Visit Malaysia Year 2014

“Visit Malaysia Year 2014” thrilling programmes waiting ahead With tempting price HKD2014 special tour packages preceded

To echo the ranking of being one of the top 10 destinations to visit in 2014 by the popular travel guide, Lonely Planet, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board will present the very best of Malaysia in all dimentions throughout 2014 by officially launching a celebration campaign “Visit Malaysia Year 2014” (VMY 2014). In January, 4 special tour packages with a sole celebration price HKD 2014 will take the lead to mark the start of “Visit Malaysia Year 2014”.

“2014 is a significant year for us; it is already the 4th Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) since the first one in 1990. Celebration campaigns held in the past Visit Malaysia Years 1990, 1994 and 2007 were always followed by triumphal results,” said Madam Baizuri Baharum, Director of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (HK Office). “Up to September 2013, 1,449,477 visitors from China, Hong Kong and Macau have been recorded which achieved a rise of 22.6% compared to the same period in 2012. We are expecting 2 million visitors from these 3 regions this year.” In 2014, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board prepared 51 large-scale celebrations worldwide, including Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix in March, Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak in May, “Magic of the Night” Parade in June and Mountain Kinabalu International Climbathon in October.

There will also be a series of celebrating events in Hong Kong, such as “Visit Malaysia Year Grand Fair 2014”, “Durian Tram Party and Malaysia Durian Tours”, “Culinary Tours”, “Cycling Tours” and “introduction of new destinations: Kuching, Miri, Sandakan, Terengganu and Kelantan”. With all these exciting celebration programmes planned throughout the year, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (HK Office) is officially launching “Visit Malaysia Year 2014” with the grand start of introducing “HKD2014 Tours”, 4 special discount tour packages in cooperation with 4 leading local travel agents – EGL Tours, Hong Thai Travel, Wing On Travel and Sunflower Travel. Each special package offers visitors a fabulous 4-day-3-night vacation across the famous tourist spots Penang, Langkawi, Johor Bahru and Sandakan, with an extraordinarily low price HKD 2014 to celebrate “VMY 2014”.

The 4 special tours below offer Hong Kong people an unforgettable journey to Malaysia at a fixed price HKD 2014, with flight service provided by the SKYTRA – 5-star airlines, Malaysia Airlines. Yet such a tempting offer is with limited vacancies of 80, with 20 pax per tour; there will be only one tour organized by each travel agent with a first-come-first-served basis. Also, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong Office) prepares total 200 sets of VMY 2014 souvenirs for the mentioned travel agents. Those Malaysia fans who purchase any other Malaysia tours from the mentioned travel agents will get a chance to have a VMY 2014 gift pack. Malaysia lovers won’t want to miss out this fabulous chance to experience a different Malaysia!

(1) EGL Tours – Penang 4-day Tour (MKRA04)

If you are looking for a trip that can satisfy your tongue, your body and your eyes, this would be it. This tour offers visitors the chance to taste a bunch of Penang local delicacies such as beer chicken, genuine Nyonya cuisine, curry chicken in bread, etc.; accommodations in 4 Starred Shangri-La Golden Sand Resort allows you to enjoy 3 terrific nights in Penang; and you can feast your eyes on the exhibits when visiting the Camera Museum and Toys Museum; visiting Clan Jetty Heritage Home will let you get in touch with the local culture of Penang.

Start Selling: 9 Jan 2014
Departure Date: 19 Feb 2014
Vacancies: 20

(2) Hong Thai Travel – Langkawi 4-day Tour (LGK04-MZS)

Hong Thai Travel is going to provide a fabulous travel experience on the famous “Myth Island” – Langkawi. Langkawi Eagle Square being the landmark and signature of the island is a must to visit; and it is visitors’ choice to join the mangrove tour on a speedboat, to feed the eagles and fish around, enjoy a day with nature; or people can go snorkeling and play water sports, or even just to relaxingly enjoy an underwater scene and beautiful coral reefs on a glassed-bottom boat. Wild travellers wouldn’t want to miss any of these!

Start Selling: 15 Jan 2014
Departure Date: 26 Feb 2014
Vacancies: 20

(3) Wing On Travel - Johor Bahru 4-day Tour (KUK04M)

Johor Bahru 4-day Tour by Wing On Travel will be a trip filled with laughter as visitors are stepping onto the “land of theme parks”! This trip brings you to the hottest theme parks in Malaysia – Asia’s first Legoland, Legoland Water Park and Hello Kitty Town, with all entrance fee covered, turns you back into a kid; while having fun with Lego and Hello Kitty, visitors will visit the UNESCO Heritage City in Melaka and enjoy a cruise tour on Melaka River, experience a true Melaka journey.

Start Selling: 22 Jan 2014
Departure Date: 5 March 2014
Vacancies: 20

(4) Sunflower - Sabah Sandakan 4-day Tour (SBSK04EX)

Sunflower is bringing you an energetic Sabah Sandakan tour ever. The trip begins with the visits to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, which is an exclusive chance to get close with orangutans and proboscis monkeys; then you’ll be inside the Borneo Kellybays Eco-region, touring in Sabah’s largest mangrove on a traditional bamboo raft, catching crabs by hands. Apart from the eco-trip, various water sports like canoe, banana boat, surfing, etc., would be another choice for you.

Start Selling: 29 Jan 2014
Departure Date: 12 March 2014
Vacancies: 20

VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2014 MASCOT: THE PROBOSCIS MONKEY

They have huge noses, big bellies and live in groups. They are not your ordinary tree swinging monkeys and they don’t eat ripe bananas. They have webbed feet and are able to swim. We are talking about the proboscis monkey – a rare and endangered animal found primarily in Borneo and predominantly in Sabah.

Malaysia will be hosting the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) in 2014, the nation’s biggest and grandest tourism celebration that welcomes the world to see, feel and experience the endless possibilities of the country. This is the best time to witness and experience dazzling parades and processions, colourful cultural shows and exhibitions, fabulous food festivals, exciting sports and adventure, enchanting music and arts festival, shopping extravaganza, nature thrills and spills and many more.

A unique mascot is vital to create a visual impact and easy association with VMY 2014 among the locals and tourists alike. In the past, the orang utan, leatherback turtle and hornbill were used to promote Visit Malaysia Year and state-level tourism campaigns.

For VMY 2014, a new animal mascot is needed in order to trigger more excitement and anticipation of this grand celebration.

The Ministry of Tourism & Culture Malaysia has decided to use one of the most endangered animals in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as the mascot for VMY 2014 – the proboscis monkey.

Aptly known as the long-nosed monkey, the proboscis monkey best encapsulates the essence of Malaysia Truly Asia. Firstly, this elusive monkey belongs to the Asian langurs
and is the only member of the Nasalis genus. Proboscis monkey is primarily found in Borneo particularly in Sabah, Malaysia.

Like the diversity encapsulated in the Malaysia Truly Asia branding, the proboscis monkey also possesses diverse skills. It frequently leaps from tree limbs and hits the water with a comical belly flop, as well as attracts its mate with its unusually large and long nose. It also has webbed feet. Naturally, it is always a crowd puller especially for eco-adventure tourists who would not miss a chance to catch a glimpse of this monkey.

Unlike other wildlife species that are scattered around the country, proboscis monkeys are mostly concentrated in Kinabatangan, Sukau, Sandakan, Klias and other parts of Sabah.

The use of the proboscis monkey as the mascot for VMY 2014 will give credence and recognition to wildlife, and thus, instill a new spirit and interest among tourists to appreciate the gift of nature as a national tourism asset.

In addition, having the proboscis monkey as the mascot will also elevate Malaysia in the eyes of the world, by promoting its nature and wildlife conservatory initiatives through tourism.

The mascot will appeal to people from all walks of life and inspire them to be involved in nature conservation and voluntourism efforts, in line with the global tourism aspiration of responsible tourism and green tourism.

All in all, making the proboscis monkey the mascot for VMY 2014 is indeed a perfect choice. After all, what better way to be a perfect host than to show what Mother Nature has to offer!