One would think that efforts to renovate and restore one of the most important heritage buildings in a UNESCO-status Heritage City in the country would go more smoothly compared to other projects. Apparently this is not so, following reports that only 20 out of 35 carpenters and artisans from China have been given permits to come to Penang to work on the 211-year-old Goddess of Mercy Temple.
Why All the Hate, Indonesia?
Nationalism seems to be out of control in Indonesia, and using an outsider as a scapegoat is an easy excuse to unite a people. As Malaysia has been quite a good neighbour, it can be assumed that all the ‘hate’ is due to politics as statistics show that 2.7 million Indonesian tourists are expected to visit Malaysia, up from 2.5 million last year, it was reported recently.
Tune Hotel Coming Soon to Ipoh
Have you heard that news? Tune Hotel is opening in Ipoh come March 2012. An article carried the story about the latest expansion with the Datuk Bandar of Ipoh, Datuk Roshidi Hashim saying that the hotel’s opening will further spice up the development of the city.
Poor Terrapins
A recent report highlighted the sad plight of terrapins at the Bota Kanan river terrapin conservation centre in central Perak. According to visitors Albert Low and his wife Michelle Boey, the ponds, where breeding terrapins were kept, were murky and smelly. The unkempt conditions of the centre aside, Boey said the facility served a purpose and she found her visit there to be educational.
Kelantan: RM2.3billion in 2010
Unbeknownst to Malaysians, Kelantan is a hit among tourists. It was reported that the state raked in RM2.3 Billion From Tourism In 2010. According to Tourism Malaysia Kelantan director Sulaiman Ismail, tourist arrivals and tourism revenue have been growing at an average of 10 per cent a year in the state.
Discounts on Everything at KLIA2
If you see this sign at klia2, it will not mean that you are going to get a major discount on your flight anytime soon. So, why the sign? According to reports, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd has unveiled its highly-anticipated retail proposition for its next generation hub, klia2, urging retailers to work together to shape new trends in travel retail shopping.
Chinese To Change World Tourism
The title of a recent article caught our eye. Chinese Tourists To Reshape Global Travel Industry. We started wondering just how much the industry would change. After all, the global travel industry managed to deal with the Japanese tourists, who usually came in busloads, eager, wide-eyed and always ready to capture the world with their cameras.
Berjaya Returns to Pangkor
Pangkor Island in the state of Perak offers stressed out urbanites a quiet getaway, but it has not been all that convenient for travellers to get there since Berjaya Air suspended its services due to the impact of the 2009 global economic crisis.
Derailed Again?
A recent report highlighted that the operator of Malacca monorail, Menara Taming Sari Sdn Bhd was given a 48-hour suspension order following an incident two days earlier when two British tourists were trapped after the service came to a sudden halt. According to the Chief Minister, it was only a small glitch caused by the air pressure of the sliding doors and it was unable to close fully, causing the train to stop.
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