The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is excited to release a provisional calendar for the 2021 season comprising of six rounds.

In a cautious move to give plenty of buffer for any lingering pandemic-related travel restrictions, the 2021 season will start late, beginning only in June.

The Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is expected to host the first two season openers with Round 1 taking place from June 4 to 6, followed quickly by Round 2 from June 11 to 13, 2021. The circus will then travel to the Zhuhai International Circuit in China for Round 3 from July 30 to August 1 followed by the fourth leg at The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia from September 23 to 26. Two more consecutive rounds at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand will wrap up the season with Round 5 scheduled from November 19 to 21 followed by the season finale from November 26 to 28, 2021.

Ron Hogg, Director, Two Wheels Motor Racing

“2020 has been a challenging year for all sporting events. As the promoters of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, we are grateful to all the racing teams and our corporate partners for their kind understanding and support,” said Ron Hogg, Director of Two Wheels Motor Racing.

“While the calendar is still subject to more changes, we are really looking forward to a great comeback season in 2021.”

Stephan Carapiet, President, FIM Asia

“The FIM Asia is very excited to get the action going again. We believe that a 6-round championship in 2021 will be a great way to get the ball rolling. Here at the FIM Asia, we are fully committed to the success of the comeback year and pledge our support to all the stakeholders as they work together to make this happen.”

PROVISIONAL 2021 CALENDAR

Round 1  Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA  June 4 to 6, 2021

Round 2  Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA  June 11 to 13, 2021

Round 3  Zhuhai International Circuit, CHINA  July 30 to August 1, 2021

Round 4  The Bend Motorsport Park, AUSTRALIA  September 23 to 26, 2021

Round 5  Chang International Circuit, THAILAND  November 19 to 21, 2021

Round 6  Chang International Circuit, THAILAND  November 26 to 28, 2021

Note:

·This calendar is subject to further changes.

·Dates mentioned are start of Free Practice day

Digital Marketing in Hospitality and Tourism Forum : The Values and Way Forward

Date: 4 December 2020

Time: 3.00pm-4.30pm (Malaysian Standard Time)

Zoom link (which activates on Dec 4): https://zoom.us/j/92148770639

The key aim of this webinar is to share a perspective on how tourism and hospitality companies should leverage digital media and expand to attract a larger consumer base and persuade them to buy.

KOTA KINABALU: It is good news for scuba diving enthusiasts, as the state government today announced the resumption of diving activities.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the National Security Council (NSC) has agreed with the state's decision to lift tourism restrictions for diving by taking into consideration that such recreational activity does not require physical touch.

"Diving activity can be carried out subject to certain conditions (such as) that a boat transporting divers to dive sites must not exceed 30 per cent of the carrying capacity, including the skipper.

"This is to ensure physical distancing is practiced (among divers on the boat)," he said.

While diving is allowed, Masidi said the activity should only be done within a district and that the diving location is not under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).

He stressed that divers or dive operators are not allowed to travel from one district to another for diving, noting that inter-district travel is still restricted under the current standard operating procedures (SOP) for the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

Masidi said that the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry will be issuing specific SOP for diving activity, soon.

-nst online.

Cambodia moves ASEAN Tourism Forum to 2022

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2021, originally scheduled to take place in Cambodia from January 17-23, has been postponed until January 2022.

In a statement announcing the shift of the event, Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism said: “While some countries have successfully contained the virus, resurgent cases have also been observed in other countries. With the evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cambodia and countries worldwide are still imposing restrictions on large-scale events and travel.

“Proceeding with ATF 2021 in this climate will be challenging as foreign delegations, media, sellers, buyers and trade visitors have expressed concerns about travelling.”

Highlighting that its top priority is the health and safety of all the participants of ATF 2021, the ministry called the postponement “a difficulty but necessary decision”. Revised dates will be announced as soon as possible, it added.

The annual travel trade show rotates annually between the 10 ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ATF 2021 was expected to attract more than 2,000 participants from across 25 countries, including government ministers and officials, sellers, buyers, media as well as trade visitors in the tourism industry.

Dengarkan temubual bersama En Ahmad Junaidy Yahaya, Pengarah TIC Langkawi mengenai produk pelancongan di Langkawi.

Tarikh: 3 Disember 2020 ( Khamis)

Masa: 11.15 pagi

Radio: Nasional FM

Tetamu: Encik Ahmad Junaidy, Pengarah TIC Tourism Malaysia, Langkawi

KUALA LUMPUR, 2nd December 2020 - Malaysia placed number one in four, out of six sectors in the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2020/21 announced by DinarStandard recently.

YB. Dato' Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) said, the Report's Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI) ranking scored Malaysia as the top ranked country in Muslim-friendly Travel, Halal Food, Islamic Finance and Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics sectors. Malaysia ranked second and fourth respectively in the Media & Recreation and Modest Fashion sectors.

"In realizing of huge potential of Islamic Tourism under the concept of Muslim Friendly Travel (MFT), Malaysia through MOTAC and its agency ITC will continue to increase its effort to gain more market shares through infrastructure and facilities, training, capacity building, and standards & certification and promotion by the tourism promotion boards", she added.

In Muslim-friendly Travel, the Malaysian Government ranked highest in two out of four benchmark dimensions, namely in Governance which refers to regulations related to the tourism industry, and awareness in terms of media coverage and report. ITC offered a series of free online Muslim-friendly tourism related training sessions during the crisis, covering topics such as Halal certification, the needs of the Muslim travellers and Islamic branding and marketing.

In the other two dimensions, Malaysia was placed second in Financial support for inbound tourism spend and third in the Social dimension which refers to the sector's impact on employment.

In the Muslim-friendly Travel sector, 200.3 million Muslim travellers contributed USD194 billion in travel spend in 2019, attesting to its enormous potential. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has crippled growth in this sector which is only expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2023.

Despite the severe environment, the SGIE Report found that investors are still looking at long-term growth, especially in the travel technology area. Tourism establishments seeking a share of the multi-trillion dollar market opportunity in the Islamic economy, have also applied Muslim-friendly tourism guidelines in anticipation of borders reopening and the eventual rebound of the travel and tourism sector. SGIE Report was about Muslim-friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR) programme introduced by ITC in 2019 that mushroomed in applications in 2020.

The SGIE offers a comprehensive picture of countries that are currently best positioned to address the multi-trillion dollar global halal economy opportunity. A total of 81 countries comprising OIC countries and non-OIC countries with a prominent halal industry presence were covered in the SGIE Report.

The 2020/21 SGIE Report estimates that Muslims spend USD2.02 trillion in 2019 on food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, modest fashion, media and travel. The spending reflects 3.2 per cent year-on-year growth, Muslim spends in 2020 are forecast by 8 per cent due to the impact of the pandemic.

However, the spending excludes travel is forecast to rebound by the end of 2021 and is slated to reach USD3.3 trillion by 2024, at a cumulative annual growth rate of
3.1 per cent. Islamic finance assets are estimated to have reached USD2.88 trillion in 2019 and are estimated to remain at the same level in 2020.

The 2020/21 Report has produced in partnership with SalaamGateway.com, the largest Islamic economy news and media platform. Global strategic partners of the SGIE Report this year include CIMB Islamic bank.

With Covid-19 accelerating the digital agenda among travel and tourism organisations keen to stay ahead of the game, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise PATA Beyond: Travel Recovery Solutions from February 8-11, 2021, giving travel and technology solution providers a platform to showcase their innovative products and services in the Asia-Pacific region.

The fully virtual experience will allow buyers and exhibitors from across the globe to connect and access the full event programme.

PATA CEO Mario Hardy said: “Before the outbreak of Covid-19, the travel and tourism industry was on the cusp of a technological revolution, however, the pandemic has greatly accelerated the shift to industry 4.0 with the rise of virtual events and meetings, contactless payments, contact tracing software, etc.

“Furthermore, the pandemic has greatly shifted travellers’ behaviours, travel-planning habits and expectations, while creating a new set of protocols and guidelines for the industry to implement.

“In the post Covid-19 era, the businesses that will dominate the landscape will be those that are agile and efficient, embrace technology, have a distributed workforce, and offer a mix of physical and digital assets in their service offerings.”

The four-day event will showcase organisations whose products, platforms or services – both tech and non-tech solutions – can play a role in the next evolution of the travel and tourism landscape. In addition, the event will include panel discussions, live pitch sessions and other opportunities for participants to connect with key decision-makers of tourism organisations from both the public and private sectors, drawing from the vast network of PATA members, chapters and online community around the world.

Organisations providing travel recovery solutions in data, insights and analytics; payment technology; health/hygiene; consulting/advisory; security management; technology infrastructure; smartphone/mobile; sustainability/social responsibility; virtual experiences, and artificial intelligence/AR/VR, are invited to exhibit at the event.

In support of its members and industry colleagues, PATA is offering exhibition fees at significantly below market rates. PATA members can take advantage of the complimentary exhibitor package, while the fee for PATA Chapter members is US$250 and US$500 for non-members. Visitor registration is complimentary for all.

“Whether you work in digital, operations or marketing within the travel sector, PATA Beyond provides you with the perfect opportunity to meet with leading solution providers of key technologies and innovative approaches to embrace the next evolution of the travel and tourism industry,” added Hardy.

For more information about exhibiting, registration or sponsorship opportunities, click here or email events@PATA.org.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism industry players believe that the much-awaited nod on inter-state and inter-district travels, except for areas under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), will allow them to get their businesses back on track.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the government's decision to lift the ban was a good start ahead of the festive and holiday season.

"The recent Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) has been demoralising due to travel restrictions. Therefore, we welcome the announcement as it would boost domestic tourism," he said.

However, Tan hoped that the authorities would relax the conditions for those wishing to enter Sabah. Currently, those wishing to do so must undergo the RT-PCR or RTK-Ag Covid-19 test three days before their journey.

Tan said by lifting the requirements, it could further promote travel and subsequently encourage people to visit the state.

He said tourism industry players are hoping that the Covid-19 pandemic will be further contained as it is crucial to have stability in order for economic activities to function normally.

Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that inter-state and district travels will be allowed starting tomorrow (Monday), except for areas placed under EMCO.

He said the move was necessary to strike a balance between improving the country's economy and health.

Previously, inter-state and districts were not allowed for states or localities that were placed under the CMCO.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) said the latest announcement must be well supported with clear guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP) to ensure that there are no doubts in execution.

MAH chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng said although the current situation is not as favourable as the initial Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) in June, which had driven up domestic tourism, tourism and hotel industry players were hoping that it would encourage people to travel safely.

"This move should drive essential travel further such as for business or even corporate events that would help support recovery for the tourism industry, especially hotels.

"We have long requested for reinstatement of business events as well as ancillary facilities in hotels. With necessary SOPs in place, events can be held in a controlled environment for added assurance of safety and health.

"We still need to ensure that the SOPs are clear, for travel assurance and to build confidence. The current situation especially in Kuala Lumpur is cause for concern and the government needs to step up on compliance with the SOP, rather than restricting activities."

-nst online.

PUTRAJAYA, 7 DECEMBER 2020: Malaysia continues to record negative growth for the national tourism performance overall, due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic which has impacted the tourism sector globally.

In terms of tourist arrivals to the country, Malaysia welcomed 4,299,419 tourists from January until September 2020. In comparison, Malaysia welcomed over 20.1 million tourist arrivals for the same period last year, showing a marked decrease of 78.6%.

For the same period, Malaysia received a total of RM12.6 billion, a decrease of 80.9% compared to RM66.1 billion received last year. Similarly, the per capita expenditure showed a decline of 10.7% from RM3,289.30 in 2019 to RM2,938.40 this year. 

The top ten tourist generating markets continue to be dominated by Singapore (1,543,627), Indonesia (710,118), China (403,055), Thailand (372,075), India (155,448), Brunei (135,848), South Korea (119,364), Japan (73,891), Australia (72,369) and Philippines (65,601).

Negative growth had been observed for tourists from every regional market namely short-haul market or ASEAN (-78.8%), medium-haul market (-80.0%) and long-haul market (-74.0%).

In terms of the number of excursionists, or the daily visitors to the country, Malaysia recorded a total of 1,733,101 arrivals from January to September 2020, a decrease of 74.9% compared to 6,905,378 excursionists who visited Malaysia in the same period last year.

The continued decline in the number of arrivals is due to the closure of international borders since March 18, which is a part of the government’s proactive decision in its efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

As a result of the huge impact of the pandemic on the global community, other countries too are not spared from the effects on their tourism performance. 

According to the data from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), neighbouring ASEAN countries including Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia recorded similar decrease of more than 70 percent due to certain travel restrictions imposed to combat the pandemic in the respective countries.

Please visit Tourism Malaysia’s Statistics to view the breakdown of the figures.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park will open in Bukit Nanas come 2023

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has plans to triple their number of hotels in Malaysia over the next five years – from the present four properties to more than 14 hotels across six brands.

Rajit Sukumaran, managing director, South East Asia & Korea, IHG, expressed long-term confidence in the Malaysian market, despite the coronavirus pandemic’s continued impact on the hospitality industry.

He said in a press release: “There is still plenty of reason for optimism. History tells us that travel will return and, as demand comes back, we’ll be well-positioned to welcome guests to our hotels – and continue to grow.

“There’ll clearly be bumps in the road, but governments across South-east Asia and (South) Korea have reacted to reduce the spread of Covid-19, which means that, in most markets, we have seen restrictions start to ease and the easier movement of people domestically, even if borders remain closed.”

Serena Lim, vice president, development, South East Asia & Korea, IHG, explained that Malaysia is an important part of IHG’s overall growth strategy and the mainstream hotel segment is key to the company’s expansion in Malaysia.

She said: “Mainstream travel is proving to be the most resilient to the crisis around the world, and it’s where we are seeing occupancy levels rebuild the quickest. We see it as key to our growth in peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia, where we are seeking to unlock secondary markets such as Ipoh, Alor Setar, Kuching and Miri.

“We know that, when the pandemic is behind us, we will see more conversions as independent hotel owners look to bring the IHG brand strength, know-how, and system delivery to their hotels.”

Lim explained that another part of IHG’s growth strategy is to introduce new luxury and lifestyle brands to the country, such as Kimpton and Hotel Indigo, both of which are set to launch in Kuala Lumpur come 2023.

The 471-room Kimpton Kuala Lumpur will be situated in the Tun Razak Exchange area, a new financial district currently being developed in Kuala Lumpur; while the 180-key Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park will open at the base of the picturesque Bukit Nanas.

Next year, IHG will also introduce its upscale brand Crowne Plaza in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. The group will also debut its Regent brand in Malaysia, with the slated 2022 opening of the Regent Kuala Lumpur.

-TTG Asia.

PUTRAJAYA, 10 DECEMBER 2020 – Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri has graciously presented a certificate of appreciation to international social media influencer, Trevor James, also known as The Food Ranger.

This is in line with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) effort in revitalising Malaysia’s tourism sector. MOTAC through Tourism Malaysia has collaborated with Canadian-born food vlogger Trevor James through his social media platforms, famously known as The Food Ranger. James and his wife, Xie Chuiting, moved to Malaysia in 2019 under the Malaysia My Second Home Programme. James has been filming food and travel vlogs since March 2013 and his YouTube channel has grown to have more than 4 million subscribers today.

Trevor James and Xie Chuiting have developed a fondness towards Malaysia after visiting on numerous trips over the years and decided to move to Kuala Lumpur. He has since been promoting Malaysia as the best destination for travel in Asia to both his YouTube and Facebook followers of more than 13 million. Since his first food trip to Malaysia in 2014, James has showcased numerous attractions throughout the country and has encouraged his followers to visit for themselves and experience Malaysia’s multiculturalism, gastronomy, and scenic destinations.

Recently, Trevor James has produced a series of food exploration vlogs titled The Ultimate Malaysian Road Trip which are uploaded on his social media platform in September and October 2020. This programme involves destinations of traditional and popular local delicacies in the states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. In this collaboration, James has uploaded a series of food vlogs featuring the Malaysia Truly Asia logo, the international campaign for promoting destinations in Malaysia.

In the series, James travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan by road for a purely food-based journey, bringing viewers along to many unique locations and restaurants around Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan. Some highlights from the trip were Ikan Patin Tempoyak in Temerloh, Ikan Bakar Petai in Kuantan, White Laksam in the beautiful Kampung Jambu Bongkok in Terengganu, Ikan Celup Tepung, Ketupat Sotong, Satar, Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Dagang, Akok, and many more.

Through this collaboration, the total value of publicity/ reach exposure received by Tourism Malaysia on The Food Ranger’s Facebook page is 128 million views and 262 million impressions, as well as 5 million views for 7 videos on The Food Ranger’s YouTube channel.

Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri hopes that such collaborations will continue and more international influencers in Malaysia will be recognised. “In this era of digitalisation and social media, we hope that more international influencers will come over, like what Trevor has done, to help promote the Malaysian tourism industry. We also hope that Trevor’s work is the beginning of similar joint efforts and will open doors to more collaborations in the future.”

For the preview of The Ultimate Malaysian Road Trip series, visit https://youtu.be/w4FUV0Edb4o.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Firefly Airlines, which currently only operates turboprop services within Malaysia, will commence jet operations next month from its northern hub in Penang to three destinations – Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Johor Bahru.

It will start with twice-daily services between Penang and Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, and thrice-daily services between Penang and Johor Bahru. These services will be operated with a trio of B737-800 narrow body jets using excess aircraft from sister company, Malaysia Airlines.

Firefly CEO Phillip See shared that the flights will be code shared with Malaysia Airlines and customers can accrue and redeem Enrich points. In terms of product differentiation, Firefly will offer low-cost carrier products where guests can select their desired products and services.

See described this as a “DIY concept”, while at the same time, guests will also enjoy full benefits of being part of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG).

“Penang (as a northern hub for jet services) is a great place to start because it has a great mixture of leisure and corporate business,” said See, who was speaking at the fifth edition of BE@Penang, a two-day virtual conference organised by Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, which commenced on December 10.

The setup of Firefly’s Penang hub jet operations will require minimal investment by MAG in 2021, with an expected increase in production, measured in average seat per kilometre, by 36 per cent over the next five years.

KLIA, 10 December 2020: MHholidays, the tour operating arm of Malaysia Airlines, today launched its first ever online fair, the MHholidays Travel Festival running for 10 days until 20 December 2020 for immediate travel up to 30 June 2021.

Concurrently, Malaysia Airlines will be extending its Cuti Malaysia Stimulus incentive until 20 December 2020, offering up to RM200 rebates on flights to local destinations following the lift in restriction for interstate travel. *

According to Malaysia Airlines Group Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Lau Yin May, “As the national carrier, we are committed to play our part in stimulating domestic travel with these great bargains from the MHholidays Travel Festival. Customers get to enjoy up to 25% discount off on all flights and hotel packages in Langkawi, Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Johor Bahru. For every 30th booking, customers have the opportunity to enjoy a free upgrade to Business Class. On top of that, all Enrich members are entitled to earn Enrich Miles for all domestic flights booked throughout the travel fair booking period.

In line with our Fly Confidently campaign, we have put in place stringent safety and health measures throughout customers’ entire journey to ensure their peace of mind when travelling with us and most importantly, to assure them of a safe flight. These measures include mandatory usage of face masks and frequent aircraft disinfection for a refined inflight experience to comply with social distancing requirements and minimal contact, as well as the assurance of the aircraft HEPA filters which are proven to filter out 99.97 per cent of viruses on board.

Besides flight and hotel packages, customers also enjoy an amazing line-up of deals from partners like Legoland Malaysia Resort, Eat Cake Today, Lazada and Watsons. Customers looking for a quick year-end getaway can grab Legoland Malaysia Resorts’ offers of 40% off on 1-Day tickets to its theme parks, and a 2day/1night stay at its themed room hotel for only RM400nett. Whether it’s a quick getaway, last minute gift shopping, or indulging your sweet tooth, there’s something for everyone with the many great discounts from MHholidays’ partners.

On top of these deals, MHholidays’ customers could win a stay at The Datai Langkawi, a 5-star luxury resort located on the mystical island of Langkawi Island, when they participate in the MHholidays Travel Festival contest from 10 December to 20 December 2020. All they have to do is to answer the question, ‘Tell us why MHholidays is your preferred holiday partner and why you deserve to stay at The Datai Langkawi’. More details on the contest are available on the official website https://holidays.malaysiaairlines.com/mhholidays-home.html.

As part of the Fly Malaysia campaign that was created to help promote national tourism, MHholidays recently launched its latest product called Trip and Tours, offering a wide selection of activities, attractions, and experiences in addition to the existing flight and hotel packages to support the Government's effort to revitalize domestic travel sector.

The new feature adds greater flexibility and convenience for customers to personalize their travel with over 40,000 best travel experiences worldwide. These include trips, concerts, attractions, museums,and excursions across 1,000 international and domestic cities within and beyond the Malaysia Airlines’ network.

The latest feature allows customers to book their preferred travel experience any time, even at the last minute, from the best selection available, including skip-the-line options at the most iconic top attractions worldwide.

Looking for a fresh experience or new attraction to enjoy during your next holiday? Head to MHholidays at holidays.malaysiaairlines.com to find your next unforgettable travel memory! To make sure you never miss out on great deals like these as well as our many exciting and exclusive promotions, download the Malaysia Airlines app today!

Endau Rompin National Park (TNJER) in Johor has been nominated as an Asean Heritage Park (AHP), which will make it Malaysia’s fourth national park to be declared as a protected ecological area. - NSTP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Endau Rompin National Park (TNJER) in Johor has been nominated as an Asean Heritage Park (AHP), which will make it Malaysia's fourth national park to be declared as a protected ecological area.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said 90 per cent of TNJER is covered with tropical rainforest, and is a well-preserved ecosystem with almost the whole protected area surrounded by forest reserves.

The three other AHPs in the country are the National Park (Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu), Kinabalu National Park (Sabah), and Gunung Mulu National Park (Sarawak).

"TNJER's nomination as an AHP will, among other things, improve the image of TNJER as an important conservation area in Johor, and a second national park in the peninsula.

"It will also strengthen TNJER's management based on best management practices on par with regional and international management of protected areas, and improve the network and cooperation between protected areas locally and internationally.

"The ministry will present nomination documents to the AHP secretariat in the Philippines to be considered by the Asean working group and approved by Asean ministers in 2021," he said in a statement today.

Shamsul said TNJER contains 80 threatened plant species listed under the Endangered Species International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, including 38 critically-endangered species, 16 endangered species, and 26 vulnerable species.

He added that TNJER is also an important habitat for the conservation of large threatened mammals, especially the Malayan Tiger, the Malayan Tapir, the Malayan Sun Bear and the Asian Elephant.

TNJER's nomination, he said, mirrors Malaysia's efforts in preserving and recognising protected areas as invaluable national treasures.

"I urge all state governments to also take the initiative to present nominations to obtain international recognition such as an AHP.

"Such recognition will help in terms of tourism not just in Malaysia and Asean, but also worldwide.

"However, before ecotourism potential is explored aggressively, development and management of ecotourism areas must be done in a sustainable manner to ensure existing flora, fauna, and ecosystem are protected," said Shamsul.

He added that to achieve this, capacity research must be conducted and ecotourism players must ensure that the capacity limit is adhered to.

This effort, he said, is also in line with Asean's hopes that protective conservation measures are made to maintain ecological process and genetic diversity, ensure the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as preserve the environment in terms of culture, education, research, recreation, and ecotourism.

-nst online.

KUALA LUMPUR: The hotel industry is hoping that people will reinstate cancelled plans for year-end holidays, with the lifting of the travel ban since Dec 7.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng yesterday said the government's decision was timely and that locals should take advantage of deals and promotions that hotels had organised for the domestic market.

"While locals will target popular destinations such as Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh and Genting Highlands, we are confident Malaysians will find other less-travelled destinations in the country with exciting offers from hotels and tourism players."

Yap, however said, the Klang Valley, particularly Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, with its extended Conditional Movement Control Order until Dec 20, and daily increases in Covid-19 cases, would not see much improvement in tourism activities.

He said the average hotel occupancy rate for this month was expected to be 30 per cent and unlikely to exceed the projected figure.

Based on MAH's latest survey on Oct 16, the hotel occupancy rate this month in mainland Kedah and Perlis is expected to be 9.78 per cent, Langkawi (27.76 per cent), Penang (28.89 per cent), Perak (39.77 per cent), Selangor (34.33 per cent), Kuala Lumpur (27.32 per cent), Negri Sembilan (42.24 per cent), Melaka (38.86 per cent), Johor (37.83 per cent), Pahang (27.31 per cent), Terengganu (24.79 per cent), Kelantan (29.13 per cent), Sabah (13.64 per cent) and Sarawak (28.62 per cent).

On Dec 5, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced that interstate and interdistrict travel would be allowed from Dec 7, except for areas under the Enhanced Movement Control Order. 

The much-awaited nod, according to the tourism industry players, would allow them to get their businesses back on track. 

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri had said the tourism industry suffered losses amounting to RM45 billion from January to June. 

She said tourism was one of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus and was expected to be the last to recover. 

On projections for next year, Yap said with international borders still restricted, the industry was expected to be highly dependent on domestic tourism.

"However, due to the low yield of domestic travel, the tourism industry, especially hotels, can only hope to survive with domestic revenue, with little or no profits whatsoever."

He added that since the spike in Covid-19 cases at the end of September until Oct 16, 63.10 per cent of hotels in the country suffered cancellation of events.

"This has resulted in loss of revenue worth RM35.6 million." 

He said the strategy to offer special and discounted deals with flexible stay periods and terms could help hotels with immediate cash flow. 

However, he said, for the medium and long terms, wider and inclusive strategies were needed.

"The industry will need international travel bubbles to be established as soon as possible.

"We need a blueprint on reopening borders, with selected bubbles and their corresponding set of requirements such as special insurance, healthcare deposits, as well as movement tracking guidelines and mechanism. 

"These will ensure minimal interruptions to travel itineraries while remaining under the close observation of the health authorities."

-nst online.

photo: Tourism Malaysia/kamal

13 Disember 2020 - Perigi Tujuh Serendah merupakan antara 11 butiran di daerah Hulu Selangor / Negeri Selangor yang berada dalam Senarai Inventori Jabatan Warisan Negara (JWN) di bawah Akta Warisan Kebangsaan 2005 [Akta 645] bagi tujuan penyelidikan dan kajian lanjut sebelum diwartakan.

Sekiranya memenuhi kriteria, tapak ini boleh dicadang untuk diangkat statusnya menjadi Warisan Kebangsaan.

Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya, Dato' Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri berkata seperti mana juga kerjasama yang telah dijalinkan dengan semua pihak terlibat di seluruh negara, MOTAC akan bekerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan di kawasan Hulu Selangor bagi memastikan tempat-tempat menarik di kawasan tersebut diketengahkan sebagai produk pelancongan negara.

Pewartaan ini boleh memberi nilai tambah kepada tarikan sektor pelancongan, selain untuk memulihara, memelihara dan melindungi khazanah warisan yang terdapat pada tapak Perigi Tujuh tersebut.

Dato' Sri Hajah Nancy berkata demikian dalam Siri Jelajah Semarak Pelancongan Domestik di Hulu Selangor bagi meninjau keadaan kemudahan pelancongan di situ.
Turut serta dalam misi tersebut Ketua Setiausaha MOTAC, Dato' Dr Noor Zari Hamat dan pengurusan tertinggi Kementerian MOTAC.

Dato' Sri Hajah Nancy sebelum itu diberi taklimat oleh Ahli Parlimen Hulu Selangor, YB June Leow Hsiad Hui dan Exco Pelancongan, Alam Sekitar dan Teknologi Hijau, Hal Ehwal Orang Asli, YB Tuan Hee Loy Sian.

Meskipun Perigi Tujuh Serendah adalah di bawah seliaan Jabatan Pengairan Saliran Daerah Hulu Selangor yang bertanggungjawab dalam melaksanakan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan di persekitaran perigi tujuh tersebut, MOTAC katanya dari masa ke semasa akan sentiasa berbincang bagi tujuan penambahbaikan yang boleh dilakukan di kawasan ini.

-MOTAC.

Setelah menerima lampu hijau untuk menyambung semula aktiviti sukan tanpa sentuhan, Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS dengan sukacitanya mengumumkan empat pusingan berturut-turut untuk menamatkan musim 2020.

Kalendar terkini dari Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS sedikit berbeza dari yang biasa, di mana empat pusingan terakhir musim 2020 akan diselesaikan melalui enam hari perlumbaan berturut-turut di Litar Utara  Sepang Circuit.

Kalendar untuk separuh kedua Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS 2020 adalah seperti berikut:

Pusingan 5 & 6 Sepang Utara - 18 hingga 20 Disember 2020

Pusingan 7 & 8 Sepang Utara - 22 hingga 24 Disember 2020

"Tidak diragukan, jadual perlumbaan sebegini sememangnya amat membebankan pasukan dan pelumba. Namun, semua pasukan Cub Prix telah bersetuju bahawa ini adalah cara paling selamat untuk menamatkan musim ini,” kata Ron Hogg, Pengarah Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd, penganjur perlumbaan Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS. 

“Bagi pihak warga Cub Prix, kami ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Negara (KBS), Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN), Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) serta semua agensi-agensi kerajaan yang terlibat di atas kelulusan khas ini. Terutamanya kepada YB Menteri Belia dan Sukan yang amat prihatin terhadap keperitan yang dialami oleh pengiat sukan permotoran dalam situasi ini. Semoga kelulusan yang diberikan ini menjadi sinar agar sektor sukan dapat dibuka semula seperti mana yang dimaklumkan oleh Menteri Kanan Pertahanan dan Menteri Belia dan Sukan. Yang pastinya, warga Cub Prix akan mematuhi segala SOP yang ditetapkan bagi mengelakkan sebarang perkara yang tak diingini berlaku.”

Menepati SOP penganjuran sukan semasa, empat pusingan terakhir Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS akan berlangsung tanpa kehadiran penonton. Meskipun demikian, para peminat sukan permotoran tempatan boleh mengikuti aksi-aksi hebat dari empat pusingan terakhir ini secara langsung di laman Facebook Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS, TV2, RTM Sports, Astro SuperSports Saluran 811 dan Astro Arena.

-Malaysian Cub Prix.

Sepang: Tourism Malaysia bercadang memperluas pakej istimewa kempen Cuti-cuti Malaysia khusus untuk penjawat awam di negeri-negeri lain bermula awal tahun depan.

Pengarah Kanan Domestik dan Acara Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar berkata, pakej fasa pertama yang tertumpu di Lembah Klang akan diperluas ke lima negeri iaitu Johor, Pulau Pinang, Pahang, Sabah dan Sarawak.

Katanya, kempen itu adalah inisiatif Tourism Malaysia bagi membantu merancakkan industri pelancongan domestik selepas pengusaha berhadapan kerugian sepanjang pelaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) bermula 18 Mac lalu.

"Kempen fasa pertama di Lembah Klang bermula September lalu mendapat sambutan menggalakkan daripada kakitangan kerajaan kerana mereka menerima potongan harga sehingga 30 peratus di lokasi yang menawarkan pekej pelancongan," katanya kepada selepas merasmikan program Makan Angin & Support Lokal di Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort di sini, tadi.

Turut hadir, Pengarah Urusan Colombia Leisure,Jason Ow Yeang dan Pengarah Urusan Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort, Yogeswaran Veerasamy.

Pada majlis itu, Colombia Leisure turut mengadakan kerjasama dengan Avani Sepang Goldcoast bagi mempromosi pelancongan domestik di resort berkenaan.

Melalui kerjasama itu, pelanggan boleh mendapatkan pakej pelancongan berharga RM399 melalui Columbia Leisure bermula 12 Disember sehingga 15 Februari 2021 serta berpeluang memenangi hadiah cabutan bertuah sebuah kereta Perodua Axia, barangan elektrik dan telefon pintar.

Pakej fasa pertama Kempen Cuti-cuti Malaysia khas penjawat awam dilancarkan pada September lalu oleh Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri sehingga Mac 2021.

Ammar berkata, pakej fasa kedua membabitkan lima negeri itu dijangka dilancarkan oleh Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya awal Januari ini, manakala tempoh kempen fasa pertama akan dipanjangkan sehingga penghujung 2021.

Menurut beliau, pakej istimewa kempen Cuti-cuti Malaysia khas untuk penjawat awam itu bertujuan membantu kerajaan meningkat pendapatan dalam bidang pelancongan kerana golongan ini tidak terjejas pendapatan sepanjang tempoh PKP berbanding yang bekerja di sektor swasta dan bidang perniagaan.

Katanya, penjawat awam hanya perlu menunjukkan kad pengenalan diri kerajaan apabila mengunjungi tempat-tempat pelancongan yang menyertai kempen berkenaan.

"Bagi orang awam yang ingin melancong, mereka boleh membuat pemilihan di tempat-tempat yang menawarkan potongan harga serta bersesuaian dengan bajet.

"Orang ramai juga dinasihati berwaspada dengan promosi ditawarkan supaya mereka tidak ditipu oleh pihak tidak bertanggungjawab serta ejen pelancongan tidak berlesen hingga menyebabkan kerugian," katanya.

Sementara itu, Jason berkata, pihaknya bercadang memperluas program Makan Angin & Support Lokal itu ke beberapa negeri iaitu Negeri Sembilan, Perak dan Pulau Pinang menjelang awal tahun depan.

Katanya, dengan cara itu ia dapat membantu melonjakkan industri pelancongan di negeri terbabit selain membantu pengusaha selepas berhadapan kerugian akibat pandemik Covid-19.

KUALA TERENGGANU,17 Disember - Bagi melonjakkan sektor pelancongan negeri, Terengganu hari ini mengumumkan 2021 sebagai Tahun Melawat Kenyir (TMK2021).

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Teknologi Digital negeri, Ariffin Deraman berkata, inisiatif anjuran Lembaga Kemajuan Terengganu Tengah (Ketengah) memilih Tasik Kenyir kerana destinasi ekopelancongan tersohor itu mempunyai pelbagai produk yang digemari pengunjung.

“Produk yang boleh diterokai oleh pelancong seperti Santuari Kelah, Kenyir Elephant Conservation Village (KECV), Taman Herba, Taman Orkid, Air Terjun Lasir dan Sungai Saok, Gua Bewah dan Gua Taat, Zon Bebas Tasik Kenyir dan pelbagai lagi.

“TMK2021 yang julung-julung kali diadakan ini akan dimeriahkan lagi dengan pelbagai program menarik sepanjang tahun sekali gus memperkukuhkan Tasik Kenyir sebagai destinasi pelancongan wajib sekiranya berkunjung ke Terengganu.

“Acara-acara yang dirancang telah memfokuskan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat dan akan menarik lebih ramai peminat sukan lasak kerana ekologi yang terdapat di Tasik Kenyir membuka ruang acara sebegini dilaksanakan,” katanya kepada Urus Setia Penerangan Darul Iman (UPDI).

Mengulas lanjut, beliau berkata, penganjuran TMK2021 juga antara lain untuk merancakkan kembali ekonomi pemain pelancongan yang terbantut dek penangan COVID-19. 

“Dengan adanya penganjuran sebegini yang diatur secara berpanjangan dan penekanan kepada pelancongan komuniti setempat (community based tourism).

“Ia juga akan memberi impak positif kepada penggiat pelancongan yang terdiri daripada pengusaha bot laju, pengusaha rumah bot dan pengusaha kedai makan dan juga komuniti setempat,” tambah beliau.