Month: November 2018

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Malaysia Travel Guide

Royal Brunei Airlines to fly Brunei-Kuching route beginning Dec 28

Royal Brunei Airlines to fly Brunei-Kuching route beginning Dec 28

November 16, 2018

MIRI: Sarawak will have an opportunity to increase its tourists influx, in line with the Visit Sarawak Campaign next year with Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) new Brunei – Kuching route commencing on Dec 28.

Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah said Sarawak welcomes the new route which could bring in tourists and tourism money into the state.

“We are very proud of our heritage and very proud of what we have. I believe that Brunei also feels the same about their heritage and everything that we have down here, we want to showcase to the outside world,” he said yesterday.

He spoke at a press conference after witnessing the signing of memorandum of agreement (MoA) between RB and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) at Royal Brunei Recreation Club, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

Also present at the MoA ceremony were Brunei’s Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Ali Apong; RB chief executive officer (CEO) Karam Chand and STB CEO Sharzede Datuk Salleh Askor.

The CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, and CEO of Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), Karam Chand, officially signed the MOA and had an exchange of documents, commencing RB’s flights to Kuching beginning in December. The signing was witnessed by Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Brunei Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong.

Read the full Borneo Post article here…

Updated on 16 November, 2018.

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Malaysia Travel Guide

Malaysia Airlines Signs Partnership with Sarawak Tourism Board for 2019

Malaysia Airlines Signs Partnership with Sarawak Tourism Board for 2019

November 6, 2018

LONDON, 6 November 2018:  Malaysia Airlines signed a partnership agreement with Sarawak Tourism Board yesterday to boost tourist arrivals to Sarawak and raise the profile of the destination in the UK.

Under the new agreement, Malaysia Airlines and Sarawak Tourism Board will fund a range of campaigns and promotional activities, including Digital Campaign Promotions, to boost domestic and international travel to Sarawak, OOH media to promote sale campaigns on print and taxis and joint-promotional activities with selected travel partners.

The agreement was signed at this year’s World Travel Market in London’s ExCel Centre by Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer, Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor and Malaysia Airlines’ Chief Marketing Officer, Arved von Muehlen.

Arved von Muehlen, Malaysia Airline’s CMO, said: “We are delighted to be working with Sarawak Tourism Board even more in 2019 to showcase all that the region has to offer following agent familiarisation trips and  press trips jointly organised last year. Sarawak has a plethora of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals ready to be discovered by the British public.”

Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor said: “We look forward to working closely with Malaysia Airlines to showcase the wonders of Sarawak to the world. The strength of the airline’s network and the quality of their product resonate strongly with travellers.”

The World Travel Market is a three-day conference bringing together travel professionals, key industry buyers, journalists, digital influencers, students and tourism ministers to discuss business, innovations and trends in the travel industry. Last year’s event sparked a million meetings, resulting in around £3 billion in contracts.

Malaysia Airlines also recently renewed its global partnership deal with Tourism Malaysia. The two parties will jointly invest in promoting Malaysia in key overseas markets including China, Australia and the UK.

Malaysia Airlines operates twice daily between London and Kuala Lumpur on its new Airbus A350. To take advantage of the airline’s great prices guests can book their tickets at Malaysia Airlines’ participating travel agents or visit Malaysia Airlines’ website at

https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk/en.html

 

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Mohamad Din Ketapi (second from right), with Tuan Haji Mohammad Ibrahim Nordin, STB Board of Director member (right), Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor (centre), Arved von Muehlen (second left) and Captain Izham Ismail (left), flanked by Malaysia airlines stewardesses and a cultural troupe in traditional orang ulu garb.

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Malaysia Travel Guide

UK to be Key Market for Sarawak Tourism Board’s Promotional Activities

UK to be Key Market for Sarawak Tourism Board’s Promotional Activities

November 7, 2018

Sarawak Tourism Board unveiled the Visit Sarawak Year logo yesterday on November 7, 2018, as a precursor to its official launch in January 2019 at an industry event held in London today.

The Visit Sarawak logo will be the anchor emblem for the Visit Sarawak campaign.

Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Hamzah said that the Visit Sarawak campaign is envisioned to place Sarawak on the tourism map as one of the preferred tourism destinations in Southeast Asia.

“The tagline, “More to Discover” underscores Sarawak Tourism Board’s strategy to position the state as a plethora of culture, adventure, nature, food, and festivals (CANFF) offerings that are not found anywhere else in the world, and ready to be discovered,” he said.

“Last year, we received 33,399 more British tourists as compared to 31,274 in 2016 a 6.79% increase which is a good indicator of gaining interest from travellers from the UK market”.

As of July this year, Sarawak received 19,784 arrivals from the UK and with the hope to reach a 10% growth this year.

He cited that the seven days Kuching combine with Mulu packages which are favoured by tourists from the UK with Central Sarawak being a rising attraction.

“We will be looking to intensify efforts to increase arrivals from the UK in the coming year while at the same time to increase their length of stay to at least 10 days in Sarawak”.

British tourists can now look forward to more new packages that will provide competitively priced offerings focusing on culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals, he added.

Sarawak had recorded a total spending of RM8.59 billion from tourism in 2017, which accounted for 7.9% of its gross domestic product (GDP).

International arrivals to Sarawak clocked in at 2.6 million last year. Some of the key international markets for Visit Sarawak will be UK, Germany, the Benelux, China, Australia, and ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries were a key source of visitors, which accounted for 48.98% or 2.38 million arrivals in 2017.

The newly-minted Sarawak Tourism Board CEO, Askor said, “Digital will be a large part of our campaign. Besides creating content on digital platforms to reach out to our markets, we are also developing a mobile app which will anchor the discovery process for all our visitors.”

Sarawak Tourism Board’s new logo multi-coloured logo spells out “Sarawak” with the tagline, “More to discover” to represent the aspirations of the campaign.

Comprising seven colours, in curled script, the red and yellow colours represent the state flag while orange represents the strong spirit and vibrant energy of the different ethnic communities within Sarawak, which is quintessential to Sarawak’s diverse tourism proposition. Green is used to represent the verdant rainforests abundant with wildlife and blue is used to represent the calmness of the ocean along Sarawak’s long coastline.

The uniqueness of the logo is augmented by the hornbill, which replaces the letter “A,” representing Sarawak’s moniker, “Bumi Kenyalang,” or “Land of the Hornbills” that the State has been known for many years, which is also an important symbol of luck to the indigenous people of Sarawak.

Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor (second left) at the prize presentation to the grand prize lucky draw winner that night, Jayne Byott (centre), Corporate Events Manager of J.M.B. Associates, United Kingdom. Also present at the occasion are Tuan Haji Ibrahim Noordin, STB Board of Director (second right), Richard De Villa, Marketing Manager UK Europe, Malaysia Airlines (right) and Rosmarie Wong of The Ranee Boutique (left).

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Malaysia Travel Guide

STF Launches Short Video Competition

STF Launches Short Video Competition

November 2, 2018

Indie video contest

The Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) launched their two short video competitions, the “Indie Video Competition” and “Instagram Video Upload Competition,” today at 2.00pm at the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) office, in collaboration with STB and in conjunction with the Visit Sarawak Campaign.

Participants stand a chance to win RM10,000 for the Indie Video Competition and RM1,500 for the Instagram Video Upload Competition, with both competitions will require videos of maximum 60 seconds.

The videos will be centered around the theme of the Visit Sarawak Campaign, which is “Sarawak – More to Discover,” which aims to show the world that there is so much more to see, do, eat, and to experience in Sarawak, and so this could include Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festival, and many more.

The Indie Video Competition is open to the general public, targeting amateur video-makers and especially Sarawakians, and can be entered individually or as a team of up to 5 members, with a maximum of 3 entries.

A winning video will be selected by a panel of judges and used to promote Sarawak both internationally and domestically, with the two runner-ups will also be accorded cash prizes of RM 5,000 and RM 3,000.

instagram video RM1500

The Instagram Video Upload Competition is open to the general public, especially Sarawakians, and must be entered individually through the participant’s personal Instagram account, where participants must follow STF’s account @sarawaktourismfederation and hashtag #SarawakMoreToDiscover.

The competition officially begins on November 3 and will end on December 7, at 11.59pm. Winners to be announced on December 10 2018.

From left, Micheal Lu (Senior Manager, Digital Marketing STB), Hj Ibrahim Nordin (Chairman Sarawak Chapter Malaysian Associations of Hotels (MAH)), Philip Yong (President of STF), Hii Chang Kee (Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth Sports), Mdm Ngui Ing Ing (Board member STB), Pauline Lim (Assistant Marketing Manager, Long Haul STB), Catherine Huong (Marketing Manager for Mandarin Speaking Market, STB)

For more information on the guidelines for participation, read here…

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Tourism Malaysia

7 THEME PARKS IN JOHOR BAHRU

Stow the kids in the back of the car and head south to Johor this school holidays for a rolling, good time! Ever since Legoland first opened its doors there in 2012, Johor has seen even more theme park openings to fulfil every child’s dream. Here, we list out seven theme parks worth visiting during the upcoming school break.

Childhood inventions with LEGO

The Johor Legoland theme park lays claim to being the first Legoland in Asia and was recently named one of the top 10 amusement parks in Asia by TripAdvisor. Whether yourfavourite was Ninjago, Star Wars or Lego Mindstorms, you can find it all here for kids and adults alike to unleash their hands-on creativity or simply to re-live childhood dreams of inventing! Combination tickets allow visitors to explore the theme park along with the waterpark and book a room at the Legoland Hotel for triple the fun!

Awesome tip:

Legoland never fails to introduce new additions to its offerings each year. The latest addition to the already fun destination is Sea Life Malaysia, a unique and interactive sea aquarium for an educational underwater experience throughout its 11 different habitat zones.

Ticketing Price: Starting at RM150 (1-day Combo Ticket – Theme Park Water Park)
Phone No.: +607 597 8888
Email: info@legoland.my
Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
Address: Iskandar Puteri (formerly known as Nusajaya), Johor, Malaysia.

Splash away at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark!

Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark is the latest theme park to open in Malaysia. Set against a backdrop of kampung-themed surroundings, it features a unique mix of over 20 wet and dry rides, slides and attractions. Its signature and unique water features are the biggest man-made wave pools (Tidal Wave Beach) and the first water roller coaster (Kraken’s Revenge) in the region! Glide lazily along the Penawar River, enjoy splashing good fun at the Penawar Falls, or plummet down a giant funnel slide into a 24-foot drop!

Awesome tip:

Make Desaru Coast a family retreat as this integrated city resort has everything for the entire family. Besides the Adventure Waterpark, there are luxury hotel stays to pamper loved ones and international-standard golf courses facing the sea to practice your swing. Future openings include shopping malls, food and beverage outlets along with a host of entertainment and lifestyle outfits to suit the whole family.

Ticket Price: RM124 for adults, RM90 for children (MyKad holders); RM151 for adults, RM113 for children
Phone No.: +603-2203-9696
Email: info@dcawp.com
Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm Thursday to Sunday; Closed from Monday to Wednesday
Address: Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia.

Say Hello to Kitty

Fans of Hello Kitty will love spending an entire day at both Hello Kitty Town and Thomas Town indoor theme parks that are centred on these very characters.  The Hello Kitty Town at Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park allows visitors to experience Hello Kitty’s life, from dining at Cinnamoroll Cafe and parties hosted by the Strawberry King to rides and shows. The highlight of any visit is the live performances on-stage where you can take photos and interact with the larger-than-life feline and her friends, Dear Daniel, My Melody and more!

Awesome tip:

Get an extra dose of Hello Kitty by booking a Hello Kitty-themed suite at Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour by Shangri-La, Johor. Surround yourself with Hello Kitty in these hotel rooms where the wallpaper, bedding and amenities bear details of the iconic cat.

Ticket Price: Sanrio Hello Kitty Town (RM81); Thomas Town (RM81); Two-Park Pass (RM118)
Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm (Wednesday – Monday)
Phone No.: 1 300 88 FAMILY (326459) Malaysia; +603 2203 9668 Outside Malaysia
Address: Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour 79000 Nusajaya, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

Flights of Fancy with Angry Birds

Dubbed the first indoor Angry Birds Activity Park in Asia, the park covers a humongous 26,000 sq. ft. and is strategically located in KOMTAR JBCC, Johor Bahru City Centre’s newest premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. This huge indoor playground has balancing bikes, trampolines, scooters, a mini cinema, obstacle courses and more to keep any kid happy.

Awesome tip: 

If you are an Angry Birds fans, then visit the gift shop for a large collection of Angry Birds toys, stationery, yummy snacks, apparels and other merchandise are available for you to take it home.

Ticketing Price: Mycard/Mykid Holders – RM60 (Single Ticket); RM218 (Family Pass – 4 Person)
Phone No.: +607 300 5090/5091
Email: info@angrybirdsactivtypark.my
Opening Hour: 10 am – 10 pm
Address: Level 3, Komtar JBCC, Johor Bahru City Centre, 80000 Johor Bahru.


Exit Reality at Future Land Fun Zone

At Future Land Fun Zone, it is difficult for visitors to differentiate between virtual and reality…but that’s where the fun is! This indoor virtual reality theme park – the first in Johor –has all the latest technology and equipment to offer a smooth and exciting gaming experience for young and old. You can fly at the speed of fear with 360˚ flight simulators; test-drive the world’s fastest cars on a racing car simulator, lean back to enjoy a 7D cinema, test your balance on the rodeo bull simulator, get on board a virtual reality team game, and more.

Awesome tip:
Get their Loyalty Card for free and collect points with every ride you take at any of their Future Land Fun Zone outlets in Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur; The Mines Shopping Mall, Selangor; Gurney Plaza, Penang; and Sunway Pyramid (coming soon). Points are redeemable for free rides.

Ticket Price: RM60 (5 VR Games)
Phone No,: +6 019-779 5576 / +6 012-606 7550
Opening Hour: 10 am – 10 pm (open daily)
Address: Level 3, 3F-55, Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru
Website: www.senoptium.my

Cartoons galore at MCM Studio

The world’s fifth largest and Southeast Asia’s biggest indoor theme park has just opened its doors in Johor! MCM Studio, located within Johor Bahru’s largest mall, Capital 21, occupies the entire fourth floor with three thematic parks, i.e. Cartoon Planet, Music Planet and Movie Planet. The Cartoon Planet has officially opened and it looks like a treat for children especially with cartoon characters such as Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and Garfield and Odie to keep them company. Kids will love the “augmented reality and virtual reality” technology here along with indoor activities such as trampolines, bumper car rides, arts and crafts, magic shows and more.

Awesome tip:
MCM Studio is just part of the integrated development for Capital 21 shopping mall. Apart from the shopping experiences, Hilton Garden Inn and Planet Hotels, a themed concept hotel will be linked to this mall, offering more convenience for visitors wanting to stay and play here!

Ticket Price: RM128 Day Pass (Opening Promo), RM30 Gate Pass

Phone No.:  +603-2203 9696
Email:  info@mcmstudio.asia
Opening hour:  10 am to 10 pm daily
Address: Capital City Mall, Jalan Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim

The Great Outdoors at RAF Point Kampung Lukut

Thinking of having an adventure in the great outdoors in the Johor state? Relax Fun (RAF) Point located in Kampung Lukut Kota Tinggi could be the perfect destination for you. It’s far enough away from the bright lights of the city so you can be one with nature. The park, surrounded by rainforests and Mount Panti, makes a great venue for camping, survival training, extreme sports activities and paintball. Various types of activities are available here such as flying fox, tree climbing, abseiling, jungle trekking, mount climbing, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), night walks, blind trails, archery, camping and more. RAF Point received The Malaysia Book of Records award as ‘The first Single Zipline (Flying Fox) Archery in Malaysia’ and ‘The Longest Single Zipline Archery (260 meter) in Malaysia’.

Awesome tip:
Make this a trip with your school friends or corporate colleagues! Yes, RAF is the perfect destination for team building activities to build up a strong stamina and nurture individual as well as team spirit.

Phone No.: +60177447089 (Azman)/+60193328170(Raha)
Email: rafzipline@gmail.com
Address: Lot 9662, Rancangan Sg. Sendayan, Mukim Lukut, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia.