Southeast Asia Tourism ATF 2014 <b>Kuching</b>: Most tourism ministers <b>...</b> |
- Southeast Asia Tourism ATF 2014 <b>Kuching</b>: Most tourism ministers <b>...</b>
- ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum) 2014 at <b>Kuching</b> Malaysia <b>...</b>
- <b>Kuching</b> Esplanade comes alive with DBKU event – BorneoPost <b>...</b>
- Y E E I N G N G Sweet Stuff: <b>Kuching</b> short getaway [August '13]
- Minister launches <b>Kuching</b> Marathon website – BorneoPost Online <b>...</b>
| Southeast Asia Tourism ATF 2014 <b>Kuching</b>: Most tourism ministers <b>...</b> Posted: 29 Jan 2014 12:40 AM PST One of the events that was a major disappointment during the recently-held 2014 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), held in Kuching, Malaysia, was the joint press conference by tourism ministers and senior tourism officials representing each of the ten member states, plus China, Japan and South Korea. Simply because not everyone got their fair chance to talk during the event. Blame this on several aspects, but mostly I would blame the lack of participation by the ministers by the "over-participation" of others. In all the times that I have covered ATF, the time allowed for the joint press conference is simply not conducive to a productive discourse. Sure, it was only proper that Malaysia's tourism minister, Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, spoke first, but did he have to read the lengthy "joint press release?" Journalists already had the speech in their hands before the press conference started, so it really was pointless to be reading the so-called statement given that this was the only chance that all the ministers were scheduled to face the press together. Second, Indonesia's Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu spoke way more than she should have. Sure, she was more than welcome to give her "Indonesian perspective," but on almost every single question? Also guilty of this offense is Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, who clearly had put on his "climate change expert" hat for the press briefing. He said: "On climate change awareness, we are where we hope the rest of the world will be." And finally, the moderator for the press conference did not do a good job in facilitating the press briefing. His speech in the beginning was inappropriate, as it only took more time away from those who should have been doing more talking—the rest of the tourism officials on the panel. Thailand was never given the chance to address the demonstrations in Bangkok; Cambodia was never questioned about the lack of the Ministry of Tourism's participation in the country's booming orphanage tourism; Philippines was never asked about the scientific community's growing distain of the Philippine government's inaction a week prior to Typhoon Haiyan making landfall in Tacloban; and Myanmar's tourism perspective on the ethnic cleansing of Muslims would have been an appropriate discussion to have. These issues area currently making the rounds as hot topics in the news. Why were they ignored? No disrespect to "Advancing Tourism Together" as the theme for the conference, but the joint statement sounded very much like a rehash of previous other ones. Don't they know that majority of the journalists that attend ATF do so every year? Below is the full audio of the 50-minute press briefing, which was held at the Borneo Convention Center in Kuching, Malaysia on January 20, 2014. Fifty minutes may seem like a long time to listen, but it is definitely not enough time to tackle Southeast Asia's travel and tourism industry. In addition to those already mentioned, also in attendance were Brunie's Industry and Primary Resources Minister Pehin Dato Yahya, Cambodia's Tourism Minister Thong Khon, Lao PDR's Information, Culture and Tourism Chaleune Warinthrasak, Thailand's Tourism and Sports Vice Minister Sombat Kuruphgan, Vietnam's Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan, Singapore Tourism Board's Chief Executive Lionel Yeo, China National Tourism Administration Vice Chairman Zhifa Wang, Japan's Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Senior Vice-Minister Tsuyoshi Takagi and South Korea's Culture, Sports and Tourism First Vice Minister Hyunjae CHO. Do you have a strong opinion about today's travel and tourism affairs? Whether you want to Rant And/Or Roar (ROAR), eTN 2.0 would like to hear from you. Contact Nelson Alcantara via email at na@etn.travel for more details.  |
| ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum) 2014 at <b>Kuching</b> Malaysia <b>...</b> Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:51 AM PST Published on : Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tags: ATF |
| <b>Kuching</b> Esplanade comes alive with DBKU event – BorneoPost <b>...</b> Posted: 25 Jan 2014 11:54 AM PST by Jeremy Veno, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 26, 2014, Sunday KUCHING: The normally quiet Kuching Esplanade took on a carnival-like ambience yesterday as thousands of people thronged the area for the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) 2014 Agenda. From Kuching Waterfront right up to the Open Air market, the place was jam-packed with people from all walks of life. Besides an exhibition put up by government agencies and the private sector under a giant tent erected next to Brooke Dockyard, the one kilometre-long esplanade were littered with stalls selling food, clothing items, accessories and beauty products. At one corner, DBKU representatives showed the public the correct way to plant flowers and trees. There was a makeshift stage for musical and artistic events, and several school children went on stage to sing and dance in front of the big crowd. Other attractions include chess and jigsaw puzzle competitions, street soccer contest, coconut bowling, double open dart championship, flower arrangement, cup cake decorating and instant noodle cooking competitions. DBKU 2014 Agenda was launched on Friday by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014. Later that day, a concert was held featuring local singers, including 1980s star Salwa Abdul Rahman and Limbang-born Bob AF.  To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names. |
| Y E E I N G N G Sweet Stuff: <b>Kuching</b> short getaway [August '13] Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:22 AM PST So few months ago I had a short trip to Kuching, Sarawak for the first time in my life. Ya, I've never been to Kuching. The last time I've had an impression of Kuching was the cat statue in my primary school textbook.  I like to watch the clouds. That also means I must take the window seat in the plane or I'll be bored till death. It's quite a short distance, took about 1.5 hours to reach Kuching from KL.  Dress comfy yeah! Our stay was at the Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Sucha cozy room, and we've got a good spot. Our balcony is facing the Kuching Waterfront lake!  I did an instavideo room preview at that time lololo. You can check it out here : First day pass rather fast ! Had dinner at a fancy restaurant, the food was not the best but it's still okay.  xx At that time we don't have NeeNee yet hahahaha. But still, boyfie and I decided to just stroll around the Waterfront and take some pictures.  I can't stop laughing at this hahahahhaa. I wonder what are we thinking at that time. Must be a lil' bored.    Okay! After about an hour or so strolling out there, decided to buy some snacks and back to the room to chill. Kuching is quite peaceful, it gets really quiet at night. And we're wondering where's all the happening places.  There's a lot of movies on TV. That's how we end our first night, nomming fats over movies. So cozy and comfy.  xx The next morning we woke up a bit late, fail to catch hotel breakfast lololo. Nevermind, we're gonna be hunting for some Sarawakian food.  This place. We didn't do much research since this was quite a last minute getaway. We just eat what we saw lol. I know I know! Sarawak noodle is a must try!    Pork satay yummy!   Nothing much to buy here. Hmmm   This is how the Waterfront look like during the day.  Don't know where to go.. so we went back to hotel ! I want to swim!    Yippie, blue sky. I can do this everyday.   Actually the pool quite small. So after a while of soaking in water, we decided to play tennis ball! HAHAHA. Need to rent the racket and ONE ball only. So imagine everytime we miss a ball then have to run here and there to get that ONE ball again. Super tiring. And we do this in our swimsuit. So productive fat burning! Now we can eat more ! *lol*  Bubble shower for a while. Then we're ready for seafooooood! I said I'm not a seafood person right? But I'm not that picky. The seafood here is good. So it's a MUST VISIT!  We went to TOP SPOT SEAFOOD FOOD COURT. I think this is the most famous seafood place in Kuching.  Our tummy was screaming after all those delicious cuisine ! I kinda miss this meal. Back to our room for a rest after that. We're sucha lazy fatties.  Since it's our last night in Kuching, we die die also must find a spot to drink that night. But, we walked and walked, wondering why everywhere so quiet one?! Where's all the bars ?? Even Google can't really help. But after a while of walking, we saw this small bar which was kinda filled with people. Here it was then. And one bucket of Carlsberg since we're wearing Carlsberg shirts HAHAHAHA.  Just the both of us, and one bucket of beer (which I don't really fancy downing beer), but it's okay once in a while. I'm such a cool girlfriend. HAHAHA. Head back to our hotel after an hour. We have an early flight to catch the next day. Time passes so fast! xx My customized breakfast next morning ! Apparently this was my last meal in Kuching.  It's been a while since my last getaway. I miss travelling. Ahhhh. *tears hair* Till then, xoxo |
| Minister launches <b>Kuching</b> Marathon website – BorneoPost Online <b>...</b> Posted: 21 Jan 2014 08:37 AM PST KUCHING: Distance running especially marathons can instill discipline among those who take it up and be a platform for developing a more civic conscious society says Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg. Discipline was much needed in our society as theft and destruction of public properties had cost the government dearly he noted. "These crimes have caused the state government millions of ringgit in loses especially crimes which relates to metal thefts and vandalism," said Abang Johari when announcing the Kuching Marathon 2014 and launching the Kuching Marathon Association official website at Plaza Merdeka here yesterday. He cited the theft of LED light cables at the Satok area as an example, Abang Johari said that the government had to fork out RM2.3 million to replace the stolen cables to ensure that the area remained lighted for the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF). The association's president Wong Chen Yi who also spoke disclosed that the marathon would be held on Aug 17 and runners could fill the entry forms online via the new website. "The 42 KM run is an international standard event," said Wong adding that other categories includes the 5KM run, 10KM run and 21KM run.He added the date chosen would not coincide with other major events such as the Borneo International Marathon in May, KL Marathon in June, Penang Bridge International Marathon in Nov and the Singapore Marathon in Dec. Also present at the launch was Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai, Plaza Merdeka managing director Datuk Steve Ng and India Street Pedestrian mall committee chairman Dato Wee Hong Seng. To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names. |
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