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Wonderful Malaysia

Flight accidents affect tourism sector

Malaysian government proactively tries to improve growth of its tourism sector on backdrop of back-to-back flight accidents

Summary: The article talks about how the tourism sector can improve the growth of the country. Even against the backdrop of the flight accidents, and slackening tourist flow, the country is desperately trying to improve its image to ensure the growth of the travel sector.

One of the largest and fastest growing industries, the travel and tourism sector in Malaysia contributes significantly towards the economic advancement of the country. It is also instrumental in creating various job opportunities. The growth of this sector also encourages formulation of infrastructures and government policies that would help the country progress.

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As per the Economic Impact Report that released today, the council said that the total contribution of the tourism industry in Malaysia to the country’s GDP last year was USD 49.4 billion or 16.1%. The sector’s total contribution towards job creation including jobs that were directly supported by the sector was 1.86 million, 14.1% of the total employment. In 2013 alone, the total investment towards the sector stood at USD 6.46 billion and was forecasted to increase by 5.1% in 2014 over 7.7% in 2013. Further actions were undertaken to ensure the growth of the sector in the upcoming years.

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Even when outlook of the sector looks positive with annual growth forecast of more than 4%, it would still require support from the government. The government needs to implement more open visa regimes and adopt intelligent rather than punitive taxation policies. The sector also needs more public private partnerships so that most infrastructure and human resource needs are planned responsibly and sustainably to absorb the positive effects of the growth.

Setbacks amidst rising airplane accidents

The recent bout of airplane disasters have however, severely hit the Malaysian tourism sector. Ever since it disappeared on March 8, 2014 which makes it precisely six months this September, Malaysian flight 370 remains to be found. In July this year, the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over territory held by pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board, resulting in severe faculties.

Disasters such as these have shed negative light on the Malaysian tourism sector. Therefore, the government is trying desperately to rope in various methods that will help it sustain growth and generate revenues to meet earlier forecasted figures. As per the travel market report of Malaysia, the tourism sector is therefore keen to promote the country as an outstanding tourist destination that is also safe. Putting behind the string of disasters in recent days, the country is being extra sensitive towards tourists by ensuring their safety.

Promoting tourism

The government and key policymakers are aiming to develop Malaysia as the perfect hub for attractions, culture, conventions, exhibitions and incentives. Malaysia is hopeful that adoption of various advancements and precautions will help the country grow 6.8 percent this year, on the back of a positive performance in 2013. Furthermore, the government believes that by encouraging tourism, it will be able to drive new investments and employment opportunities in the country. By bringing about major improvements in its infrastructure and policies, the Malaysian tourism industry hopes to increase the number of foreign tourists to the country and extend the average length of their stay. All these factors will contribute significantly towards the country’s economic growth and the overall lifestyle of the population.

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The overall outlook of the tourism industry in Malaysia in the upcoming decade looks favorable with a forecasted annual growth of 4%. However, this will only grow when policymakers drive more open visa regimes and adopt intelligent rather than punitive taxation policies. It is also critical to promote both public and private partnerships to ensure long-term plans that would help in sustaining the sector. Only then would the sector experience the inevitable growth that market experts are predicting.

Author bio: Aditi Biswas is a marketing communication specialist who works with Research on Malaysia to develop insightful reports on various sectors in the country, including the Tourism industry in Australia. With the recent spurt of accidents surrounding Malaysian airlines, the country is desperately taking measures to ensure continued growth of the sector.

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Wonderful Malaysia

Flamingo Hotel By The Beach

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Flamingo Hotel By The Beach (formerly known as the Crown Prince Hotel and as the Crown Jewel Hotel) is located in a place called Tanjung Bungah in the northern part of the island Penang. It’s situated between the capital of Georgetown and the well-known seaside resort of Batu Ferringhi. By taxi, it takes about 10-15 minutes coming down from Georgetown. In front of the hotel you’ll have taxis waiting, but you could also take the free shuttle bus which the hotel provides you in order to go to the city center of Georgetown, and to Batu Ferringhi (for the evening market).

It is a well affordable 4-star hotel. The rooms is big and especially those with a view of the sea are beautiful. There is a nice pool, as well as a magnificent beach. As it usual is, the sea in front of the hotel isn’t really good to swim in, but the pool makes up for it. There is a nice terrace at the sea, from which you can enjoy the beautiful sunset. The entire hotel is provided with free Wi-Fi.

The town of Tanjung Bangah isn’t really a tourist attraction, but in the last couple of years this has been developed pretty quickly. You have a food court, with about 20 little diners. Besides that there is a bank with an ATM, a 7-Eleven supermarket and a few tiny restaurants and bars. In front of the hotel you can take a taxi to Georgetown or Batu Ferringhi.

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Tourism Malaysia

Family Recipes: A Malaysia Day tribute to the country we love

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The best family recipes endure the test of time. Each generation adds a little personality to the flavours, while still keeping the original essence alive for everyone to enjoy. This Malaysia Day, let us remember our culture, heritage and roots as we grow together as one nation.

Happy birthday, Malaysia.

———

Malaysia Day is celebrated on the 16th of September every year. It marks the joining together of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore, to form Malaysia on the same date in the year 1963. (Singapore separated from Malaysia in the year 1965)

Get to know more about Malaysia and other events at www.tourism.gov.my

 

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Wonderful Malaysia

Awan Mulan, Negeri Sembilan

Lately, most of the young working adults look for places to relax and take a complete break from their everyday life over the weekend.

Awan Mulan is a collection of small homes in the hills located in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan which is an ideal getaway from the bustling Kuala Lumpur with only 2-3 hours’ drive away. The management over at Awan Mulan is really efficient and would inform much earlier on the necessary procedures before one heads over to Awan Mulan.

(a) Read the map given. According to the manager at Awan Mulan, these homes stand isolated on a hillside where GPS would fail to guide anyone there.

(b) Contact the manager when one reaches the contact point, which is a Chinese school. This is for the manager to guide people on the roads leading uphill as well as to head down to unlock the main gate. The roads leading uphill is quite narrow and one might have to give way to the car from the opposite direction.

Awan means ‘cloud’ in Bahasa Melayu. And it’s no wonder the place is known as Awan Mulan because the windows of the bedroom have already revealed a stunning view of forests and open skies. How nice would it be if one could wake up to this view every day? But, happiness is short-lived. Besides, the huge balcony by the kitchen could accommodate a hammock where one could lie on it at night staring into the sky blanketed with stars. However, be prepared for the area’s occupant; strange insects and mosquitoes. Rest assured, as the kitchen has mosquito coils where one can lit them up and beds with nets if one prefers not to sleep with insects. Quick to notice the intricate design of these homes where the regular glass panes on windows are replaced with painted cement boards making curtains no longer necessary and also more efficient in withstanding the rain. One house with 10 beds is equivalent to RM2000+, but it would be at a cheaper rate depending on the number of pax.

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The main activities would be to relax by the pool which overlooks the jungle, known as the jungle pool where one can catch the sunrise at around 6 to 7am in the morning as well as the sunset pool for the sunset at 7pm. If that’s not enough, the pools do not contain chlorine but purely salt and the water is being pumped down from one of the waterfalls at the hilltops. Besides the pool, one can take a stroll around the place where most of the guests would have a go at the fruits that were planted there, such as mangosteens, rambutans, cikus and even durians.

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When it comes to dinner, it is definitely a home away from home experience where everything from toiletries to kitchen utensils is made available. Steamboat pots, barbeque pits and even charcoal are all provided but with only one condition, remember to clean up the mess when you are done with enjoying all these privileges.

It is completely a unique experience where a group of 22 of us really enjoyed the trip. The organizer for this trip will be planning a trip to this place again sometime in November. Definitely worth going!

About the author: Onn May Ling lives in Petaling Jaya and is currently new to writing on places she has visited. Her interest is on reading, writing on Science subjects and eating.

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Tourism Malaysia

Seafood dinner along the Senggigi beach at Lombok island

Traveling almost about 1 hour 30 minutes (approx. 60km) from Sade Village, passed by Mataram City (Capitol of Lombok)…we finally reached the Senggigi beach of Lombok. All of us agree to have our seafood dinner at Warung Menega (S8.52497 E116.06554) before check in to the resort.

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The first scene that caught our attention was the smoky roof of the kitchen…

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Everyone was curious about what happening in the kitchen…then, we discovered the grilling method is using charcoal and coir which resulted the smoky environment…

Let’s have a tour in the kitchen before the dining area…

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The ‘warung’ (common word as a restaurant) had a simple setting, where you have a options of indoor dining area or the outdoor area on the beach. For us, we definitely choose the beach area…

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As usual, everyone was busy photographing the surrounding of the restaurant before the foods serve on table…

Next to the restaurant, there were many fishing boats parking around…felt excited because we will going to experience the boat ride tomorrow for island hoping, looking forward about it…

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The seafood served on table pretty fast, most of us had the same package which were the fish, prawns, clams and squids. Some of us chose only fish and some don’t take prawns… flexible package.
But all of us had one plate of kang-kong (water spinach) with the local recipe sambal chili, and unlimited rice…

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I like the local sambal very much! It was aromatic and hot!
Believe all the seafood grilled with the same sauce and recipe, the prawns, fish and squids were finger-linking good! And the clams taste the best among all…
All the seafood were perfectly succulent, sweet and spicy. Impressed by the local recipes. But the magical part was the yummy sauces…dark sweet soy sauce, garlic, local sambal and chili with onions. Every sauce provided different taste with the seafood, I love the chili onions and the sambal very much!

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It was a total different experience having our dinner here, while enjoying the seafood in our hands and watching the beautiful sunset…

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The outdoor dining area was full after the night fall…

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Beside the seafood delights and the sunset, I like to concentrate on those fishing boats back to the shores…

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We were satisfied with the seafood dinner in Warung Menega. As I look into the menu, prices are reasonable too…I guess I’ll be back again on my next visit to Lombok.

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island – Indonesia on July 2014