Preparing for 5.5 million tourists

Preparing for 5.5 million tourists

Tourism Malaysia Penang is aiming to attract some 5.5 million tourists to visit the state next year.

Its deputy director, Haryanty Abu Bakar, said she was confident of achieving the target based on its new activities and promotions and programmes in the pipeline.

She said it would be an exciting year as Tourism Malaysia Penang offered 33 interesting tour packages under the Visit Malaysia Year programme next year.

Haryanty said the focus would not only be on food and heritage but also recreational sports such as angling and sailing.

"We are confident of achieving the 5.5 million target," she said after launching the VMY 2014 photo sticker contest at the Penang Bridge toll plaza in Prai recently.

Travel packages worth up to RM2,000 will be given to 30 winners monthly during the three-month contest which starts on Jan 1. Participants are required to take a picture of the sticker on their cars at any tourist spot in the country, then click "Like" on Tourism Malaysia's Facebook page -- www.facebook.com/CutiCuti1Malaysia -- before uploading their pictures on the page and sharing it with 10 friends.

Haryanty said Tourism Malaysia would also be organising a two-day Countdown VMY 2014 Carnival at Queensbay Mall today as a preliminary event to Visit Malaysia Year 2014. She said some 3,000 people were expected to visit 13 booths offering tourist packages during the event.

In Perak, Tourism Malaysia Perak (TMP) director Ahmad Kamarudin Yusoff launched the contest at the Tapah Rest & Relaxation area. Ahmad said the TMP team distributed 1,000 car stickers and 500 goodie bags to motorists during the launch. -- Additional reporting by Diana Yeoh


Haryanty Abu Bakar with a motorist at the launch of the VMY 2014 sticker photo contest.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Wet wild fun in the open sea

Wet wild fun in the open sea

The first water theme park in Penang, Wet World Wild in Moonlight Bay, Batu Ferringhi, officially opens to the public today.

Touted as the first-of-its-kind open sea adventure park in Asia, the latest tourist attraction is set to be a hit among local and overseas visitors.

It features some 10 inflatable obstacles with the main activities involving rock climbing, running track, trampoline, swings, slides and human catapult.

A check by Streets yesterday showed many visitors flocking to the venue to enjoy themselves at the water theme park ahead of its soft opening.

Fida Mohd Ali, 35, and her family members were ecstatic to get the chance to enjoy the thrills at the park.

"We are a big fan of water theme parks and I am happy Penangites now do not have to travel far to enjoy them.

"The obstacles are physically challenging, it took us a while to get our footing on the float structures," said Fida.

Park manager Jackie Tsng said undersea netting were set up as a perimeter off the shoreline to ward off the jellyfish threat.

"We have installed a 400m-long netting to ensure that no jellyfish can intrude into the water theme park.

"We chose Moonlight Bay due to the calm waters here," Tsng said, adding that the theme park was supposed to open in September but was delayed due to the relocation of the venue from Bayu Senja.

Meanwhile, Wet World Wild regional account director Melvin Kuo said no jet skis would be allowed in the area for public safety.

"The park caters for non-motorised watersport, so visitors can have peace of mind while enjoying all the fun-filled family activities.

"Six lifeguards are on duty. We will deploy up to 10 lifeguards on weekends and public holidays," said Kuo.

He said the water park would be closed during inclement weather and choppy waves.

The water theme park is open from 9am to 7pm daily. Admission fee is tentatively fixed at RM40 per adult and RM30 per child.

Visitors will be allowed to use its facilities for a maximum of two hours on weekends and public holidays.

The structures were made in Germany and the current set-up is the first phase of the project.

The RM3 million theme park is the brainchild of Theme Park Concepts & Services Sdn Bhd in collaboration with the Penang Global Tourism Board.

There are five phases of the project which will be completed in one year.



~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Merry Christmas

Herbs, spice and all things nice

AMIDST the lush greenery of a hilly terrain, more than 500 visitors took time out to bask in nature's glory in conjunction with Tropical Spice Garden's (TSG) Spice Out Festival recently.

Organised by TSG to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the culture- and nature-themed event attracted visitors of all ages.

Some were trekking up the hilly paths of TSG's secondary forest while others were enjoying the garden's over 500 species of tropical flora and fauna.

Traditional games, clowns, cooking demonstrations, plein air art by Urban Sketchers and artist Marni, bird-watching activities by Malaysian Nature Society, mini guided tours and face painting were among the activities.

There were tea and coconut kiosks as well as stalls selling TSG merchandise, herbs and sandwiches.

TSG managing director Katherine Khoo said the festival was a great success.

"Spice Out was an incredible way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. It was so good to see so many kids and families enjoying the many activities we had organised," said Khoo.

"It was also nice to see so many visitors appreciating the spices at the garden.

"We plan to introduce more activities for children as well as guided tours for Visit Malaysia 2014," she said.



The postcard-perfect Tropical Spice Garden.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Privilege card for tourists

Privilege card for tourists

The Gurney Paragon Mall Tourist Privilege Card was recently launched to give tourists the opportunity to enjoy even more discounts and special deals at the mall.

Launched by the state's Tourism Development committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang, the programme currently has about 100 participating outlets.

Hunza Properties Bhd executive director Khor Siang Gin said this effort signified the mall's commitment towards promoting Penang as a key destination.

"Through this programme, tourists can benefit directly from the participating tenants," he said.

Law said: "I am pleased that Gurney Paragon has taken on this initiative to contribute to the tourism industry. We believe that a successful international tourist city depends on introducing new and exciting products, events and giving visitors an unforgettable experience."

In a press conference, Hunza Properties executive director Lily Tan said the programme was opened to all foreign tourists, as long as they showed their passports.

"Registration is free, and the card is renewable daily. So far, we have already given out 800 cards, and we hope to give out at least 1,000 cards each month. By Melissa Darlyne Chow 

Khor Siang Gin (left) and Danny Law Heng Kiang showing the Tourist Privilege Card launched by Gurney Paragon Mall.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Tranquil suburb under threat

Tranquil suburb under threat

THE sunsets on Gurney Drive -- the island's famed seafronting promenade -- are still spectacular.

The pink and orange hues at dusk do not faze daily strollers or joggers who consider themselves blessed to live on an island which offers many Kodak moments.

The question of how much longer these stunning sunsets can be enjoyed by residents of Pulau Tikus (where Gurney Drive is located) and visitors, remains to be answered, as development threatens to claim the view of Penang's skyline soon.

A massive reclamation project on the outskirts of Pulau Tikus, has seen its developer being made to surrender part of the land it reclaimed to the state authorities. The sad part is that the reclaimed plot of choice happens to include the almost 2km stretch of Gurney Drive.

Apart from daily exercise buffs being deprived of their picture-postcard view of Penang's skyline, owners of posh, sea-fronting condominiums on the strip are also likely to end up with obscured views of blue skies, the Penang channel and Kedah Peak which they have been waking up to.

To say that the peaceful existence enjoyed previously by predominantly middle-class dwellers in the tree-lined Pulau Tikus neighbourhood has been altered, would be an understatement.

Rampant and indiscriminate development, teamed with almost daily traffic snarls have ended in an upper-class neighbourhood where peaceful drives, leisurely strolls to the market or hawker stalls are a thing of the past.

The presence of two shopping malls located almost side by side, the conversion of many residential properties into commercial ones and a handful of hotels and hospitals are now choking the roads and turning peaceful side-streets and avenues into instant racing tracks for motorists.

Property prices continue to sky-rocket and affordable housing in the area is fast becoming a figment of one's imagination.

In a bid to bring some sense of order to the traffic congestion, traffic flow has been diverted into one-way routes along certain major roads in Pulau Tikus.

This has resulted in side roads suddenly becoming thoroughfares.

Besides having to contend with increased noise levels and strangers parking almost in front of one's home on a daily basis, pedestrians have found an acute shortage of pedestrian crossings in the area a source of concern.

Picture this: a wheelchair-bound medical tourist needing to navigate her way across a four-lane road to reach a shopping mall.

Even the elderly are sometimes seen clutching to the hands of strangers to cross the road to safety, due to the absence of speed bumps and pedestrian crossings.

Some small business operators in the area have claimed that trade has been affected by the rerouting of certain roads and also the mushrooming of the malls and decreasing number of parking spaces.

An online survey seeking views on how to improve the quality of life in Pulau Tikus has been launched and appears to be a feeble attempt in trying to obtain public opinions well after major decisions have already been made and taken for the neighbourhood.

The defensive stance adopted by some quarters in relation to the state of affairs in Pulau Tikus is made up mainly of finger-pointing or staying mum by those who are in a position to make a difference.

Future generations growing up in Pulau Tikus do not deserve a legacy of not being able to wake up or end the day with great sunrises and sunsets, shady trees or peaceful strolls.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Upgraded aquarium set to shine

Upgraded aquarium set to shine

The Fisheries Research Institute aquarium in Batu Maung, here, will soon reveal the results of its facelift.

The popular tourist destination that drew some 120,000 visitors a year was closed in September last year for renovation and upgrading works costing RM1.75 million.

The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of the month and the aquarium expected to be operational by early or mid-December.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Hashim

Abdullah had announced that the aquarium would be upgraded after a visit last March.

The works were supposed to have been completed before the start of school holidays this month but were delayed due to the contamination of sea water in the area.

A spokesman for the institute said the aquarium was expected to be a major tourist attraction, especially during Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

He said the most prominent change to the aquarium was the new outdoor turtle and fish ponds.

The aquarium would house more than 100 species of marine life, including various sea horse species, arowana, prawns of all sizes and other shellfish.

Some endangered marine life will also be featured in the complex, which will house more than 100 fish tanks of various sizes.

The spokesman said the complex's main tank, a huge, upgraded aquarium, would house different shark species, stingrays and other exotic fish.

The complex will also have an auditorium and mini-halls for talks, seminars and exhibitions.

Another big draw is a skeleton of a whale, which will be displayed at the entrance.

The aquarium is an effort by the institute to increase the number of tourism attractions in Penang. It was built in 1995.

It was then a basic complex to showcase the rich biodiversity of the marine life of Malaysian waters.

It also served as the institute's conservation and research centre for endangered marine life.
v Over the years, the aquarium gained popularity and became a must-visit attraction for many, including local and foreign visitors.

The good news for all prospective visitors is, the institute will retain the old admission fees, which are RM5 per adult, RM2 per child aged 7 to 12, and RM1.50 per student. Admission is free for senior citizens and disabled persons.



Renovation work is currently ongoing at the Fisheries Research Institute aquarium in Batu Maung.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~