Malaysia - Thailand to boost tourists
September 5, 2010 1:54 PMTravel and tour operators in Malaysia can collaborate more with their counterparts in Thailand to boost tourist traffic between Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia and Phuket.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said Malaysia and Thailand had a huge potential for such partnership as both had their own distinct tourism products despite their historical and geographical ties.
She cited Malaysia's ecotourism, with its famed 130 million years old virgin rainforest and rich biodiversity, as well as its shopping experience as among the products that could attract tourists.
"I see opportunities for greater collaboration and cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand in tourism industry. They can look into ways on how to package products that will benefit both sides," she told Malaysian reporters at an event in honour of the commitment and long-term support of local Thai tour operators and tourism organisations, here last night.
Dr Ng is here since yesterday for a six-day visit to Thailand.
She also urged tour operators to take advantage of the increasingly frequent direct flights from major cities in Malaysia to Phuket to work on such partnership.
She added that historical link between Penang and Phuket on the uniquely rich Peranakan culture should also be promoted.
"We hoped that through such collaboration, tourists who visit Langkawi and Penang will also visit Phuket and likewise visitors to Phuket will also come to Malaysia," she said.
She also declared open the "Malaysia Through Eyes of the Thais" photography exhibition, featuring 15 photographs of Malaysian landscapes and landmarks taken by eight Thai photographers.
The Tourism Minister also visited the Phuket Peranakan community and walked along the Peranakan trail in the old section of Phuket town.
-- BERNAMA Read more >>
Malaysia: Gateway to the Andaman Sea
September 5, 2010 1:34 PMArticle written by: Raja Laut News
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the way air travel in Asia is growing so fast, getting to the islands of the Andaman Sea and Phang Nga Bay has never been easier. Especially from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, and also from Singapore. These are, of course, the two most advanced countries in Southeast Asia today and while perhaps not quite as exciting and alluring for the traveller as neighboring Thailand, they are nevertheless ideal gateways to the region with truly modern, world-class airports.
Emerald Isles - While most people know of Phuket, the Malaysian island of Langkawi (only 120 miles south of Phuket) is a very convenient but often overlooked, gateway to Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea. Langkawi today is an established 5-star resort and yachting destination, surrounded by stunning beaches and a backdrop of lush rainforest-covered mountains.
Marine Gateway - A short sail from Langkawi brings you to the beautiful Tarutao Marine National Park, and from here you can hop northwards among the hundreds of islands of Phuket and Phang-Nga Bay, Similan, Surin and the Mergui Archipelago. Though not nearly as well-known as Phuket, Langkawi has long since attracted yachts from around the world, and there are now 3 marinas serving the many yachts based here:
* Telaga Harbour Marina
* Royal Langkawi Yacht Club Marina
* Rebak Resort Marina
Location - Langkawi is just a 45 minute flight northeast of Kuala Lumpur.
Getting there - Today there are over 10 flights per day from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi with several airlines to choose from:
* AirAsia
* Malaysia Airlines
* SilkAir
* Firefly
Selma Star wins Borneo International Yachting Challenge
August 7, 2010 1:56 PMKota Kinabalu: Jun Avecilla's Selma Star C! Calibre emerged as the winner of the 7th Borneo International Yachting Challenge 2010 Labuan to Kota Kinabalu Race.
The event, which unofficially ended when the participants arrived here on Wednesday night, saw the Selma Star C! Calibre finishing at the top of the order among seven boats that competed in the Racing Class division.
Avecilla and crew completed the race in 12:39:30mins (corrected time) and finished ahead of Miri Magic 1, owned by David Richards, whose time was 13:45:36mins.
North Borneo Yachting Director of Operations, Captain Simon Farmer, finished in third place in his Ulumulu in a time of 13:51:35mins, while fourth and fifth place went to H. R Taylor and D. B. Brizuela who captained the Irresistible (14:05:41mins) and Leonard Chin in his Miri Magic 2 (14:45:58mins).
They registered a time of 14:05:41mins and 14:45:58mins respectively.
Completing the order in sixth and seventh places was Allan Riches' Outward Bound (9:04:45mins) and J-F Cormmerais' Sarawak Sea Horse (9:15:32mins).
The results were revealed at a press conference here yesterday.
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Sailing academy in Miri mooted
August 7, 2010 1:54 PMLabuan: The Borneo International Yachting Challenge has sprung two new support industries in Miri, Sarawak which not only boost the income of the locals but also increase the interest in sailing activities.
"Miri will embark on leisure and racing boat building industry, and this also include boat maintenance and repair sector to cater for the region.
"I was made to understand that Miri Marina owner (Troy Yaw) has received orders for ten racing class boats. This will be good for the local community as it provides employment opportunities, which will be their source of income.
"It is also a testimony that we possess the expertise in this high-end industry," Assistant Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation (Sports) Datuk Lee Kim Shin revealed this yesterday in Labuan.
Lee added that the availability of locally built boats would reduce the cost to own them.
A locally built boat carries a price tag of around RM200,000 which is far much cheaper than buying them from overseas.
"This will encourage the locals to own boats and more will take up sailing as a hobby or for sports, especially among our youths," said Lee who is also the joint main organising committee co-chairman of the Borneo International Yachting Challenge.
Round Spain Race: Safran overall winner
July 2, 2010 10:11 AM The Round Spain Race finished during the night in Barcelona with a stunning overall victory for Safran. Sailed by Marc Guillemot and his crew, the big grey and orange monohull took second place in the sixth and final leg, winning four of the six legs in this Vuelta España a Vela.
At 22:21 GMT last night, Safran crossed the finish line in second place - just a few minutes after PRB. However, Marc Guillemot's crew achieved a clear overall win, with a set of near-perfect results: four wins and two second places. This final leg between Palma de Majorca and Barcelona offered the lightest winds and was therefore the slowest race in the event, but was also one of the most hotly contested.
"This is a team victory!" confirmed Marc Guillemot last night as he stepped ashore in Barcelona. "The lads sailed really well and we got the most out of the boat. We had a tough fight on our hands, which ended in the best possible way with this victory..." Indeed, achieving success after success in this way is very encouraging with the Route du Rhum coming up. "I've always been convinced that sailing with a crew was one of the best ways to prepare for solo racing," repeated Marc.
Final Results:
1st Safran , 11.5 pts
2nd PRB , 18.5 pts
3rd Estrella Damm, 32 pts
4th W Hotels, 32 pts
5th Movistar, 35,5 pts
6th GAES, 49 pts
7th C.L. Asturiana, 59.5 pts
8th Pakea, 68 ptsAudi MEDCUP:Quantum Racing and Iberdrola win the Marseille Trophy
June 23, 2010 10:21 AM
Quantum Racing and Iberdrola's green revolution overtook the Marseille Trophy regatta, the second event of the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit, as the two green-hulled Botin Carkeek designs lifted the respective top trophies for the TP52 series and GP42 series.
Quantum Racing's (USA) victory in the TP52 Series fleet is their first event win overall since becoming 2008 TP52 World Champions in Puerto Calero, and their first Audi MedCup Circuit regatta triumph since they sealed the 2008 overall title winning the Portugal Trophy in September 2008.
The 2007 and 2008 GP42 Circuit title winners Iberdrola (ESP) leave Marseille buoyed up for the rest of the season by their first ever Audi MedCup regatta win.
It was the Mistral which prevailed on the final day of scheduled racing. Out on Marseille's Rade race areas the notorious winds whipped spumes of spray and kicked up a nasty swell. With gusts close to 40 knots it always seemed unlikely that the Marseille Trophy fleet would leave the dock in the Vieux Port. For all that, the Quantum Racing team were never far from their boat and always poised to go and do whatever needed to be done.
Skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) acknowledged the good work of his team, not least in the behind the scenes industry from their boat-builder, from Quantum Sails themselves and the designers Botin Carkeek, which have all contributed to the 2008 champions upping their game on last year. Winning two races and, for the second year in a row, the coastal race, formed the solid foundations for the Quantum Racing victory composed over just six races sailed.
Continue reading on www.medcup.orgDiscover Borneo - Off The Beaten Track
June 20, 2010 12:04 PM If you're thinking of a land-based exploration or adventure after your sailing holiday in Asia, then Discover Borneo's "Off The Beaten Track" is for you. Together with the very best tour leaders and operators the team at Discover Borneo have created a selection of unique and challenging adventures tailored to those who demand more from their holidays. This series of specialized programs are a result of detailed research and development, and they offer a unique insight to Borneo. However they are not for the faint-hearted! The latest information on the tours and programs on offer throughout Malaysian Borneo is regularly updated, and you can find it all at www.discoverborneo.com25th Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2010
June 16, 2010 10:00 AM Kota Kinabalu: Forty-seven teams are set to compete at the two-day 25th Sabah Dragon Boat race, which will begin on June 19 at the Likas Bay, near here. In disclosing this, here today, State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Ellron Angin said the teams, consisting of six international teams from Australia, Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong and two teams from Singapore and 41 local teams, would be competing for nine trophies with a total prize money of RM43,000. He said the trophies were the Sabah Head of State's Trophy (international and elite Malaysian teams), Sabah Chief Minister's Trophy (Malaysian teams only), Sabah Dragon Trophy (mixed teams), Sabah Chinese Cultural Association Men and Mixed Trophy (Chinese teams), Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (junior boys under 20 years old), 200m Mixed and Men's Race and a Charity Race. Ellron said last year's Head of State Trophy winner, Pertubuhan Peladang Tuaran, was also back to defend its title. He said the event was jointly organized by Sabah Tourism Board with its wholly-owned subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah and the Sabah Chinese Cultural Association. Apart from the race, he said the Dragon Boat Carnival would take place on the first day with activities such as canoeing competition, sailing activities and beach soccer competition which will be open to all starting from noon onwards. Source: BernamaWorld Yacht Racing Forum: New venue and date announced for 2010
June 4, 2010 3:50 PM
Leading figures from the world of sailing and yacht racing will come together in Estoril, Portugal, from 14-15 December 2010 for the third edition of the World Yacht Racing Forum at the Estoril Congress Centre. The two-day conference will include many new features this year such as a new interactive exhibition lounge, additional workshop sessions, and an online networking tool to connect delegates prior to the conference. Delegates will also be invited to participate in a special Golf Day hosted by the organisers on Thursday 16 December.
The event will once again be held with the continued association and support from the Yacht Club de Monaco under the High Patronage of its President, HSH Prince Albert II. As one of the world's most prestigious and well known yacht clubs, the YCM was the official host of the first World Yacht Racing Forum in 2008 and is pleased to continue its support of the event in 2010.
The 500-seat main auditorium in the impressive Estoril Congress Centre will provide an ideal stage for the two days of lively discussions and panel debates at the Forum. A comprehensive speaker schedule is being put together with input from an advisory panel of some of sailing's most respected industry leaders.
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