Zoo Negara Malaysia

Minister of Tourism, today launched the Zoom! Zoo Negara and Visit Zoo Negara Year 2009 at Zoo Negara Malaysia in Hulu Kelang, Selangor.

The two events strongly complement each other in encouraging the public to visit the zoo and also to promote domestic tourism.

More importantly, this initiative will forge closer ties between Tourism Malaysia and Zoo Negara.

“The Zoom! Zoo Negara campaign is a timely event to enhance Zoo Negara’s image and at the same time it’ll also attract more foreign tourists to visit the place,” said YB Dato’ Sri Azalina.

“The Government is looking forward to see Zoo Negara to be on a par with other famous international zoos such as the San Diego Zoo, Berlin Zoo and Beijing Zoo.

The Government hopes to turn Zoo Negara into one of the biggest attractions in the Klang Valley and wants it to be included in holiday packages,” she added.

In conjunction with the Visit Zoo Negara Year 2009, numerous exciting events have been prepared throughout the year called 100 Days Programmes to help boost Zoo Negara’s image as one of the most popular tourist spots in the country for the whole family.

Among the programmes are an animal-inspired fashion show, concerts, wildlife photographer of the year competition, art auction, acrobatic show, seminars, car boot sale, Asian wildlife film and video festival, international zoo marathon, fishing competition and launching of the Zoo Negara Aquaria and Rainwater Harvesting System.

The highlight of the programmes is the appointment of KDYMM Tengku Muhammad Ismail Ibni Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Acting Sultan of Terengganu, as the Royal Wildlife Ambassador of Zoo Negara.

ZOOM! MALAYSIA CAMPAIGN

The Zoom! Malaysia campaign was launched by YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, on 14 May 2008.

The campaign is one of the Government’s efforts to promote and develop domestic tourism.

Besides promoting national integration, it also encourages Malaysians to plan their holidays and explore the various places of interest in their own country.

Such campaign will also foster stronger co-operation among members of the public and private sectors in promoting products and tourist attractions, as well as special events in the country.

For more information on Zoom! Zoo Negara, please contact:

Director, Domestic and Singapore Marketing Division, Tourism Malaysia
Tel : 03-2614 8701/02
Faks : 03-26935406
Email : enq-domesticpromotion@tourism.gov.my

For Visit Zoo Negara Year 2009, please contact:

Shahnaz Said
Assistant Head, Public Affairs & Marketing, Zoo Negara
Tel : 603-4108 3422 / 012-919 2570
Fax : 603-4107 2070
Website : http://www.zoonegara.org.my/

Source : Communications and Publicity Division, Tourism Malaysia

Website: http://www.tourism.gov.my/

The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa recently received a highly commended award in the Large Hotel Category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com.

Launched in 2004, the awards are run in association with partners World Travel Market, The Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News Service.

They are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world.

This year a record 1,976 nominations were received from travellers around the world voting for tourism ventures that provide outstanding holidays that also benefit local people and destinations.

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Mart (WTM) held at Docklands, London, on Wednesday 12th November, the Awards were handed out to the recipients.

The judges commented on Frangipani Langkawi that: “More than 80% of Frangipani’s workforce is from the local community and 40% of its food is produced on the island.

The resort also has a large environmental management programme designed for improvement, extensively planting native trees and maintaining a wetland in the resort.”

Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and Managing Director, responsibletravel.com, said: “In this, the fifth year of the awards, the bar has been raised for responsible tourism yet again.

What inspires me is the efforts that businesses and destinations are making in order to ensure that responsible tourism lies at the heart of their strategies and plans.

Without a doubt, this is the only way for the future – responsible travel is not a passing fad or a niche travel trend for marketing purposes. It is an entire, holistic approach to tourism operations.”

The award also creates awareness amongst hotels, resorts and tourism operators that there are greener operational policies that ultimately reduce environmental impacts.

Resort owner, Mr Anthony Wong, said after acknowledging the award: “The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa has implemented various greening programmes to streamline its daily operations and to minimise environmental impacts.

Since the resort’s inception in 2006, we have set out to implement various policies to reduce our impacts upon the environment.

Some 100 initiatives are in place and listed on our website and we hope these will become a model for other resorts to follow.”

Mr Wong remarked that various measures have been introduced at the resort including reducing consumption especially wastage, effectively managing energy usage to reduce wastage, using environmentally-friendly detergents, filtering the resort’s ‘grey water’ through a wetland and working with the local authorities to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to the island’s limited landfill.

“Everyone in the Frangipani community from the owners to management, staff and guests is encouraged to participate in our programmes and we find that we have the full support of all. Being an island, Langkawi has many sensitive environmental variables that need to be carefully managed if tourism on the island is to be sustainable,” said Mr Wong.

The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa is a secluded and eco-friendly resort situated along 400-metres of beautiful golden sands at Pantai Tengah, in Langkawi, a popular island resort in Malaysia. The resort is a 15-minute drive from the Langkawi International Airport and just a short walk to the island’s top restaurants, cafés, bars and shops at Pantai Tengah.

The 118-room resort offers spacious rooms, villas and suites with modern amenities. The Mentari Grill restaurant serves Asian and international cuisine, while the Coco Beach Jam bar offers stunning views of the Langkawi sunset.

Popular among families with young children, the resort’s other facilities include two swimming pools, outdoor jacuzzi, reflexology path, meeting room, recreational activities, room service, babysitting laundry, tour desk, transport services, souvenir shop and internet facilities.

Contact:
Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa
P.O. Box 138
Jalan Teluk Baru
Pantai Tengah
Mukim Kedawang
07100 Langkawi, Kedah.
T: +604 952 0000
F: +604 952 0001
E: rsvn@frangipanilangkawi.com
W: http://www.frangipanilangkawi.com/

Source : Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Is The Best International Destination 2008 – Communications & Publicity Division, Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia was recognized as the Best International Tourism Destination of 2008 by Global Traveler magazine readers.

It was Malaysia’s third straight win, having won the title in the past two years.

Global Traveler’s annual survey received responses from more than 31,000 readers of the magazine this year, most of whom were frequent premium travelers who averaged 33 round-trip flights per year.

Through the survey, they determined the best of business and leisure holiday products in 55 categories.

Winners of the 2008 survey were featured in the December issue of Global Traveler magazine, while a cocktail reception to celebrate the winners will be held on 15 January 2009 at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.

Global Traveler is a US-based business travel publication that caters mainly to executive travelers in North America who appreciate business and luxury travel.

This is the 5th year that they are conducting the survey.

Source : Tourism Malaysia

AirAsia

ICT Award Testimony to AirAsia’s Technology Excellence.

AirAsia takes the lead among companies in Malaysia in the effective use of information and communications technology (ICT) to advance business operations and offer superior services.

AirAsia’s extensive and successful use of modern ICT to support operations across all ten ASEAN countries and China earned for the airline recognition from The Association of Computer and Multimedia Industry, Malaysia (PIKOM), the country’s largest and foremost ICT industry association.

The association conferred on AirAsia the PIKOM ICT Organization Excellence Award. AirAsia Group CEO Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes received the award from Datuk Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, during the association’s recent annual leadership awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

The association conferred on AirAsia the PIKOM ICT Organization Excellence Award. AirAsia Group CEO Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes received the award from Datuk Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, during the association’s recent annual leadership awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

“Our investment in technology to grow the business across all fronts is bearing fruit. ICT has enabled us to offer cutting edge products and to continue to offer quality service to our constantly expanding passenger base. AirAsia’s use of ICT is second to none in the airline industry.

All areas of our business are supported by ICT, which allows us to be fast and efficient in servicing our guests, who use our technological tools to, among others, check flight schedules, book seats, pre-order meals and buy holiday packages. ICT has been instrumental in the success of AirAsia”

“Over 80 percent of AirAsia’s flight bookings are done via the internet.

We also utilize mobile technology to disseminate information to our guests via handheld devices.

Guests could look forward to further convenience through the services of our self check-in kiosks and web check-in facility,” he added.

PIKOM noted that AirAsia has “created an environment that accelerates the all-pervasive use of ICT across all segments of the community.”

PIKOM also said that “AirAsia has, almost literally overnight in corporate terms, demonstrated the strategic value of ICT to increase the competitiveness of businesses, promoted online booking, and helped dispel the myth that people are afraid to shop online because of network security fears.”

PIKOM’s annual awards recognize outstanding ICT industry leaders and users. PIKOM counts among its members over 1,000 companies engaged in the whole range of ICT products and services.

PIKOM’s member companies account for 80% of Malaysia’s ICT trade.

Source : Air Asia