Tourism Malaysia

1 March, 2010 -Sightseeing Around Kuala Lumpur
Before Getting On a Connecting Flight

(Hong Kong – 1 March 2010) – Passengers in transit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport now have the option of touring some of the city’s most fabulous attractions with the introduction of the Showcase KL tour.

For just RM95 (HKD211) per person, passengers who have a minimum transit time of five hours can take in some of the sights of Kuala Lumpur on the KL Hop-On Hop-Off (KL HOHO) bus. The tour allows participants to experience up to 43 attractions in the city. Depending on the individual’s available time, KL HOHO staff will be able to provide passengers appropriate advice to ensure that they have plenty of time to enjoy the tour and catch their connecting flight.

Showcase KL tour entitles passengers to special discounts on entrance fees and shopping at designated attractions.

Showcase KL tour comprises of a return KLIA Ekspres high-speed train ticket from the airport to KL Sentral and a day pass for the KL HOHO bus tour. It can be purchased at the Visit KL counter in KL CAT Arrival Hall on level 1, outside the KLIA Ekspres Arrival Gate, daily from 5am till 10pm.

For more information on Showcase KL, please visit www.visitkl.gov.my.

9 February, 2010 -Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia Enters Guinness World Records

(Hong Kong – 9 February 2010) – Adding to the already diverse and exciting offerings in Malaysia, one of Mount Kinabalu’s via ferrata, Low’s Peak Circuit, was officially certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s highest mountain path this past December.

A via ferrata is a mountain path comprising of a series of rungs, rails and cables that are set into the rock face. Mountain Torq’s record-breaking via ferrata, Low’s Peak Circuit, begins at 3,411 metres and ends at 3,776 metres. Located in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu stands at a height of 4095 metres.

Mountain Torq currently operates two via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu. For seasoned climbers, the company offers the Low’s Peak Circuit while the Walk the Torq route is designed for novice climbers and families with members aged 10 and above. Approximately 5,000 people have completed the routes to date.

There are more than 300 via ferrata worldwide, predominantly in Italy, Germany, and France.

For more information on Mountain Torq’s via ferrata, please visit www.mountaintorq.com or contact the Sales and Marketing Director, Ms Quek I-Gek at +60 19 813 8162/+60 88 268 126 or via email at i-gek@mountaintorq.com

21 January, 2010 -Malaysia Charter Flights to Increase China and Hong Kong
Inbound Tourism during Chinese New Year 2010

(Hong Kong – 21 January 2010) – Coinciding with the 2010 Chinese New Year holidays, 44 charter flights from around Asia will land in Malaysia between 24 January and 1 March 2010, with more than half of the tourists expected to originate from China and Hong Kong.

With Chinese New Year as one of the most popular travel periods in Asia, 6,477 holiday-makers are expected to visit Malaysia including 3,590 from China and Hong Kong. There will be two charter flights to Kota Kinabalu and one to Langkawi Island from Hong Kong. The rest will be departing from Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming and Shanghai.

Over one million Chinese tourists travelled to Malaysia last year, signifying a 7.3% increase year-on-year, which placed China as one of the top five tourist generating markets for Malaysia in 2009.

Thirty of the scheduled flights will land in Kota Kinabalu, while the other Malaysian destinations taking part in this charter programme include Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kuantan, Johor, Penang and Langkawi Island.

17 September, 2009 -Tourism Malaysia Launches “Born Rich” Special Tours to Sabah
Exclusive Premiere Gala Dinner Offer for Hong Kong Travellers

(Hong Kong – September 17, 2009) Tourism Malaysia announced today that it is one of the major sponsors of TVB’s new drama production “Born Rich”, and will launch a series of specially designed tours from Hong Kong to Sabah in partnership with the Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia Airlines and seven leading local travel agents. Travellers who book a “Born Rich” package tour will also be able to attend the premiere gala dinner of the TV series on October 17 in Sabah, which is being hosted by Tourism Malaysia.

Starting from September 18, travellers and TV fans can book their star-studded “Born Rich” tours to Sabah, and get exclusive access to the afternoon ”Born Rich Fans Party” on October 17. The highlight of the event will take place after the fan party – the “Born Rich” Premiere Gala Dinner with limited seats only available to guests who book these special tours. Both the party and the premiere gala dinner will be hosted at One Borneo – Sabah’s largest and newest shopping and entertainment mall.

“Born Rich” is a 40-episode drama about love and the disputes between members of a large corporate banking family, starring Ray Lui, Gallen Lo, Jamie Chik and Anita Yuen. The series debuts on TVB Jade and HD Jade in Hong Kong on October 19 at 9:30pm.

29 July, 2009 - Malaysia Showcases Its Fascinating Underwater Landscapes
During Hong Kong's First Dive Fest

(Hong Kong – July 29, 2009) - Tourism Malaysia helped launch Hong Kong's inaugural scuba diving exhibition – Dive Fest, today, showcasing Sabah's amazing underwater offerings that are making Malaysia one of Asia's premium short haul travel destinations.

One of the main exhibitors during Dive Fest, Tourism Malaysia in cooperation with Sabah Tourism Board have launched a variety of diving products that feature the region's rich marine life, and will appeal to families and diving enthusiast.

"Sabah has seen increasing demand for unique diving experiences from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China tourists in recent years," Ahmad Bakhtiar, Deputy Director, Malaysia Tourism Board (Hong Kong Office). "With locations such as Sipadan offering magnificent diving adventures, Sabah will continue to be of Asia's leading scuba diving destinations of choice."

Voted "The Top Dive Destination in the World" in Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine Gold List, Sipadan offers some of the world's best diving sites, home to more than 3,000 species of fish, hundreds of coral species and marine caves.

On September 26, to offer visitors even more fascinating diving adventures, the Reef Dive Resort in Sipadan will sink a 52 feet retired vessel, the "Sipadan Mermaid" in 18 to 25 metres of water; to create the island's second artificial reef.

For children, Sabah is offering the Kids Scuba Camp to help kids discover the fun of scuba diving with their parents, as well as exploring Sabah's extraordinary marine life. The programme is priced at RM2,400 (approximately HK$5,280).

Clement Lee, Board of Director, in-charge of diving market, Sabah Tourism Board said, "Sabah is one of the world's most beautiful and popular diving destinations, and we will continue to work hard to create the perfect balance between developing our marine tourism, and wildlife conservation."

11 June, 2009 - Tourism Malaysia Sees Growth in Tourist Arrivals
Chartered flights to Langkawi in summer respond to market demands

(Hong Kong – 11 June 2009) Malaysia welcomed 5,460,184 tourists in the first quarter of 2009. In March, tourist arrivals to Malaysia reached 1,975,776, representing an increase of 8.6 per cent from the same time last year, Tourism Malaysia announced today at the 23rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Zaliha Zainuddin, Director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong Office), said, "Malaysia is proving to be one of Asia’s most popular destinations for travelers from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China as they discover our rich tapestry of culture, heritage, natural wonders and entertainment on offer. We are seeing a surge in ecotourism, golfing and diving from this market which suggests a growing preference for nature-based escapes."

This summer, Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air will launch 12 chartered flights between Hong Kong and Langkawi in July and August in response to market demands.

"In the current climate, travelers prefer short haul travel and value for money, and Malaysia is well placed to meet the demands of this market. With the increased flights between Hong Kong and Malaysia, we anticipate that even more visitors will discover our fascinating diversity at incredible value," said Ms. Zainuddin.

Malaysia was recently ranked the fourth most value-for-money destination in the Geneva-based World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report (TTCR) 2009. The report also highlighted the country's rich natural resources, such as the oldest rainforest in the world, and applauded Malaysia's effort to preserve its cultural heritage while supporting the development of new tourism infrastructure and tourist attractions.

14 May, 2009 - Tourism Malaysia launches "Malaysia 1+1" promotion
Perfect duo destinations packages from just HK$1,999

(Hong Kong – May 14, 2009) Tourism Malaysia and Malaysian Airlines have teamed up to launch "Malaysia 1+1", giving Hong Kong travellers the flexibility to explore two exciting destinations for the price of one.

From now until July 13, 2009, travellers flying from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu can visit one more destination, including Langkawi or Sandakan, at no extra cost. From exploring city life or relaxing on sunny beaches to discovering Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage, trips can be as diverse as travelers wish.

For more information on Malaysia 1+1 packages and destinations, please visit www.tourismmalaysia.com.hk or contact participating travel agents in Hong Kong.

5 March, 2009 - Getting around Kuala Lumper on a single tour pass

(Hong Kong – March 5, 2009) Sightseeing around Kuala Lumpur is now easier and more flexible than ever with the introduction of the KL Monorail & KL Hop-On Hop-Off One Day Unlimited Ride package.

From now till 31^st May, 2009, for just RM38 (HKD80) per person (adult or child), pass-holders can enjoy unlimited travel around Kuala Lumpur in any single day on two modes of transportation – the KL Hop-On Hop-Off (KL HOHO) bus and the KL Monorail train. With this pass, tourists can hop on and off the bus and monorail as, and when, they wish.

Madam Zaliha Zainuddin, Director of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong Office) said, "Tourists can now enjoy greater freedom and convenience with our KL Hop-On Hop-Off One Day Unlimited Ride package. Experienced tourists from Hong Kong and Macau, who are looking for more flexibility and value for money, can now get the most out of Kuala Lumpur in a day, following their own itinerary at their own pace".

The promotion ends on 31 May 2009. KL HOHO buses operate from 8:30 am till 8:30 pm at half-hourly intervals, while the KL Monorail has daily services from 6 am until 12 am.

3 March, 2009 - Tourism Malaysia Receives
'Excellent Brand of Tourism Paradise' Award

Hong Kong (March 3, 2009) – Tourism Malaysia once again reinforced its position as a powerhouse in the tourism industry, as the organization won the 'Excellent Brand of Tourism Paradise' award for its highly-acclaimed "Truly My Moment" campaign.

Director of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong Office), Zaliha Zainuddin (centre), receiving the Award for Excellence Brand of Tourism Paradise from Mr. Paul Chow, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (left) and The Honourable Leung Chun-ying, GBS, JP, Non-Official Member of Executive Council (right).

"2008 proved to be a remarkable year for Tourism Malaysia and this award reaffirms our commitment to promoting Malaysia as one of the top tourism destinations in the world, through our country's unique splendour and beauty," Director of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong Office), Zaliha Zainuddin said.

Malaysia welcomed more than 22 million travellers last year. The numbers from the Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China markets were particularly encouraging; with the successful extension of the "Visit Malaysia Year" campaign, the country welcomed nearly one million travellers from these three markets. This represented an increase of twenty percent year-on-year.

Zaliha added, "The 'Excellent Brand of Tourism Paradise' award reflects our deep understanding of travellers' needs and we will continue to introduce different campaigns to promote Malaysia's splendid array of treasures. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to experience our country in the coming years."

26 November, 2008 - Short Haul Trips to Malaysia Expected to Become More Popular
Tourism Malaysia Showcasing Melaka and George Town at World Heritage Travel Expo

(Hong Kong - 26 November 2008) Tourism Malaysia is one step closer towards reaching its goal of successfully cultivating a balance between heritage conservation and tourism development, by joining the World Heritage Travel Expo today at the Venetian Convention & Exhibition Centre, Macau.

Malaysia’s Melaka and George Town were recently named as cultural World Heritage Sites.

Zaliha Zainuddin, Director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong and Macau Office), said: "The recent listings have marked a new beginning for Malaysia’s conservation and preservation efforts."

The Melaka and Penang Tourism Councils have established committees which give special attention to the preservation and revitalization of the cities’ cultural treasures, as well as to the improvement of the tourist facilities which make the cities more tourist-friendly.

"We hope that our presence at the World Heritage Travel Expo, the first of its kind, will attract more visitors to come and explore the vast array of offerings in Malaysia," Ms Zainuddin added.

"During the current economic downturn, travellers appear to be curtailing their long haul travel plans to save costs," said Ms Zainuddin. "We expect that short haul trips to Malaysia - which offers year-round fun and excitement - will become even more popular in the coming year."

29 October, 2008 - "SHOP AND SAVE" IN THE MALAYSIA SAVING SALE 2008

(Hong Kong – 29 October 2008) The year-end festivities begin in Malaysia in November with the much anticipated shopping event Malaysia Savings Sale 2008, or MSS. Previously known as the Malaysia Year-End Sale, this year’s shopping extravaganza will run from 29 November, 2008 to 4 January, 2009, presenting shopaholics with 37 days of fantastic retail therapy, great dining experiences and fun entertainment.

The Sale is held at an opportune time as the population begins its shopping in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. MSS, as the name suggests, provides tourists and locals alike with an opportunity to 'shop and save' as most items from apparels, accessories and home décor to holiday packages as well as leisure and dining activities will be on offer at discounted prices throughout the sale period.

11 September, 2008 - Micheal Wong re-appointed as Tourism Malaysia Ambassador (East Asia Market)

(Hong Kong - 11 September 2008) Malaysian singing sensation Michael Wong has extended his contract as Tourism Ambassador for Malaysia, celebrating the agreement at the official launch of Tourism Malaysia's brand new campaign.

The TVC and the others in the series, entitled "Truly My Moment" were filmed in attractions throughout Malaysia. They show a more touching, personal account of Malaysia evoking a sense of good times and great memories gained from Malaysia; stories to be reminisced and re-told over and over.

With the theme song of the TVC sung by Mr Wong in Mandarin, the campaign "Truly My Moment" is the first to directly target Hong Kong and mainland China travellers, a market which continues to be strategically important for Malaysia, with an exponential increase in visitor arrivals and increased flights from these regions further boosting Malaysia’s booming tourism industry.

7 August, 2008 - Discovering Malaysia has Never Been Easier with Additional and More Affordable Flights

Hong Kong outbound travel to Malaysia is on the upswing this summer and Tourism Malaysia, together with Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines, has announced new flights to meet this burgeoning demand.

From August 27, 2008, Air Asia will launch a second direct daily flight from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur. The first daily flight on this route was introduced in May

The additional Hong Kong-Kuala Lumpur flights will provide travelers with increased flexibility to suit busy schedules, customers can choose and pick to make their most flexible flight schedule. They can now depart for Kuala Lumpur in the morning and return Hong Kong on the daily evening flight.

14 July, 2008 - Malaysia’s Melaka and George Town added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List

Malaysia’s Melaka and George Town have been named as two of the eight new cultural sites added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List by The World Heritage Committee at a meeting held in Quebec City on July 7.

With over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between the East and West, traces of Asian and European influences are well preserved in these two historical cities in Malaysia.

The Straits of Malacca and George Town both constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. With these living treasures, Malaysia has once again caught the eyes of UNESCO.

Other sites in Malaysia already on the list include Gunung Mulu National Park and Kinabalu Park.

14 July, 2008 - Hong Kong tourists lap up Langkwai charter flights

This year’s summer charter flights direct from Hong Kong to Langkawi, Malaysia have proved to be such a success, the number of flights on offer has been increased, to cater to the high demand.

Offered through a partnership between Tourism Malaysia and leading Hong Kong travel agency EGL, the direct flights operated by Hong Kong Airlines will bypass the usual stop in Kuala Lumpur, mean tourists will fly a mere 3 hours and 40 minutes to this favoured destination.

The initial 11 flights on offer have been so popular that the international operator Hong Kong Airlines will increase the number to 12 to satisfy customer demand.

For sale only through EGL offices, the 11 charter flights are scheduled on July 14, 18, 22, 26 and 30; and August 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 27.

Group tours to Langkawi are already on sale, for HK$3988 per person. EGL is also offering special 5-day, 4-night return flight and accommodation packages for as little as HK$3,799.

Almost 14,000 Hong Kong residents took advantage of the summer charter flights last year and it is thought double that number will take-up the special flights and travel packages this year, thanks to the addition of the new flights.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohd Taiyab said projected revenue of RM9 million is expected from the charter flights; with each tourist’s average expenditure estimated at between RM2,500 and RM3,000.

2 May, 2008 - Malaysia's underwater landscape fascinates Hong Kong divers,
Alex Fong becomes "2008 Malaysia Diving Ambassador"

Tourism Malaysia Hong Kong introduced the underwater wonderlands of Malaysia at a promotional event held at Aberdeen Marina Club: High Definition Water World in Malaysia on 26 April 2008.

Hong Kong pop actor and singer, and Olympic Games swimmer, Alex Fong was appointed "2008 Malaysia Diving Ambassador" in Hong Kong and Macau. He shared his Sabah underwater experience with 200 diving fanatics at the event, after spending a week exploring the region’s exotic underwater landscape mid April.

Cheong Loon Lai, Consul General of Malaysia said, "Malaysia is one of the top diving destinations in Asia for Hong Kong tourists. Tens of thousands of visitors from Hong Kong traveled to Malaysia last year to enjoy its unique diving environment. This year Tourism Malaysia will focus on promoting premium and luxurious entertainment options, offered at outstanding value. Diving is just one of those options: a fun-filled activity echoing the needs of the market."

Zaliha Zainuddin, Director of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong office) added, "We believe that the participation of Alex will further promote the popular water sport in Hong Kong, especially among those who appreciate the high proximity to Malaysia and its wondrous marine landscape."

Alex Fong said, "Malaysia is truly a paradise for divers. My trip to the country’s amazing underwater world was a real eye-opener. I don’t know of another destination in the region that can match the diversity and richness of this marine life. It’s absolutely spectacular."

Malaysia is in the heart of one of the world’s richest marine bio-diversity areas. The tropical reefs boast encounters with unique macro animals and large pelagic within a single destination: only a handful of diving sites in the world can offer both these sights in the one scuba diving holiday.

With brilliant water visibility divers can expect to see a multitude of sea life: including black-tip reef sharks, groupers, barracuda, parrotfish, pufferfish, angelfish and bannerfish.

Sabah, located in East Malaysia, is a paradise for divers. It features over 3000 species of fish and 500 types of reef. Sipadan, Kapalai and Mabul are three popular destinations. Sipadan is the only deep water island in Malaysia and is very popular among professional divers. Its water quality is one of the best in the world. Divers can trace the footprints of sea turtles, white tip reef sharks and gray reef sharks. Kapalai and Mabul have multitude species of marine creatures such as ghost pipefish, puffer fish and seahorses.

12 February, 2008 - Malaysia Clinches ASEANTA Award for Excellence in Tourism 2008

Tourism Malaysia has received the Best ASEAN Marketing & Promotional Campaign award at the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) Awards for Excellence in Tourism 2008.

Won for its highly-acclaimed "The Time Is Now, The Place Is Malaysia" campaign, the award was presented during the opening ceremony of the 27th ASEAN Tourism Forum last month, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Mr Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who accepted the award on behalf of Tourism Malaysia said the award caps a very successful year for Malaysia.

"2007 was a great year for our nation," said said Mr Mansor.

"We celebrated our hugely popular 50th anniversary, and welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors, which we attribute directly to the campaign. "

"Clearly our marketing and promotion was well received all around the world, and as a result the campaign’s success has prompted us to keep it running through much of 2008."

The ASEANTA Awards for Excellence in Tourism are granted to organisations and individuals that have excelled in their contribution to the development and promotion of tourism in ASEAN. This year marked the 22nd time that the ASEANTA awards ceremony has been organised. The awards ceremony host country is rotated on an annual basis.

1 February, 2008 - Giant Bird’s Nest Enters Malaysia Book of Records

A 10 metre wide plate of the Chinese delicacy Bird’s Nest Yee Sang, made at the 18th Malacca Chinese New Year Carnival in Melaka, Malaysia last month, has entered the Malaysia Book of Records for being the largest in diameter ever made.

The luxury dish is being especially made and promoted in a number of Melakan restaurants to celebrate the up-coming Chinese New Year festival.

Taking over six hours to prepare by 10 chefs and 40 personnel, with ingredients weighing 1,000kg at a cost of RM20,000 (HK$46,000), the giant dish served approximately 5,000 on-lookers assembled for the Carnival’s Lou Sang ceremony.

Bird’s Nest Yee Sang is made from a list of healthful ingredients, including papaya; cucumber; shredded ginger; pickled leek; lettuce; fried yam; ground peanuts; sesame; chicken floss; carrot; and radish.

Guests to Melaka this Chinese New Year can order a specialized version of the luxury dish, choosing three ingredients from the long list in additional to bird’s nest, to customize their meal.

The Bird’s Nest Yee Sang can be ordered as part of a banquet set for three to four people, six to eight people, or 10 to 12 people, prices begin from RM 40 (around HKD 92) and up.

Melaka, a quick 90-minute drive from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, is renowned for its Bird’s Nest Yee Sang making expertise.

Since the record-breaking dish was made, restaurants have been inundated with requests for the delicacy.Most restaurants in Melaka will serve Bird’s Nest Yee Sang throughout Chinese New Year.

15 June, 2007 - Tourism Malaysia received top industry awards

Tourism Malaysia has been awarded "Best Brand Campaign" and "Best Eco-tourism Destination" in the TravelWeekly (Asia) Industry Awards 2007, held in Hong Kong in mid-June this year.

The annual awards ceremony, organized by the industry-specialist magazine, TravelWeekly, recognizes elite industry players and acknowledges their contribution to the tourism industry in Asia.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Dato' Donald Lim Siang Chai, received the prestigious awards on behalf of Tourism Malaysia, accompanied by the staff of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Hong Kong Office.

14-17 June, 2007 - International Travel Expo 2007

The promotion of "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" campaign is to leverage on the only international travel exhibition held annually in Hong Kong, International Travel Expo, to commemorate Malaysia's 50 years of nationhood on 14-17 June, 2007.

The Tourism Malaysia booth, themed on "One Golden Celebration" is luxuriously decorated in gold colour and Malaysia images, in order to showcase its unique and diverse cultural heritage. A total of fourteen delegates including state tourism boards, local hotels and travel agents from around Malaysia's hot-spots, including Sabah, Sarawak and Langkawi, co-exhibited at the booth to distribute information on visiting Malaysia.

14 June, 2007 - VMY Travel Trade Dinner cum Travel Mart, Hong Kong

Tourism Malaysia Hong Kong office organized a Borneo-theme travel trade dinner and pre-dinner travel mart at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at 7pm on 14 June, 2007. Over 150 travel trade professionals from Hong Kong and Malaysia exchanged ideas and built network during this auspicious event.

The honorable YB Dato' Donald Lim Siang Chai, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Malaysia announced that the number of Hong Kong tourist arrivals has sustained an increase during the first three months of 2007. " Hong Kong tourist arrivals rose to 26,321, showing an increase of 1.9% compared to last year. The average length of stay of Hong Kong tourists is 5.7 nights. With more tourist attractions being made known to them, perhaps they will stay a little longer.

The evening was furnished with a Borneo cultural dance performance by Sanggar Budaya Sarawak, spectacular entertainment hosted by a local famous dramatist Mr. Jim Shui Man and a lucky draw with superb prizes.

12 June, 2007 - VMY Travel Trade Dinner cum Travel Mart, Macau

To express heartfelt gratitude for the continued support of the travel partners in Macau, Tourism Malaysia organized a Malaysian-theme travel trade dinner and pre-dinner travel mart at the Landmark Macau at 7pm on 12 June, 2007. Over 60 travel trade professionals from Malaysia and Macau networked and discussed business opportunities during this auspicious event.

During the travel mart, representatives of state tourism boards, local hotels and travel agents from across Malaysia, including, Sabah, Sarawak and Langkawi, distributed abundant information on tours and promotional items to visitors in Macau. Following the travel mart, Tourism Malaysia hosted a Malaysian theme dinner with a showcase of a brand new TV commercial on Malaysia's "One Golden Celebration" to commemorate Malaysia's 50th year of nationhood. The evening continued with Malaysian cultural dance performance by Sanggar Budaya Sawarak, interactive games and a lucky draw with splendid gifts. The festivities officially ended at 10 pm.

28-29 April, 2007 - Visit Malaysia Year 2007 Macau Fun Day

Visit Malaysia Year 2007 Fun Day Macau was held at Senado Square on 28-29 April, 2007. This is the first-time consumer event of such scale in Macau organized by Tourism Malaysia with the co-participation of eight travel partners. Tourism Malaysia arranged a series of programmes including cartoon portrait drawing, henna hand-painting and Sabah musical instrument performance in which all visitors enjoyed with high-spirit and bliss.

12 Mar 2007 - "Visit Malaysia Year Roadshow 2007 Hong Kong" cum "26°C Love Journey" Radio Drama Finale

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12 Feb 2007 - Winner Announcement for "Visit Malaysia Year Online Game Campaign 2007"

Organized by Tourism Malaysia Hong Kong Office, the "Visit Malaysia Year Online Game" has been over. During the promotion period, around 8,800 entries were received who had correctly answered ten questions and successfully submitted online entry forms. The Director of the board in Hong Kong, Ms. Zaliha Zainuddin, drew the lucky winner by computerized lottery method. The below winner will be notified shortly regarding the prize collection details: CHAN MAN YIN MANDY (Contact No.: 92XXXXX0)。

18 Jan 2007 - Malaysia Airlines Operates Direct Flights to Langkawi Every Friday

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8 Jan 2007 - Tourism Malaysia "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" and Metro Showbiz Proudly Present
"26°C Love Journey" Radio Drama Press Conference cum Autograph Session —
In Search for Michael's Beloved

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3 Jan 2007 - Visit Malaysia Year: Celebrating 50 Years of Independence

Come 2007, Malaysia will celebrate 50 years of independence. The month of August will be filled with a myriad of parades, cultural performances, street shows and carnivals to commemorate the country's Independence or Merdeka Day on 31st August.

It was on 31st August 1957 when history was made as the Union Jack was lowered and the Malaysian flag hoisted, with the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj leading the people in the famous shouts of Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! (Independence!)

For more than 30 years, Merdeka Day celebrations have been marked by parades involving uniformed personnel, corporate players, school children, cultural dancers, athletes and Malaysians from all walks of life. However, in recent years, the event has grown into a much anticipated and exciting month-long celebration nationwide.

This forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration marks a significant milestone in the history of the nation. Join the enthusiastic crowd at the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of Merdeka Day for the countdown to this momentous event. Another highlight of the year will be the Citrawarna or Colours and Flavours of Malaysia parade, an annual event showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the country. This will be the grandest celebration for this event yet.

Malaysia invites all visitors to share in the joy and excitement of this momentous occasion. Come and be mesmerised by a unique multicultural populace celebrating 50 years of nationhood in harmony and peaceful co-existance. You will truly be fascinated.

13 Nov 2006 - MO Aquaria Shark Attack at Kuala Lumpur City Centre

For the first time ever, aquatic enthusiasts and thrill seekers alike can enjoy a quick dive and dip with some of the most dangerous predators of the sea at Aquaria KLCC with a special joint promotion with Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, open to divers and non-divers.

Up close and person, the underwater close-encounter with the resident sharks and the other underwater denizens was designed to cater to the more intrepid of travelers coupled with the option of calling in the night within the luxury and comfort of Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur's opulent rooms. A 'Dive with Sharks' training which includes a thorough briefing and familiarization of dive equipments and basic safety concepts are factored into the 3-hour experience of diving with the sharks with a trained diving instructor who would be diving alongside.

"One of the main purposes of this partnership is to promote Kuala Lumpur. Now, you are able to swim with sharks, not in the middle of the ocean or at some remote island, but right in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur City Centre", said Mr Jonas Schuermann – General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.

According to Dato' Simon Foong, Executive Director of Aquawalk Sdn Bhd, 'Dive with Sharks' will provide the thrill and entertainment for those with a taste for adventure and added that, besides its 'entertainment' value, 'Dive with Sharks' provides a platform to convey a strong conservation message to the public on shark education and conservation.

The package starts from RM889.00++ per night for a Deluxe Room for a 1 person dive and RM1,379.00++ for a 2 persons dive. It is valid from 6 September to 31 December 2006. For other room category please contact our reservations agent at (603) 2179 8818 or mokul-reservations@mohg.com or through Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's direct on-line reservations service at www.mandarinoriental.com

The Dive with Sharks package includes:

Deluxe or Club room
Welcome garland upon arrival
Welcome drink & cold tower
Daily American breakfast for one or two persons
Dive with sharks voucher at Aquaria KLCC worth RM450 per person
20% discount for in-room massage from Mandarin Oriental Vitality Club
Complimentary drink at Cascade Restaurant
Complimentary Welcome gift
Complimentary daily turn down amenities
Complimentary dessert for spending above RM180 at hotel F&B outlets (except Wasabi Bistro)

Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2006

Shopaholics get ready - the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (MMSC) is set to whip you up once more in a tide that will sweep through the nation for six fabulous weeks! From 22 July to 3 September 2006, locals and tourists to Malaysia will be bombarded with promotions, bargains and discounts that promise to keep everyone in frenzy.

Organised by Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Malaysia and the Shopping Malaysia Secretariat, this is the sixth time the MMSC is being held, each time with greater success than before. This year on 22nd July, it will be launched by the Minister of Tourism, YBM Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the Bukit Bintang shopping precinct.

To hype things further, the MMSC coincides with the colourful

Citrawarna festival in July and Merdeka celebrations in August. Visitors to Malaysia during this period are certainly in for a most exciting trip!

Expect just about everything to be on sale, from fashion, haute couture, accessories, jewelleries and cosmetics to sophisticated electrical and hi-tech equipment, handicrafts and unique curios. To supplement the sale, fun activities and contests are in the line up at the various shopping precincts, malls and retail outlets nationwide.

A 2-day Street Carnival kicks off the celebrations on 22 July at the Bukit Bintang crossroad from 6pm to 2 am, while at the Low Yat Plaza Boulevard the party begins earlier at noon. Visitors can continue celebrating the following day at the same spots from 6pm to midnight.

Shoppers can expect a consumer sale, an exhibition of break dance, graffiti art, skateboarding demonstrations and hip-hop performances during the Urban Art Explosion segment, as well as a capella and musical recital and performances by local artistes. Bands of roving buskers consisting of clowns, mascots, stilt walkers, face painters, balloon sculpters and musicians can be spotted too.

One of the highlights of the event is the Malaysia Mega Sale Shopping Race on the launch day itself. The challenge is for international media teams and local participants to traverse and shop in the malls and shopping complexes in the Klang Valley for prizes worth more than RM10, 000 for each category. Teams will be given RM1, 000 in cash each, to shop for specific products and the team with the highest savings will emerge winner. Participating teams will get to keep their purchases.

Another shopping event organised by the Shopping Malaysia Secretariat is the Shop-A-Hunt at the Tebrau City mall, Johor Bahru on 12 August where, media and shoppers will vie for the prize of cash money, shopping vouchers and holiday packages. An Arts Explosion Fair 2006 will also take place at the Khoo Kongsi at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling in Pulau Pinang. The 2-day fair will feature unique offerings ranging from shopping products, entertainments, arts and curios as well as the island's famous cuisine. Entertainment by new aspiring Malaysian artistes from the World Championships of Performing Arts, a flea market and an art bazaar will no doubt keep all occupied.

To further enhance the MMSC's appeal, the Shopping Malaysia Secretariat has put together a Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival Shopping Holiday Package, which is available from USD100.00 per person excluding flight ticket/s. This great promotional shopping holiday package includes 3 days 2 nights accommodation*, 2 x buffet breakfast, Return ERL Express or Skybus tickets, KL Monorail stored value ticket worth RM20 and Shopping vouchers worth RM50 MasterCard Worldwide, the official card of the MMSC since the program was first introduced, kicks in with its "MasterCard Priceless Weekend Escapes' promotion throughout the Carnival period. Each transaction charged to a MasterCard card, within Malaysia, entitles the cardholder a chance to win one of two year-long holiday passes. The holiday passes are for up to 50 weekend nights at the Four Seasons Resort in Pulau Langkawi inclusive of airfare from KLIA for the first weekend.

Cardholders also have the opportunity to redeem a prize with every minimum of RM100 charged, subject to a maximum accumulation of three (3) transaction receipts per day, in the Master Card Priceless Weekend Escapes Programme at participating malls nationwide.

Participating outlets include Mid Valley Megamall, Sunway Pyramid, Ikano Power Centre, The Curve, Sungei Wang Plaza, Metrojaya at Bukit Bintang (KL), Metrojaya at Island Plaza (Penang) and Metrojaya at Leisure Mall (Johor Bharu).

For more information, please contact :

Shopping Malaysia Secretariat
29th Floor, Menara Dato' Onn,
Putra World Trade Centre, 45,
Jalan Tun Ismail,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-2698 1033
Fax: 603-2691 6122, or email enquiry@mymegasale.com

Tourism Minister Embarks on VMY 2007 Mission to Hong Kong

The Honourable Minister of Tourism, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is leading a Malaysian delegation to Hong Kong as part of the "Visit Malaysia Year '07 road show" from 13 to 15 June 2006.

During the two-day road show, the honourable minister will make courtesy call to GBS, JP Mr. Stephen Ip Shu-Kwan, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Tourism Section).

A press conference to announce the Visit Malaysia Year '07 campaign and celebrations will be held on 13 June 2006 at 5pm at the Intercontinental Hotel, followed by a gala dinner hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia.

The coming year 2007 is meaningful to the Malaysian as it marks the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence. What better way for Malaysians to celebrate this Golden Jubilee than to share the moment with the rest of the world!

Backgrounder

Malaysia has recorded a total of 16,937 tourist arrivals from Hong Kong for the month from January to February 2006 compared to only 9,833 tourist arrivals for the same period in 2005, thus representing a tremendous increase of 73%.

Country	Tourist arrivals in Jan-Feb 2005	Tourist arrivals in Jan-Feb 2006	Growth in %
Hong Kong	9,833	16,937	73%

The promotion in Hong Kong is based on travel packages coupled with the high standard quality services and products. Key segments that promoted in Hong Kong market include; leisure holidays such as beaches and islands, shopping, dining, eco-tourism, MICE packages, while the special interest promotions are included education, honeymoon, spa, golfing, diving and angling.

The tourism industry will continue to work hard to improve tourism performance for the year and all indicators are positive in favour for a better performance this year compared to 2005.

Minister of Tourism, Malaysia unveiled "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" in Hong Kong

To celebrate Malaysia's 50th year of independence in 2007, the Malaysia Government designates year 2007 as the "Visit Malaysia Year", the Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, The Honourable Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor made a trip to Hong Kong from 13th June 2006 to 15th June 2006, as part of the "Visit Malaysia Year 2007 roadshow". On 13th June 2006, he hosted the "Visit Malaysia Year 2007 Hong Kong Press Conference and Gala Dinner". The endorsement of the "Ambassador for Tourism Malaysia's East Asia Market" Michael Wong and the attendance of numerous media representatives, helped create an ambient and joyful atmosphere.

During the Press Conference, the logo of "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" was unveiled splendidly and astonishingly to impress onsite guests by spectacular lighting effects, which truly illuminates the glamour of Malaysia. Together with the special gifts presented to the guests by our Malaysians' models namely coconut candies, coral, flowers and pinnakols. Each presented gift stands for economic prosperity, tradition and natural sceneries of Malaysia. Immediately after the press conference, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia hosted a Gala Dinner to travel trade and media partners, buzzing with an array of exciting

programmes including singing performance conducted by Tourism Ambassador, Michael Wong, as well as Malaysia traditional dance performance by Tourism Malaysia Cultural troupe from Guangzhou, together with a lucky draw. Another highlight of the Gala Dinner was attributed to the "Malaysia Supportive Agent Award Presentation" whereby 14 local travel agents were awarded tokens of appreciation from the Minister for recognizing their support to Malaysia over the years.

The Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, The Honourable Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor expressed his excitement to this event, "Total visitor arrivals to Malaysia has been increasing dramatically these years. On top of this, Malaysia has also become one of the prime tourist destinations for Hong Kong travellers. On my first visit to Hong Kong, I"m proud to unveil the message of "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" to the public. This campaign coincides with the celebration of the golden jubilee of our country's 50th year of independence, which aims at promoting Malaysia as one of the leading tourist destinations in the region and encouraging visitors to increase their spending in the country."

Themed with "Celebrating 50 Years of Nationhood", "Visit Malaysia Year 2007" is an international campaign hosted by Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Malaysia, implemented by myriad events and activities such as sports programmes, parades, cultural performances and carnivals etc to showcase the multi-social culture of Malaysia's and the warm hospitality from Malaysians. To complement this gorgeous mega event, the "Malaysia Welcomes the World" campaign has been executed to target frontliners in the tourism and service industry throughout the country. This preparatory programme aims to upgrade the hospitality skills of Malaysians in order to make Malaysia a tourist-friendly country and a leading international tourist destination ultimately.

"Visit Malaysia Year" has been held twice in 1990 and 1994 respectively. VMY 2007 has been widely announced at sales missions and international travel trade shows in China, India, Germany, Turkey and Russia by the Minister of Tourism, Deputy Minister of Tourism and senior Tourism Malaysia officials. The two-pronged international and domestic campaign aims to make Malaysia a top-of-mind tourist destination and increase foreign tourist arrivals to the country. A figure of 20.1 million tourist arrivals is targeted for 2007.

Michael Wong Appointed Tourism Ambassador

Popular singer-composer and actor Michael Wong has been appointed the tourism ambassador for Tourism Malaysia's East Asia market. The official announcement was made during a press conference held on 19 February 2006 for 100 Chinese media representatives who arrived for a familiarization trip to Malaysia.

It is part of Tourism Malaysia's on-going efforts to promote the country as a preferred destination for mainland Chinese tourists through aggressive marketing campaigns and road shows in the East Asia region.

Known for his personable charm and musical talent, Wong will appear in television commercials featuring Malaysian landscapes and tourist attractions for broadcast throughout various countries in the East Asia region.
The 36-year-old celebrity hails from Ipoh, Perak. His association with music started at the tender age of six when he began piano lessons. By 14, he was already composing songs and an active member in the church choir.

Wong's first solo album titled "First Time" released in 2001 has sold more than 800,000 copies in Asia and the title song has remained in the popularity charts in China for over three years. Besides singing, Wong has starred in many various television series since 2001. Some of his memorable acting roles are in such TV series as "White Love Song", "Crazy Love" and "Brave Soldier and the Beauty".

The biggest success to date for Wong is his latest album entitled "Fairy Tale", which has sold over a million copies in Asia. It won him four major trophies at the prestigious Hong Kong TVB8 Music Awards in December 2005. His awards were for the best composer-artiste, the best composition, a top 10 hit song of the year and the song of the year.

JoJoBa SPA Malaysia Largest Tourism SPA

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With its most luxurious environments of natural wood, clay and stone , all treatment rooms is themed and named after the Malaysia thirteen states, comes with its own massage area , private Jacuzzi tub, shower and hot tub facilities. By bringing together Malaysian beauty and body treatments, JoJoBa Spa provides highly effective spa treatment packages and total body total relaxation treatment which using natural herbs and ingredients such as Tongkat Ali and Nutmeg to ensure continuous good health.

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Malaysia Welcomes The World

YB Datuk Dr. Leo Michael Toyad, the Minister of Tourism, today announced a new initiative called "Malaysia Welcomes the World" (MWW), a preparatory programme for Visit Malaysia Year 2007 to upgrade the hospitality skills of Malaysians nationwide.

The MWW campaign's main objectives are threefold:

To change the mindsets of the people to think and act tourism
To continue and enhance the best practices in hospitality including public cleanliness and courtesy
To improve communication skills in different languages

The targets of MWW are frontliners in the tourism industry, the staff of government departments and members of the private sector through corporate link-ups.

During the implementation stage, there will be train-the-trainer sessions, workshops at various levels for frontliners in the hospitality trade and related government departments and everyone linked to the travel industry such as tour guides, taxi drivers and so on.

According to the Minster of Tourism, "Malaysians are well-known for their warmth, friendliness and caring attitude by we cannot take all this for granted. We must ensure that tourists feel welcome wherever they go in our country. This campaign will spread the message to the grassroots level and make everyone aware of the importance of receiving in foreigners as best they can.

"The task of th MWW campaign is not for the Ministry of Tourism alone. All Malaysians should rise to the occasion as we open our doors to welcome tourists form all over the world in 2007. We hope that during the auspicious year when we celebrate the golden jubilee of our country's independence, Malaysians can rightly feel proud of our achievements by inviting the world to our doorsteps and taking good case of those who come to visit us."

Historical Background
1990 –	First Visit Malaysia Year campaign launched
1994 –	Second Visit Malaysia Year campaign launched
2007 –	Third Visit Malaysia Year campaign to be launched

KLCC Convention Centre: Malaysia's Bright New Star for Conventions

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (www.klccconventioncentre.com), set to open its doors in June 2005, will become a major international venue for conferences and exhibitions. The Convention Centre will seal Malaysia's position as a world-class convention and exhibition destination. It is wholly owned facility of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Sdn Bhd in turn owned by KLCC (Holdings) Bhd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS).

Boasting the latest in wireless, 3G telecommunications and digital audiovisual facilities, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre comprises a plenary hall with 3,000 people's capacity, a 500-seat plenary theatre, 9,710m ² exhibition space, a grand ballroom, the 1,800-seat conference hall, a classy banquet hall, 20 spacious meeting rooms totaling 1,922m ², and to name a few other facilities including VIP rooms, Media Rooms, Business Centre, Prayer Rooms, Concierge and Luggage Rooms, Medical Centre, Parenting Rooms, a variety of food and retail outlets, car parking for 6,500 vehicles located within the KLCC precinct, etc.

Mr. Peter Brokenshire, General Manager of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, said ""the convention centre is poised to attract international delegates or business tourists as they are better known, who statistically have higher spending power and stay longer than leisure visitors. Added to this the many diverse activities related to the organization of a major event and the result is an economic generator with significant long-term benefits for Kuala Lumpur and in turn, Malaysia."

AQUARIA KLCC: A Mystic Underwater World Now Lands in the Heart of Kuala Lumpur

Discover what it is like to drift through tropical rainforests. Wade through shallow waters as stingrays slip and glide. Find out how it feels to swim side by side with sand tiger sharks. With over 5,000 different sea creatures and the latest in advanced interactive technology, AQUARIA KLCC will stimulate your senses and open up your mind to the fascinating world under the sea.

Showcasing some of the most captivating aquatic life from Malaysia and throughout the world, AQUARIA KLCC takes you on an exhilarating journey from the misty mountains, down the majestic rivers, through the green rainforest to the mighty mangroves until you reach the colourful coral reefs and the ominous deep blue sea.

Opening in June this year, the aquarium brings visitors to various levels of excitement by walking through categorized zones namely Evolution, Jewels of the Jungle, Deep Forest, The Flooded Forest Tube Tank, The Coasts, The Living Oceans, The Aqua Theatre, and lastly, The Aquaria Gift Shop. Before planning to pay for a visit, see for yourself virtually first at: www.klaquaria.com.