Intro4u2u

Malaysian tour operators and the states’ tourism boards participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) exposition in Dockland, near here, are satisfied with the feedback received from visitors.

The queries have generally been on the products on offer including new and existing holiday and travel packages for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign.

These include leisure holidays on resort islands, shopping opportunities as well as packages based on agriculture and nature, education, honeymoon, spa, golf, diving, fishing, marine excursion and the Malaysia My Second Home programme.

Ninety-six delegates from 60 government bodies and the private sector led by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, are taking part in the WTM held from Nov 6 to 9.

They are among 45,000 professionals representing 200 countries who converge at the four-day exposition to forge networking, negotiate business arrangements and gather the latest information on the world’s tourism industry.

The event is part of Tengku Adnan’s itinerary to promote Malaysia in Dublin, London, Glasgow and Amsterdam until Nov 12.

On the first two days of the WTM, Tengku Adnan was busy meeting the press including the BBC and the Condle Nast Traveller magazine to talk about Visit Malaysia Year 2007. He also met tour agents and operators and airline representatives.

Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) general manager Kamarulzaman Abdul Ghani said the WTM enabled Lada to promote Langkawi through the rebranding of the resort destination as a geological park (geopark).

The park covers new and existing tourist spots including the 99 islands of Langkawi.

“Lada has submitted an application to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to recognise Langkawi as among the world’s geoparks. We are waiting for Unesco to make their assessment between December and January next year,” he said when met at the Malaysia Pavilion at the WTM.

“If Unesco confers its recognition, Langkawi will be the first geopark in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Surely, this will give many advantages to Langkawi,” he said, adding that the cable car in Gunung Mat Cincang was among the attractions.

Presently, there are 30 geoparks in Europe, 18 in China and one each in Brazil and Iran.

Terengganu Industrial Development and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Awang Tera said the WTM was a platform to woo tourists to the state during Visit Terengganu Year 2008.

He said various programmes had been planned with a RM10 million fund to realise the campaign including building a new runway and terminal for the state’s airport.

“Terengganu is emphasising 12 wonders including Tasik Kenyir - the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia, Chemerong waterfall - the highest waterfall in Malaysia, Pasir Raja forest reserve which has the biggest and oldest chengal tree in Malaysia, Kuang Ajil Park which has the world’s biggest community of pheasants, and the longest stretch of beach in Malaysia from Besut to Kemaman,” he said.

Besides, he added, the state was also promoting events including the Monsoon Cup, 6.5km Swimathon from Pulau Kapas to the mainland, cuttlefish catching in Pulau Redang and the Pulau Perhentian Challenge.

Felda Plantation Resorts Sdn Bhd chief executive Andrew F. Savarinathan said his company would promote resort areas within Felda settlements.

As a start, the Felda subsidiary would focus on Tekom Plantation Resort, near Jerantut, and the Sungai Klah hotspring recreational park in Sungkai, Perak, he said.