ROUTES ASIA: SilkAir Grows to Meet Demand on <b>Kuching</b> Route <b>...</b> |
- ROUTES ASIA: SilkAir Grows to Meet Demand on <b>Kuching</b> Route <b>...</b>
- ROUTES ASIA: The Business of the Events Industry in <b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b>
- ROUTES ASIA: Sarawak Tourism Works on Reimaging <b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b>
- Abg Jo: JCI <b>Kuching</b> has positive impact for 2030 BorneoPost <b>...</b>
- Mitsubishi launches new Triton VGT GS in <b>Kuching</b> BorneoPost <b>...</b>
- PATA Chief says <b>Kuching</b>' s got it right as a global destination <b>...</b>
| ROUTES ASIA: SilkAir Grows to Meet Demand on <b>Kuching</b> Route <b>...</b> Posted: 07 Mar 2014 11:57 PM PST 
The reason for State Government of Sarawak and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad hosting Routes Asia is to boost the international awareness of Kuching and Sarawak to the airline community. One airline that already serves the region is Singaporean carrier SilkAir and The HUB Daily spoke to its vice president commercial, Ryan Pua, ahead of the forum to learn more about the market from an airline perspective SilkAir began its services to Kuching in March 2005, and it is one of 45 destinations served by the carrier, the regional division of Singapore Airlines (SIA). "Flying into Kuching keeps up with our commitment to present exciting and exotic Asian destinations for our customers and our efforts have seen strong support from the Sarawak state government," said Pua. The carrier initially operated three return flights per week but since October 2013 it has been flying a fourth weekly rotation, a network growth that is being maintained during the forthcoming northern summer schedule which launches later this month. "When Kuching comes to mind, many view it as simply another city in Malaysia. But when you take a closer look, you will find that part of Kuching's attractiveness is in its preservation of history, heritage, wildlife and rainforests," said Pua "The city is appealing as an international destination and viable as a global route because of the diverse attractions on offer to the globe-trotting traveller. Kuching is also a part of the larger state of Sarawak connecting travellers to other major towns such as Bintulu, Sibu and Miri use the city to fly out of the state," he added. Kuching certainly has a lot to offer the traveller. History lovers roving around Kuching can learn about Sarawak's rich history at Fort Magherita and the Sarawak State Museum while wildlife lovers can observe orang utans up close at the Semenggoh wildlife rehabilitation centre, located 24 kilometres from the city. Those keen on nature can go to one of Sarawak's more popular national park, the Bako National Park, while hikers can climb one of the three peaks at the Kubah National Park, visible even from the Kuching waterfront. "Kuching is not only a gateway to rich heritage, breathtaking sights and wildlife, it also celebrates its diversity in a big way," said Pua. A perfect way to get introduced to these cultures is through the Sarawak Cultural Village in Pantai Santubong where travellers experience a 'Living Museum' of different traditions and heritage of people living in Sarawak. Pua believes a hub connection to destinations such as its Changi Airport base in Singapore will only improve its appeal to business travellers, albeit the current flight frequency could impact this. "Tapping into the business traveller market is bound to open up opportunities for leisure travel, so Kuching needs to continue working on improving its infrastructure and boosting awareness of its attractions and services," he said. Institutions such as the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) have been working very hard to draw the MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferences, Conventions, and Exhibitions and Events) traffic to Kuching, including this week's Routes Asia forum. "Events like this will only benefit Kuching and introduce the city to a wider audience and showcase its potential," he added. The future for leisure tourism and adventure travel is bright for Kuching, a city with a population of 330,000 people, but there is always room for further growth. "To further increase demand in the tourism sector for Kuching, airlines can play the role of 'salesman'," said Pua. "This is done by working closely with government agencies to create greater awareness of Kuching in the overseas markets through roadshows and agency familiarisation trips." He said that airlines can also play the role of a 'middle man' by offering convenient connections for travellers, as shown by SilkAir and SIA's role in providing the seamless connections to the rest of the world. "As in any growing tourism market, stronger marketing and cooperation between airlines, airports, governments and tourism boards are always needed to improve on demand by providing travellers with unforgettable experiences," said Pua. It is important that Kuching invests in ways to raise market awareness about its strategic location, filling any gaps the industry and travellers may have about its attractiveness when comparing it to its peers in the region," he added. Email Print About The Author... Richard Maslen, Editor, RoutesonlineRichard leads the Routesonline community delivering content every day and the weekly The HUB e-newsletter. With over 16 years in the industry working for a number of aviation publications he brings the team a wealth of experience and insight. Questions? Leave a comment below or send him a tweet! Related Media Powered by Routes TVAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer 57 viewsAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer  |
| ROUTES ASIA: The Business of the Events Industry in <b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b> Posted: 07 Mar 2014 11:31 PM PST
The business events industry is one of the fastest growing segments within the tourism industry. Competition to host events is stiff with each destination trying to draw visitors into their hotels, restaurants and malls. Ahead of Routes Asia, The HUB Daily spoke to Mike Cannon, managing director, Sarawak Convention Bureau to learn more about the business of the events industry. "The important thing for any city to realise is that with today's connectivity and technology, meetings and conferences can be held anywhere in the world. What makes a city special is not its accessibility, its convention centres or its hotel rooms (although these are very important starting points)," he explained. What is key and which is sometimes overlooked by many destinations, according to Cannon, is that the destination must cater to the business of the event. "None of the 47 bids that Kuching won in 2013 would have happened if Kuching did not also cater to the business the function is involved in. We can't possibly host an Obstetrics and Gynaecology conference if we do not have medical facilities offering Obstetrics and Gynaecology services in Kuching, he said. Kuching is at the centre of commerce and industry in Sarawak, Malaysia's largest state, and probably of the whole of Borneo. It caters to a variety of businesses within industries ranging from handicrafts right up to aluminium smelting. Having said that, Kuching has found a niche among the education, health, technology, environmental and cultural sectors because of strong government involvement in these areas. Event organisers in these sectors are drawn to Kuching because they know these very sectors are addressed in a big way by the government. "About 82 per cent of our events go to Kuching although we do receive a fair amount of events in Miri and Sibu," said Cannon. "Each city has its own unique features and attractions and the choice ultimately depends on a client's requirements and preferences. Kuching is simply a more established destination and is able to accommodate larger scale events compared to Miri or Sibu." What enhances Kuching's value as a host city even more is that it offers something extra. "Customers today are fussier and are looking for something different. Kuching has been described as fresh and novel by those who have held their events here. In their minds an event held in Borneo has an appeal of its own because of the association with nature, wilderness and adventure. The creativity of the many different cultures that live in harmony in Sarawak is also a big attraction," said Cannon. "Added to that is the incredibly warm and welcoming reception that one gets the minute they step off the plane whether it is at the immigration counters, the hotel or the conference venue. The natural charm here is amplified as we are still a young destination. We welcome anyone with open arms who can exchange knowledge, enhance local expertise and provide new experiences for the people living in Sarawak," he added. It is not always the capital cities or metropolises that win the bid and Kuching being a smaller city has the advantage of being less crowded, less polluted with fewer traffic jams, according to Cannon. "Delegates are in a more cozy setting and find meeting people and networking easier," he added. However, he acknowledged it has its limits as a second tier destination due to the lack of direct flight connections from key catchments. "But with Kuching hosting events like the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January and now Routes Asia, it would indeed be great news if more airlines fly into Kuching," Cannon added. Since appearing in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Asia Pacific and Middle East City ranking in 2010, latest figures show that Kuching shares the 38th spot with Colombo, Chennai, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta and Tel Aviv outperforming many of the established second tier cities such as Canberra, Nagoya, Chengdu and Osaka. "We will fare better in the future as more people come to know Kuching and what it has to offer for business event buyers. Sometimes all it takes is a visit here or to just hold an event here once. We have a significant amount of returning clients who are continuously bidding for new events to be held in Kuching," said Cannon. Email PrintAbout The Author... Richard Maslen, Editor, RoutesonlineRichard leads the Routesonline community delivering content every day and the weekly The HUB e-newsletter. With over 16 years in the industry working for a number of aviation publications he brings the team a wealth of experience and insight. Questions? Leave a comment below or send him a tweet! CommentsRelated Media Powered by Routes TVAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer 57 viewsAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer |
| ROUTES ASIA: Sarawak Tourism Works on Reimaging <b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b> Posted: 07 Mar 2014 11:38 PM PST
The current project of reimaging Kuching as a destination is part of a five-year Tourism Industry Transformation Program which began in 2010 with one thought in mind – to improve the visitor experience in a very niche market and to position Sarawak as a home of adventure with elements of culture and nature. Ahead of Routes Asia, The HUB Daily sat down with Dato' Rashid Khan, chief executive officer, Sarawak Tourism Board to learn more about his vision. Sarawak is situated on the third largest island in the world and that makes accessibility a major challenge but the Tourism Board are aware they need to make it easy for travellers to get to the region, thus the reason to host Routes Asia. "The key challenge is to improve air-connectivity so that visitors are able to experience the well kept secrets of Borneo," said Dato' Rashid Khan. The first phase of this process has been to enhance the visitor experience and work with airline partners operating through hub airports such as Kuala Lumpur International and Singapore Changi and increase air connectivity through these facilities. "The very least was to make the journey more comfortable through reducing transit and waiting time to connect to not only Kuching airport in Sarawak but also to airports such as Sibu, Miri and Bintulu," explained Dato' Rashid Khan. The Tourism Board has also collaborated with the airlines to create more city pairs to enable travellers to fly direct to Sarawak, a project that has proved fruitful. "On the domestic front, AirAsia is forthcoming and aggressive in developing city pairs such as between Kuching or Miri and Penang, Kota Bahru, Kuala Trengganu and Johore Bahru and Langkawi bypassing Kuala Lumpur altogether. Similarly in terms of regional flights we have helped bring in Xpress Air and MASWings to Kuching from Pontianak," said Dato' Rashid Khan. The second phase of the plan has been to engage with partner airlines like Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Silk Air and Malindo Air to operate more frequencies on their existing routes and Dato' Rashid Khan believes the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community will help it succeed. "We are preparing for the eventual ASEAN Economic Community that will open up opportunities for airlines within ASEAN member countries to capitalise on the Visitors the implementation of the ASEAN Open Sky Policy Roadmap by 2015 with more liberal aviation agreement of a single market," he said. Outside ASEAN the Sarawak Tourism Board have identified other key markets with development opportunities, most notably Taiwan, Hong Kong and China where there is a demand for outbound and inbound travel to and from Sarawak. "Despite the lack of direct flights, visitor arrivals figures from these countries are growing at a healthy growth rates," said Dato' Rashid Khan. "We are targeting idle planes lying overnight in major airports in these countries and attract them to fly either scheduled or non-scheduled charters into Kuching or Miri airports and back- something which can be easily achieved within an eight to ten hour time frame and sweat their assets without compromising on their normal schedules and operations." A key part of the strategy has been an investment in marketing communication messages to reimage Sarawak as a business and leisure tourism destination with a strong focus on adventure with elements of culture and nature to offer visitors different experiences in one place. Sarawak's multicultural capital city, Kuching, has a long history, but offers visitors more. There are four nature parks on both land and water – Bako National Park, Kuching Wetland National Park, Kubah National Park and Talang Satang National Park all within 40minutes to 90 minutes radius. Most visitors are aware of the Mulu Caves but Kuching also has the Wind Cave and Fairy Cave among others that are just 40 minutes from the city center. The city also has Gunung Santubong, Damai Beach and the Sarawak River, all providing very different adventure and nature experiences to the visitor. "Accessibility to tourism attractions will be made easier for visitors to move around as we are looking into ways in which people can enjoy the city using different modes of transport. As Kuching is not very big city, visitors who come here are used to going on foot and take walking tours to discover the city. Of course, other mode of transportation such as buses and taxis are only used for longer distances such as going to the airport or to go out of town," said Dato' Rashid Khan. The Tourism Board is also starting to look at how the Sarawak River which runs through Kuching can enhance the visitor experience. "With the ferry and water taxi services, you can get from one place to another and also have a different view of the city, see new places and enjoy the peace and calm of a river running through the city," said Dato' Rashid Khan. The Kuching Waterfront is currently being expanded and very soon we will have a pedestrian bridge connecting both banks of the river near the State Assembly Building. Alongside accessibility, the transformation plan also identified that tourists visiting Sarawak were becoming more varied and coming to the region to experience different product offerings. Where previously there were only two types of hotels – business class hotels and backpacker hotels – both of which are located in the city centre- now different types of hotels are being added to the mix to cater to different types of visitors. For those who prefer mid-priced boutique hotels, there are several to choose from located around the city with four new hotels are being planned to offer more variety and add 1,500 – 2,000 more rooms by 2016. A 400 room hotel will also be built next to the airport; the UCSI Hotel Kuching will be built near the Borneo Convention Center for those who are in town for an event, while there are also a few ultra luxury hotels being built near the historical part of town. "While we are still at the infancy stage in terms of tourism infrastructure, we have always been welcoming and hospitable," said Dato' Rashid Khan. "It is our second nature to be friendly to visitors. We hope build on this and bring in the visitors to experience first-hand this warm and friendly city. And this is the image we want to project to airlines and tour operators from all over the world attending Routes Asia 2014." Email PrintAbout The Author... Richard Maslen, Editor, RoutesonlineRichard leads the Routesonline community delivering content every day and the weekly The HUB e-newsletter. With over 16 years in the industry working for a number of aviation publications he brings the team a wealth of experience and insight. Questions? Leave a comment below or send him a tweet! CommentsRelated Media Powered by Routes TVAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer 24 viewsAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer |
| Abg Jo: JCI <b>Kuching</b> has positive impact for 2030 BorneoPost <b>...</b> Posted: 08 Mar 2014 10:48 AM PST by Joash Kong reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 9, 2014, Sunday KUCHING: The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Kuching Chapter celebrated 59 years of promoting active citizenship among youth at its annual installation and awards banquet here on Friday. Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said that current and past members have done well in creating a positive impact on the local community. "I have no doubt that many of you will play pivotal roles in realising our leaders' vision of turning Sarawak into a developed state by the year 2030, and the state government welcomes your participation and is always ready to provide support in every possible way," he said in a speech read by Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi. "I am therefore hopeful that JCI Kuching will continue to offer development opportunities to its members in areas of self-development, business networking, community engagement and international relations." Abang Johari said JCI Kuching should also ensure that it continues to speak the language of young people, by embracing their aspirations and offering solutions for the challenges they are confronted with. JCI Kuching president Sophia Ong, who succeeded immediate past president Dr George Ngui Kwang Sing, was installed along with her board of directors. "For my forthcoming year, I have chosen a theme which would most accurately represent my approach as president, which is 'Progress, Pragmatism and Prosperity'. "In pursuit of the goals of cultivating the youth of today as leaders of tomorrow, we also recognise that they must be tempered with pragmatism to truly create an impact that would enact change not just for a day but for a lifetime," she said.  |
| Mitsubishi launches new Triton VGT GS in <b>Kuching</b> BorneoPost <b>...</b> Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:57 PM PST by Jonathan Wong, bonathanwong@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 8, 2014, Saturday KUCHING: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (Mitsubishi) showcased the new Mitsubishi Triton VGT GS here yesterday that boasts not only a facelift but also three other upgraded variants. The event, officiated by Mitsubishi senior vice president Arba Rahman, is done to show the new capabilities of the new Triton as well as the Mitsubishi ASX. "The facelifted Triton has a new frontal appearance which gives a sportier look without departing from the unique appeal of its original styling. A refreshed front bumper, grille and sleek projector headlamps to match its reputation for toughness and performance," said Arba. The vice president also noted that more enhancements on the Triton includes a 6.1 touch screen audio with rear view display and newly designed sporty 17 inch alloy rims. "The Triton has been in Malaysia since eight years ago in 2006. To date, it has been widely acknowledged as one of the best handling pick-up trucks in the market and has been known as the most awarded pick-up truck in the 2.5 category. "With the company's unmatched Dakar Rally heritage and reputation for toughness, reliability and performance, the Triton created a new trend with boldness of a powerful engine combined with driving pleasure, ride comfort, spacious cabin, and enhanced safety features," he added. Mitsubishi has sold more than 7,000 units of Triton with 13.2 per cent market share last year and to date, the Triton has found close to 46,000 owners in Malaysia. |
| PATA Chief says <b>Kuching</b>' s got it right as a global destination <b>...</b> Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST
Kuching' s Got It Right as a Global Destination, writes Mario Hardy, Chief Operations Officer, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) "A journey to Sarawak offers visitors the experience of natural wonders, lush rainforests and rich diverse communities and cultures. This experience is further enhanced by high quality infrastructure and services within the state capital, Kuching. Kuching as a tourism destination already possesses the necessary building blocks of becoming an international attraction for all travellers. "English is widely spoken in Kuching, making it very easy for travellers to move around comfortably in the city and benefit from the convenience of English signs at facilities for transport connections, public service information centres and meeting spaces. Prices of hotels in the city are reasonable and are of good value. The city's celebration of tradition and heritage, as well as unique attractions like the world's first cat museum adds to Kuching's charm.
"Kuching International Airport's (KIA) close proximity to the city centre and its links to major airport hubs such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore offers the convenience of connectivity for business travellers and holidaymakers. KIA is also close to other hubs such as Hong Kong and Bangkok, as well as under a five-hour flight away from cities in Southern China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. "Kuching's readiness for the world is illustrated by its hosting of Routes Asia 2014 from March 9 -11, a must attend event for those in the regional aviation industry to be held at the Borneo Convention Centre. Set in a cape surrounded by the Santubong and Sarawak rivers, the centre offers the tranquility of Sarawak's natural environment, without neglecting the technological advancements needed to host Asia's largest aviation forum. "We disagree with those who view Kuching as failing to capture the attention of travellers compared to destinations such as Bangkok or Bali. Those views vary and depend on different origin markets. We believe Kuching has what it takes to be a sophisticated niche tourism destination reflected in the successfulll organizing of the annual Rainforest Music Festival, an event that brings in high quality artists and performances. Set in a beautiful and natural setting, some 35 kilometres from Kuching, past Rainforest Festivals have drawn in the crowds to experience an amazing variety of acts - everything from a UK band performing a fusion of bhangra and rock to Pacific Islanders using water to make music. "The setting in which the Rainforest Festival is held is made even more special given Kuching's own rich cultural diversity, in particular its unique mix of Iban, Bidayuh, Malay and Chinese cultures. It is exactly this type of world event that has put Kuching on the world tourist map, consistently drawing international crowds of music lovers yearly to attend the three-day event. Without a doubt, such high-calibre events can be a catalyst for Kuching to be bigger than what it is at the moment. "PATA recognises that ASEAN has emerged as a global leader of sophisticated niche tourism products with a caring and community touch, and we see that Kuching demonstrates this trait well. "PATA is aware of the efforts of government wanting to 'jazz up' Kuching, turning it into the next Bali, or equivalent destination in the region. However these efforts must be ongoing, and most importantly sustainable. At PATA, we believe that success can only come about if there are economic benefits to the local community and if the local cultures are preserved. We encourage tourism markets to develop sustainable travel models that leave little or no footprint on our planetand be aware of their activities that affect the surrounding environments. Also there must not be a dilution of products that are already in existence. Focus must be given to the quality of these products and not necessarily the quantity. "When Kuching is 'sold' to the world, it must move beyond regional shores and target global markets for it to be an international brand name. Within the PATA community, awareness of Kuching's attractions is high. In fact in 2010, we organised our Annual General Meeting and conference in the Sarawak state capital. Awareness about Kuching within ASEAN and Australia is strong, and also within the tourism and aviation circles, but unfortunately not much more outside these familiar networks. "We are certain that Kuching is well-known in Southeast Asia but there is definitely room for improvement to target more medium and long-haul markets. Strong marketing efforts can be achieved through the co-operation of tourist associations, state government, airports, hoteliers and airlines and PATA is happy to be part of this effort." Email PrintAbout The Author... Richard Maslen, Editor, RoutesonlineRichard leads the Routesonline community delivering content every day and the weekly The HUB e-newsletter. With over 16 years in the industry working for a number of aviation publications he brings the team a wealth of experience and insight. Questions? Leave a comment below or send him a tweet! CommentsRelated Media Powered by Routes TVAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer 57 viewsAir Asia X - Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer |
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