail Marina in Tanjung Tokong recently. She said a tourist who owned this book could enjoy discounts at shops that displayed the ELT logo by showing the passbook. Full story: http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2015/12/25/exploring-penang-the-easy-way-new-passbook-to-help-guide-tourists-around-the-state/

12 New Enclosures At Taiping Zoo To Be Completed in 2016

Taiping, Dec 22 – The Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) is confident that the building of 12 new exhibition enclosures at the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari can attract more tourists here in the coming years. MPT’s Tourism Education and Outreach Division chief, Hanim Ramly said the construction of the enclosures worth RM3 million was part of MPT’s programme to to upgrade the facilities at the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari.

“The project does not affect the number of visitors as it has an impact on developing the tourism sector here,” she told Bernama, here, today. Full story: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?cat=ntid=1201597

Rayani Air Will Spur Tourism Sector, Economy In Kelantan

KOota Baharu, Dec 21 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s first Shariah-compliant airline, Rayani Air, which started its maiden flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baharu yesterday, will spur development in the tourism sector and economy in Kelantan.

State Culture, Tourism and Heritage Committee Chairman Datuk Mohd Anizam Abdul Rahman said the flight services offered by the company would also further stimulate the flight services at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa here, which currently provides 44 times daily flights. “We hope the existence of the Shariah-compliant airline would benefit the community in Kelantan and spur the growth of the tourism sector and economy in the state,” he said to reporters here.

Rayani Air’s Boeing 737-400 aircraft landed at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport on Sunday with 150 passengers including 18 orphans from the Taufik Islami Institute, Klang, Selangor. Mohd Anizam said flight service facilities was very important as a transport of choice for tourists to visit Kelantan. Full story: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=1201216

More Sabah districts attracted to homestay

Sabah’s homestay businesses, which generated RM4.3 million in 2013, have grown exponentially over the last decade, generating around 30 to 40 per cent more business year-on-year. The share of the pie is enjoyed by 18 operators at present, with their businesses riding on the back of steady growth since 2000.

And things may soon change for the better as the tourism industry is now getting back on the rails following the effects of the disappearance of MH370 last year and the Lahad Datu incursion in 2013. According to Sabah Homestay Association President Djuanis Mogirong, business is looking up with already two more homestays in the process of registering with the Tourism and Culture Ministry. “They are the Napunsak Homestay and the Marudu Bay in Kota Marudu,” he said.

“Three or more districts are likely to join the fray, like Kampung Bariawa in Keningau and also Beluran and Pitas, whose village representatives I have met throughout the ministry’s pre-requisite seminars,” he said. Full story: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=105440

The news articles above have been compiled from various websites and news portals for the round up of travel and tourism news in Malaysia for December 2015. Happy New Year 2016!

Homestay A.H.Y Melaka

AHY Homestay Melaka sebuah homestay bajet terletak di Taman Asean Melaka sangat sesuai sebagai tempat persinggahan/penginapan kepada pelanggan berkeluarga atau bersama teman-teman.

AHY Homestay Melaka Facilities

Rumah Baru Jenis Semi D

1. 4 bilik tidur 2 bilik air(Master Bedroom aircond)

2. Set meja makan untuk 6 orang + meja dapur 4 orang

3. Dapur Masak, Peti Ais, Pinggan Mangkuk, Cerek Elektrik,dll

4. Mesin Basuh automatik, iron board

5. Set ruang tamu

6. Televisyen(astro njoy)

7. Telekung,Sejadah

8. Parking Dalam Pagar(2 Buah Kereta)

 

WAKTU:

Masuk : 2.00 petang

Keluar : 12.00 tengahari

AHY Homestay Melaka Contact

HARGA :

RM150/sehari

(DEPOSIT RM50 / SEHARI UNTUK TEMPAHAN AWAL)

Hubungi kami: 019-9909969 – Wazi 019-9779223 – Ida

AHY Homestay Melaka Foto

AHY Homestay Melaka

AHY Homestay Melaka Location

Lokasi menarik yang dekat untuk dikunjungi:

Menara Taming Sari

Dataran Pahlawan

Muzium Samudera

Bandar Hilir

A’Famosa

Monorel

Melaka Sentral

Masjid Negeri

Tesco

Jaya Jusco
AHY Homestay Melaka Nearest

Pantai Klebang

Kg.Mortem

Malaca River Cruise

A.H.Y Homestay Melaka 15 minuite from:

Planetarium Melaka

Melaka Wonderland

Mitc

Kota Fesyen Ala Nilai

Zoo Melaka

Taman Buaya

 

AHY Homestay Melaka 20 miniute from :

A’Famosa Resort

 

The most ideal approach to chill off on a hot and sticky day in Malacca is to do some sprinkling around at the beating new Melaka Wonderland Theme Park and Resort. Constructed in Ayer Keroh – Malacca’s vacation destination loaded quarter – the highlights of this multi zone park are its rapid water slides and excite rides.

Encompassed by 360 hectares of normal recreational woods, this fresh out of the plastic new park includes an astounding two million liters of water. All things considered this water amusement park highlights 16 energizing attractions including the Lazy Cum Crazy River, the 1 Big Wave pool, the Adventure Island, Anaconda Twist, The Pendulum and in addition a huge number of different attractions.

The park is so near the Malacca downtown area that staying over in Ayer Keroh isn’t vital; yet in the event that you do stay, there are a lot of reasonable convenience decisions accessible – truth be told Melaka Wonderland will soon gloat an amusement park inn.

This water park is basically another of Malacca’s incredible draws – enjoy a reprieve from a day of touring and spend a day of wet fun in the sun. Highlighting various enterprise rides and water slides including the Tornado Chaser – where you are sent pivoting down a titan “dish” – and the Kamikaze Racer – a rapid rush ride on which you can race head-first and side-to-side down six paths.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 Weekday; 09:00 am – 19:00 Weekend and Public Holiday

Area: Ayer Keroh, Melaka (roughly 15 minutes from the Ayer Keroh exit toll

 

Selamat Datang dan Selamat Bercuti di AHY Homestay Melaka

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Planetarium Melaka is one of the eye catching sites in Melaka where tourists who possess a special love of astronomy related subjects cannot stop them in visiting the planetarium time and again due to its vivacious uniqueness in the whole of Malaysia. The reason of visiting Planetarium Melaka is its scientific and adventurous outlook, particularly designed for the students engaged in studying science related subjects who majors in astronomical subjects basically.

Planetarium Melaka

It came into being in the year 2009 and it is found on the right hand side of the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC). If travelling from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza it will take you around twenty minutes to reach the Planetarium Melaka.

The query of how it is constructed? It is answered when you see the three-storey building inside also maintaining a set of huge houses that are known to be Islamic-Inspired Complex with plenty of capacity comprised for events therein assigned with a cafeteria. It also contains a great library as well as the giant dome movie theatre where visitors enjoy a series of various timely movie shows.

Those who wants to advance their studies in astronomy and also those who are developing their career in space technology must necessarily visit this planetarium through they can avail better knowledge of understanding by enjoying with lively space objects.

It has special astronomical features confined to children, particularly through which such children are capable to learn about the space objects i.e. planets and their orbits in the whole solar system, small objects in a space that provide thorough information related to the universe known as black holes and other galaxies evidence. Specially dummy equipment is designed for those practical space learners and astronomical lovers who wants to know about the Malaysian satellite, Hubble space telescope (invented in 1990 for capturing ongoing innovations in the universe) as well as big and large covets which keep exploding on regular intervals in our universe.

We also come to know about its further attractions in this planetarium is its movie theatres filled with 2D and 3D cinemas all around the planetarium. The 2D movies running here emphasize on providing facts and figures pertaining to the functioning of cosmic objects and discovery of the universe itself; how it was first discovered? By whom? Such as by viewing those movies, sound effects projected here are for the first time seems to be weary then afterwards it gives the hearing of original sound evaluation can be heard directly from the space.

Therefore, viewers are enthusiastically influenced for enjoying the lively effects of our huge planet. The second floor is equipped with 3D cinemas constructed for 200 audiences and every movie projected here is less than an hour and on weekends the running of movies is increased to nine times, particularly through which visitors here keep themselves relish with informative and lively movies as well as documentaries therein.

You cannot just count the attractions of this Planetarium Melaka as it not only enriches you to familiarize with lively astronomical objects, but also engage you for providing authentic study materials in the forms of books, magazines and newspapers in a huge library available here. If you have visited Planetarium Melaka, please share your experience by adding comments below. Here you can find more of Melaka tourist attractions.

Japan's Taxi Association Visits Malaysia

The Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz hosted a dinner to welcome 50 members of Sango Taxi Association from Osaka and two members each from Kobe and Fukuoka’s taxi associations at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur Hotel today.

This is the second visit to Malaysia organised by Sango Taxi Association to enable their members and taxi associations from other cities to get first-hand experience of the country’s tourism attractions.

During the dinner, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri expressed his appreciation to the members of the Japan’s taxi associations for their assistance in promoting Malaysia to their passengers and clients in Japan.

“It is amazing to see that the members of these taxi associations have taken the initiative to visit Malaysia at their own expenses in an effort to get to know the country better so that they can share their experiences with their family, friends, and passengers in Japan. At the same time, they can also be a spokesperson for Malaysia,” he said.

The Minister of Tourism and Culture also said that such commitment shown by them is exemplary and should be applauded and appreciated.

Their weeklong tour to various parts of Malaysia, beginning today, is organised by Tourism Malaysia. It includes a Destination Seminar and a tour to Genting Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, and Melaka.

Japan Taxi 2016

The artwork on the Japan Taxi for Visit Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia has been collaborating with various taxi associations across Japan in eight of its major cities, namely Osaka, Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Sapporo, in an advertising campaign called Taxi Wrapping, which involves 1,060 taxis. It is part of Tourism Malaysia’s continuous efforts to promote Malaysia’s tourist destinations to Japanese tourists.

Tourism Malaysia is the only National Tourism Organisation allowed to carry out the taxi wrapping campaign in Japan due to the close diplomatic, economic and cultural relations between Malaysia and Japan. The taxi wrapping campaign is more cost-effective compared to other terms of mainstream advertising, besides producing high recall and response levels from consumers.

 Japan is one of Malaysia’s top ten tourist generating markets. Malaysia recorded a total of 149,951 Japanese tourists for the first four months of 2015. This year, Malaysia aims to attract 600,000 Japanese tourists to the country in conjunction with the Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest).

With better connectivity between Malaysia and Japan through direct flights by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X, Japan Airlines, and All Nippon Airways from Tokyo (41 flights per week), and Osaka (14 flights per week), Tourism Malaysia foresees higher passenger traffic between the two countries in the future.

A new site-specific theatre show is drawing tourists to the old city of Melaka while celebrating the state’s rich and diverse history. Set in and amongst the glorious heritage buildings of UNESCO Heritage Melaka, Melaka Alive tells the rich 600 year-old story of the state through an innovative and interactive concept theatre that leads the audience through the various stages of Melaka’s evolution, from the arrival of Parameswara, through the periods of Portuguese and Dutch colonization and finally to current day Melaka, where many cultures blend seamlessly in a true modern melting pot.

Told through the eyes of revered sailor Panglima Awang, said by many to be the first man to circumnavigate the world, the show takes place on a to-scale reconstruction of the famed Bahtera Merdeka ship and features state-of-the-art projection and sound techniques that bring Melaka’s history to life in a thrilling 30 minute spectacle, making it a perfect attraction for families. Meanwhile, attraction owner Nuevo Attraction Destination Sdn. Bhd. has recently opened The Pirate Adventure, an immersive indoor attraction that promises to engage all five senses.

In this new attraction, visitors get to be a pirate for the day, navigating the seas of the Melaka Straits before searching the dark and humid jungles for buried treasure. With the aid of sophisticated technology, visitors will literally get to feel the gusts of storms on the high seas, and Mohd Nizar b Mohd Najib, Advisor to Nuevo Attraction Destination, is confident that the total Melaka Alive package will enhance Melaka’s charm as a tourist destination.

“The appeal of Melaka Alive is that it makes the rich history of our city accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds”, said Nizar. “There is great potential for tourism in this city – there is living history everywhere and a truly multicultural population – and we want to do our part to celebrate this history and boost the local economy”.

He added that Nuevo Attraction Destination has plans to build more tourism attractions in the city, with an increased focus on historical attractions,with the goal of increasing appreciation of Melaka’s history, heritage and beauty from Malaysian as well as foreign tourists alike.
Tickets for the various attractions start from RM20 for children aged 4-12 and senior citizens, and RM25 for adults, with discounts for MyKAD holders. Tickets may be purchased via www.melakaalive.com.my or directly from the Melaka Alive ticket counter.
For more information about Melaka Alive, please contact Emelyn Yahya at emelyn@nuevo.com.my

Operator: Nuevo Attraction Destination Sdn Bhd
Address: Melaka Alive, Jalan Parameswara, Bandar Hilir, Melaka.
(Opposite Proclamation of Independence Memorial) GPS N 2.191 261 E 102.250 725

Hotline: 012-266-9374 / 012-266-9461 / +603-7877-2828
Email: sales@nuevo.com.my
Operation Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10am – 7pm
Friday – Sunday Malaysia Public Holidays: 10am – 9:30pm

Ticket Price :
Category MyKad Non MyKad
Adult RM20.00 RM25.00
Child (4-12 years) RM15.00 RM20.00
Senior Citizen (60 years++) RM15.00 RM25.00

— asmaliana

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