Baron Group to invest RM20m in Langkawi

The Baron Group, with five budget hotels in this tourist haven, is to invest RM20 million to build 300 rooms to meet growing demand for hotel rooms.

Managing Director Zailina Mohd Zain said 200 rooms will be built in Kuah and 100 in Pantai Cenang. The group has a chain of three-star hotels and chalets in Kuah and Pantai Cenang, with a combined room capacity of 400.

The group's latest resort, de Baron Resort, near Pekan Rabu Complex in Kuah, which commenced operations in December last year, has 137 rooms.

Zailina told Bernama Langkawi often faced room shortage during festive seasons, school holidays and when international events are staged, hence the decision to build more rooms.Currently, Langkawi has a cumulative 8,000 rooms from hotels, resorts, chalets and lodging houses, an additional 800 rooms from last year.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Kedah Chapter chairman Pishol Ishak said some 2.4 million local and foreign tourists are expected to visit Langkawi this year.

A total of 2.37 million tourists came to Langkawi last year.
-- Bernama

Aero Mall to liven up Senai airport

Developments at the Senai International Airport in Johor are expected to accelerate following the set-up of the Aero Mall, a stand-alone and external airport mall.

"There are now RM2.5 billion worth of ongoing projects at the airport area," Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd (SATS) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman told Business Times in an interview.

They include the RM2 billion Senai High Tech Park and the Free Zone Logistics and Aerospace Industrial Park.

Sidik said the Aero Mall, which will open on July 1, will set a new wave of development for SATS, which has 1,120ha surrounding the Senai airport.

The RM80 million, 173,338 sq ft mall is an integrated lifestyle complex adjoining the airport. It has 29 retail outlets and 30,000 sq ft piazza area. Some 70 per cent of the lots have been taken up for shopping, entertainment and dining facilities.

Sidik said that there are also plans for a cineplex and a digital complex.

"When we took over the airport in 2003, it was just a building to service passengers flying to Kuala Lumpur. We have expanded service to include flights to Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, and other facilities.

"Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia operate some 220 flights a week (out of the airport) and we hope that will be increased as we work to grow air traffic and passenger volume," Sidik said.

"Passenger traffic at the airport is now more than two million, including meeters and greeters. We expect this to double in the next three years."

Sidik expects new developments in Iskandar Malaysia in the state to contribute to the airport's growth.

Ongoing projects at Iskandar Malaysia include Legoland, premium factory outlets, universities and hospitals, targeted to be ready by 2012.

"Iskandar is expecting some four million visitors a year. We think this will increase air traffic and passenger volume. The airport can handle up to 4.5 million passengers a year before it requires any expansion."

On the Senai High Tech Park and the Free Zone Logistics, Sidik said that SATS might undertake a fund-raising exercise, in the form of internal funds and loans, to get the projects moving.

He is ambitious about both projects and is confident that they will attract investors.

The high-tech park has drawn interest from investors in the US, Europe and China who are in various sectors, including semiconductor and solar energy.

There are confirmed investments from China's EQ Solar Technology International Sdn Bhd, which will invest US$500 million (RM1.6 billion) to produce solar modules, and leading industrial gas provider MOX-Linde Gases Sdn Bhd, which plans to set up an industrial gas separation plant.

"We have incentives to attract investors. Those who come into the Iskandar region will enjoy low income tax, among other things," Sidik said.

Still, SATS may face stiff competion from Singapore, the KL International Airport and the Port Klang Free Zone, which are also aggressively attracting investors through various incentives.

Majukan Industri Pelancongan Untuk Pasaran Istimewa Tertentu - Najib

MELAKA: Industri pelancongan negara bukan sahaja perlu dimajukan secara umum tetapi hendaklah mencari pasaran istimewa tertentu yang boleh meningkatkan keupayaan dan daya tarikannya, kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Perdana Menteri berkata pada tahun lepas, negara mencatatkan pertumbuhan pelancong amat memberangsangkan dan Malaysia merupakan antara tiga negara di dunia memperlihatkan pertambahan pelancong.

"Kementerian Pelancongan menganggarkan bahawa kita mengalu-alukan ketibaan seramai 23.6 juta pelancong, yang menghasilkan pendapatan berjumlah RM53.4 bilion," katanya ketika berucap pada majlis perasmian Philea Resort & Spa di Ayer Keroh di sini Sabtu malam.

Beliau berkata angka itu ternyata amat berbeza sekali dengan bilangan 5.5 juta pelancong dan pendapatan sebanyak RM8.5 bilion yang dicatatkan pada tahun 1998.

Katanya industri pelancongan menyumbang sebanyak sembilan peratus kepada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) dan sektor itu merupakan antara 11 sektor yang dikenal pasti sebagai Bidang Ekonomi Utama Negara (NKEA).

Menjelang 2015, industri itu dijangka menyumbang sebanyak RM115 bilion kepada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) dan menghasilkan sebanyak dua juta peluang pekerjaan.

Najib berkata kerajaan berhasrat menarik "pelancong berkualiti" menginap selama lapan malam dan membelanjakan antara RM4,000 hingga RM5,000 secara purata bagi setiap kunjungan.

Pada masa kini, pelancong secara am menginap selama 6.7 malam dan membelanjakan RM2,300 secara purata bagi setiap kunjungan.

Mengenai industri pelancongan di Melaka yang disifatkan mempunyai potensi besar, Najib berkata dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesepuluh, kerajaan meluluskan peruntukan supaya "Melaka River Cruise" dipanjangkan lagi.

Projek pelancongan Sungai Melaka kini kira-kira sepanjang empat kilometer bermula dari Taman Rempah dan berakhir di Quayside, di Muara Sungai Melaka.

"Tak tahu sama ada (akan dipanjang) dua atau tiga kilometer supaya pengalaman bagi pelancong lebih bermakna lagi," kata Najib, yang menyusuri Melaka River Cruise dalam lawatan terakhirnya di Melaka pada 4 Feb lepas.

Philea Resort dan Spa adalah sebuah log resort terbesar di Asia yang dibangunkan di kawasan seluas enam hektar dengan kos sebanyak RM140 juta yang dimiliki oleh Majestic Hotels dan Resorts Sdn Bhd.

Turut hadir ialah Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, isteri perdana menteri Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor dan Pengarah Urusan Majestic Hotels dan Resorts Sdn Bhd, Tan Sri KK Chai. - BERNAMA

Rahsia Estates bina resort RM180j di Langkawi

KUALA LUMPUR 11 Jun - Rahsia Estates Sdn. Bnd. membuat pelaburan RM180 juta dengan membina sebuah resort dan spa bertaraf enam bintang di Pulau Langkawi, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulannya, Hanizah Tun Abdul Hamid.

Menurutnya, resort yang dikenali sebagai Rahsia Estates Resorts Residences and Spa Langkawi yang akan dibina di atas tanah seluas 6.8 hektar itu dijangka beroperasi sepenuhnya pada awal 2014.

"Resort berkenaan akan dibahagikan kepada empat bahagian kepada empat bahagian iaitu butik hotel yang menawarkan 18 vila mewah, kompleks hotel dengan 110 kelab suit dan 31 vila cabana.

"Projek ini dijangka meningkatkan nilai hartanah di kawasan tersebut yang dianggarkan mempunyai nilai pembangunan kasar (GDV) sebanyak RM250 juta," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada majlis menandatangani memorandum persetujuan (MoA) dengan Asian Finance Bank (AFB) di Pusat Konvensyen Sime Darby, di sini hari ini.


Turut Hadir, Timbalan Menteri Perlancongan, Datuk Dr. James Dawos Mamit, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif AFB, Datuk Mohamed Azahari Kamil dan Pengerusi Rahsia Estates, Datin Seri Azian Aiyub Ghazali.

Hanizah berkata, projek ini akan mengikut garis panduan yang telah ditetapkan oleh Indeks Bangunan Hijau bagi memelihara dan mengekalkan kehijauan yang menjadi daya tarikan Langkawi.

"Peluang yang ada di pulau itu masih belum diterokai sepenuhnya dan saya yakin jenama hospitaliti resort ini akan menawarkan gaya hidup masyarakat Malaysia kepada pengunjung.

"Apabila beroperasi kelak resort ini akan menjadi mercu tanda Langkawi yang baru dan menawarkan kediaman mewah, perkhidmatan pelanggan kelas dunia serta keselamatan yang terjamin sepanjang masa," katanya.

Tambah Anizah, walaupun mengusahakan pembangunan berstatus mewah, Rahsia Estates tidak akan mengabaikan penduduk tempatan yang berada di sekitar kawasan itu.

"Kami akan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mengekalkan keadaan semula jadi kawasan tersebut untuk mengelakkan pendapatan nelayan tempatan terjejas.

"Kami akan membina jeti khas baru untuk mereka serta sedang merancang beberapa projek lain dan ini termasuk dalam tanggungjawab sosial syarikat (CSR)," katanya.

Mengulas mengenai MoA dengan AFB, Hanizah berkata, persetujuan ini merupakan perkongsian strategik yang mana mereka akan menarik pelabur dari dalam dan luar negara.

Sementara itu, Mohamed Azahari berkata, AFB sebahagian daripada Kumpulan Qatar Islamik Bank dan ia memberi kelebihan kepada kami dalam menerokai pasaran Asia.

"AFB akan mencari pelabur terpilih dari Timur Tengah dan juga Eropah untuk melabur untuk projek ini kerana kami yakin dengan kebolehan Rahsia Estates," katanya.

Hanizah Abdul Hamid (kanan) menerangkan konsep pembangunan Rahsia Estates Resorts Residences and Spa Langkawi kepada James Dawos Mamit (dua dari kanan), Azian Aiyub Ghazali (dua dari kiri) dan Mohamed Azahari Kamil, semalam.

Tourists to Malaysia can apply special pass for maids

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign tourists are allowed to bring along their maids when they visit the country by applying for a special pass with immediate effect.
The special pass is issued free of charge at the Immigration counter at all entry points, said Immigration Department public relations officer Abdul Haider Mohd Shukor in a statement today.

Previously, foreign tourists had to apply for visas for their maids.


Abdul Haider said for the special pass to be issued, foreign travellers or employers must become the sponsor of their maids, who must enter the country together with them (employers) on the same date and time.


Foreign travellers must be responsible for their maids and not abuse the facility, he said, adding that the maid special pass would be coordinated with the social visit pass of the employer.

In other development, he said travellers from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh were again covered by the transit without visa provision concession to from July 1.


This is to entice more tourists from the four countries to visit Malaysia with 650,000 arrivals and between 8,000 and 10,000 on transit expected this year, he added. - BERNAMA

6-star Malacca resort opens next week

MALACCA'S first six-star resort and spa will open its doors next week, following a RM140 million investment by timber group Sanbumi Holdings Bhd.

The Philea Resort & Spa, claimed to be Asia's largest log resort, is located on a 5.7ha site in Ayer Keroh, Malacca. It was designed by Symbios Design Associates Sdn Bhd.

Philea's general manager Ung Beng Huat said Philea is Sanbumi's maiden venture in the hospitality management industry. Sanbumi is also involved in the tourism industry

Speaking at the preview of the resort on Monday evening, he said a thorough study had been done for two years involving concept and other details before Philea's construction started in August 2008 and was completed in May this year.

The company plans to bring in tourists from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China via chartered flights four times a week.

Philea consists of 180 Pavillion Villas, 19 units of Philea Suites and two units of Royal Villas. Each villa is uniquely designed, complemented with pine-log walls and a host of amenities.

The resort will also have five in-house food and beverage outlets as well as a host of other facilities and services such as outdoor-landscaped swimming pool and a spa village which will be opening soon.