1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival 2011

List of Events

MCAT90611

20 NGO pelancongan turut bantah

Oleh MUZDALIFAH MUSTAPHA
pengarang@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR 28 Jun – Kira-kira 20 pertubuhan pelancongan membantah penganjuran perhimpunan haram Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) pada 9 Julai ini kerana ia boleh menjejaskan industri pelancongan negara.

Presiden Persatuan Pelancongan Cina Malaysia, Paul Paw berkata, perhimpunan tersebut akan menyebabkan aktiviti perniagaan pelbagai persatuan yang terlibat secara langsung dalam pelancongan terbantut sekali gus menjejaskan kedatangan pelancong asing.

Selain itu, kata beliau, perhimpunan tersebut juga boleh mengganggu program lawatan 100 ejen pelancongan Pertubuhan Pengembaraan Nasional China yang dijangka berada di sini dari 10 hingga 12 Julai bagi menghadiri persidangan pelancongan dengan pihak Malaysia.

‘‘Setakat ini, kita diberitahu bahawa pertubuhan itu belum memberi kata putus untuk mengesahkan kehadiran mereka ekoran bimbang dengan perhimpunan haram itu yang dilihat membahayakan diri mereka.

‘‘Jika mereka batalkan, kita akan rugi kira-kira RM1 juta kerana hotel-hotel telah banyak ditempah,’’ katanya kepada pemberita selepas mesyuarat antara persatuan pelancongan dengan Kementerian Pelancongan di sini hari ini.

Mesyuarat tersebut dipengerusikan oleh Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen.

Sebanyak 16 pertubuhan pelancongan hadir pada mesyuarat tersebut antaranya, Persatuan Ejen Pengembaraan dan Pelancongan Malaysia (Matta), Persatuan Agensi Pelancongan dan Pengembaraan Bumiputera, Persatuan Agensi Pelancongan India dan Persatuan Pelancongan Inbound Malaysia.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Eksekutif Persatuan Pemilik Hotel, Shaharuddin M. Saaid pula berkata, industri perhotelan dijangka mengalami kerugian teruk sekiranya perhimpunan itu diteruskan.

Jelas beliau, di sekitar Kuala Lumpur sahaja kira-kira 30 buah hotel tiga hingga lima bintang dijangka terjejas akibat perhimpunan itu.

‘‘Kita sebagai ahli perniagaan tidak mahu wujud sebarang kekacauan yang boleh merosakkan perniagaan, apatah lagi kini kebanyakan pengusaha hotel dalam usaha meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan dan harga bilik.

‘‘Kita amat bimbang, jika perhimpunan itu berlangsung juga keselamatan negara terjejas dan pelancong asing akan menerima kesannya,’’ jelasnya.

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden Persatuan Spa Malaysia, Datin Ramona Sulaiman berkata, pihaknya tidak mahu lagi perniagaan mereka terjejas teruk seperti kejadian demonstrasi sebelum ini.

‘‘Pengunjung yang pada awalnya datang ke negara ini untuk berehat berasa kecewa setelah melihat demonstrasi jalanan itu sehingga menyebabkan mereka terpaksa pulang akibat bimbang dengan keselamatan masing-masing,’’ katanya.

Bersih: Negara dijangka rugi RM6 bilion

KUALA LUMPUR 28 Jun – Perhimpunan haram anjuran Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) yang dijadualkan 9 Julai ini dijangka menyebabkan industri pelancongan negara mengalami kerugian melebihi RM6 bilion.

Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen berkata, jangkaan itu dibuat berdasarkan jumlah pendapatan yang dijangka diperoleh sektor berkenaan pada bulan Julai kerana seramai 2.2 juta pelancong asing datang ke negara ini pada tempoh sama tahun lalu.

Menurutnya, industri pelancongan merupakan yang paling teruk menerima kesan daripada perhimpunan tersebut berdasarkan siri perhimpunan haram sebelum ini.

”Sekarang seluruh dunia tahu negara kita antara yang paling stabil dan mereka tidak takut untuk tinggal di sini. Tetapi akhir-akhir ini, kita mendapat aduan beberapa negara luar mula bertanya tentang keselamatan negara ekoran perhimpunan 9 Julai ini.

”Oleh itu kementerian bersama persatuan hotel, syarikat-syarikat pelancongan, persatuan spa dan syarikat berkaitan sebulat suara membantah perhimpunan itu,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat bersama persatuan pelancongan di sini hari ini.

Yen Yen memberitahu, Persatuan Pelancongan Cina Malaysia akan bertemu dengan Persatuan Pelancongan Negara China bagi memaklumkan tentang keselamatan negara yang terjamin pada bulan Julai ini.

”Persatuan Pelancongan Negara China sebelum ini telah menyatakan hasrat untuk bekerjasama dengan Malaysia dalam menyediakan pakej pelancongan bersama bagaimanapun ia dipertimbangkan semula gara-gara perhimpunan haram itu,” ujarnya.

Menurut beliau, pada bulan Julai ini juga kementerian akan menganjurkan bulan Arab berikutan pelancong Arab keluar bercuti selain musim panas bagi sesetengah negara.

”Sehubungan itu kita minta polis bertindak segera supaya pelancong asing tidak bimbang datang ke negara ini dan menyangka demonstrasi sering berlaku di negara ini.

”Ia jelas tidak memberi manfaat kepada sesiapa pun. Pembangkang hanya mahu menjejaskan imej ekonomi negara,” katanya.

Illegal rally may lead to RM1.2b losses

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism Ministry yesterday urged organisers of the Bersih 2.0 rally to call it off as the industry could lose about RM1.2 billion.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the July 9 rally would not only have a negative impact on the tourism industry but the country’s economy.

“The rally will cause a security threat and we would lose about 20 per cent in tourism revenue,” she said after chairing a meeting with major tourism industry players at the Malaysian Tourism Centre yesterday.

Dr Ng said in July last year the country had received a total of 2.2 million tourists who spent nearly RM6 billion.

She said she had also received information about a group of travel agents from China who were now hesitant about coming to Malaysia after reading about the rally.

“We do not know how bad it would get. Someone could accidentally kick another person and this could end up hurting a lot of people,” she said.

Dr Ng said such a situation would affect the income of taxi drivers, small business owners, restaurants and paint a bad image of the country.

Tourism associations represented at yesterday’s meeting included the Malaysian Spas Association, Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners and Malaysian Association of Hotels. All agreed that the planned rally should not take place.

Association of Malaysian Spas vice-president Ramona Suleiman said many tourists from Saudi Arabia feared for their safety.

“They are here on holiday to relax and reports about the rally scare them. My business will surely suffer that week,” she said.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Paul Paw said he would be meeting directors from the China National Travel Organisation to clarify safety issues.

“The (Chinese) government body called for the meeting as they are afraid of the worst that could happen when a group of delegates arrive next month,” he said.

Paw said the group of 100 travel agents from China are to arrive here on July 10 for a conference to take place on July 12.

“If they decide not to come, we may lose about RM1 million on top of a bad reputation that will follow,” he said.

Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Christina Toh said the Kuala Lumpur chapter had lodged a police report against the movement and will be writing to other chapters to do the same.

Tourism industry asked to register foreign workers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism Ministry has directed all industry players to register their foreign employees.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said this was in line with the Government’s legalisation and amnesty exercise of foreign workers and illegal immigrants, codenamed 6P, which begins with a two-week registration drive from July 11.

She said the ministry had informed all industry players including hotels, golf clubs, theme parks, integrated resorts and spas to give details of their foreign employees.

“They have to provide us information on the foreign workers such as their names, country of origin and occupation,” she said at the Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang after a briefing with major tourism industry players.

“We have established a one-stop centre with a committee to gather statistics on legal and illegal foreign employees to be given to the Immigration Department,” added Dr Ng.

The centre will also come up with a formula to determine the manpower needs of the industry, she said, adding that this should be completed by mid-July.

“We also want to attract more locals and reduce the number of foreign workers,” she said.

On June 22, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced the 6P programme comprising registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation of foreign workers and illegal immigrants in the country.

Major tourism industry players fear major impact if rally is held, says Ng

KUALA LUMPUR: The tourism industry could lose up to RM1bil if the Opposition-initiated Bersih 2.0 rally goes on as planned, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

The industry, she said, was “sensitive” to changes.

Noting that last year’s tourist expenditure was about RM1bil per week, she said: “Last year, the number of tourist arrivals in July alone was 2.2 million and tourist expenditure was RM6bil. If we lose 20% of that, we would lose RM1.2bil.”

Business concerns: Ramona speaking to reporters at a press conference at Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang Tuesday.

Dr Ng said this to reporters yesterday at the Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang after a briefing by major tourism industry players about foreign workers and the impact of the July 9 rally on tourism.

Dr Ng said there had been all-round support from associations in the industry that the rally should not go on.

“The rally will impact our tourism industry, especially since July is the peak season for Middle Eastern tourists to come.”

She accused Bersih 2.0 of wanting to impede the progress made by the Government.

“They have a strong agenda to destroy the Government and disrupt the country’s economy as Barisan Nasional is very strong now. They do not want to see us prosper,” she said.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Paul Paw, who was also at the press conference, said he would meet with two representatives from China National Tourist Office, who were coming here to assess the situation after receiving word of the rally.

“They are coming here to discuss the venue of a conference that will bring over 100 travel agents from China on July 10.

“However, they are hesitant now as they are concerned about the demonstration,” he said, adding that his company would lose RM1mil if the agents did not come.

Association of Malaysian Spas vice-president Datin Ramona Suleiman said her spa business in Jalan Ampang would face losses for a few days if there was a demonstration in the area.

Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners executive director Shaharuddin M. Saaid said his organisation would consider taking legal action against Bersih 2.0 if its members incurred losses because of the rally.

MINISTRY OF TOURISM MALAYSIA REVEALS ANOTHER ART WAVE TO ATTRACT HIGH-YIELD TOURISTS

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 June 2011 – The Minister of Tourism Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, is unveiling yet another exciting and innovative tourism product today, the “1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism 2011” (MCAT 2011) Festival at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Organised for the second consecutive year, the festival will see many art-related events being held from July to September 2011 with the support of private organisations including shopping malls, hotels, art galleries and cultural and convention centres.

A total of 17 events have been identified this year, doubled as compared to the previous year. For the first time, eight shopping complexes are participating, namely Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Fahrenheit 88, Starhill Gallery, Publika Shopping Mall, Sungai Wang, Plaza Low Yatt, KL City Walk, and Sunway Pyramid. An exhibition by the society of people with learning disabilities will be held at the Malaysia Tourism Information Center (MaTIC) in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur beginning July.

This year sees several state-level participation as well, i.e. Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Pahang, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Activities being organised include the MCAT exhibition during the World Rainforest Music Festival in July in Sarawak and exhibitions at the Sabah Terminal Airport, the Monsopiad Cultural Village, Artists Corner and many other galleries in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Over 100 galleries nationwide will be participating in the MCAT 2011 supported by more than 300 artists nationwide. Some of the artists to be featured are Yusuf Ghani, Raduan Man, Fauzul Yusri, Gan Chin Lee, Ting Cho Chien, Eston Tan, (Starhill Gallery) Adrian Ho (Sabah Art Hunt), Juhari Said, Stephen Menon, Chin Kong Yee, Ivan Lam, Choy Chun Wei Yau Bee Ling, Hamidi Hadi, Nor Azizan Paiman, Bayu Utomo, Clement Ooi, Nadiah Abdul Jalil (United Voices Kuala Lumpur), and Hasnul Jamal Saidon (Penang). Emerging artists include Haslin Ismail, Samsuddin, Dhavinder Singh, Cheng Yen Pheng and Yim Yen Sum.

The northern region too will boast a strong representation especially from Penang with the support of both Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery and art galleries in Penang. Langkawi will hold several art exhibitions organised by the Langkawi Art and Visual Association (LAVAA) with Tanjung Rhu Hotel, Sri Perdana Galleria and Underwater World participation. Both Alor Star and Kulim will also organise a Saturday Art Market to showcase MCAT activities.

Meanwhile, Resorts World Genting will have a month-long art festival in August to attract art collectors and enthusiasts to the resort. There will also be an art contest and a two-day festival to be held at the Taman Tasek Raub, Pahang.

At Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), the 1Malaysia Artists, represented by the major races in Malaysia, will create a large canvas mural (3ft x 30ft). KLCC will also exhibit the works of the 1Malaysia Plate Project whereby 80 artists will paint and display their artwork at the main foyer (piece is to fit a wall of 8ft x48ft).

An idea mooted by YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng, the MCAT Festival hopes to position Malaysia as a reputable destination for art enthusiasts in the region to enjoy and acquire contemporary art, with museum-quality pieces, in line with the theme “Malaysia, Your New Art Tourism Destination.” It is also a platform for art enthusiasts, gallery owners, artists as well as the new generation of collectors to forge business alliances, acquire new contemporary art works, share ideas and exchange information about the new contemporary art of Malaysia. The festival is expected to attract more high-yield tourists which in turn will increase the tourism industry’s contribution towards the economy.

Prepared by
Corporate Communications Unit, Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.
For further information, please contact T: +603.4043.0462 or email info@motour.gov.my

旅游部及业者吁净选盟 取消游行免损各行业

●南洋商报

(吉隆坡28日讯）旅游部及旅游业代表今日一致吁请干净与公正选举联盟取消街头示威，因为那将对我国旅游业带来严重损失。

旅游部长拿督斯里黄燕燕医生说，7月份是外国暑假，许多游客会涌入我国，而去年7月，有220万名游客到我国及带来60亿令吉外汇，若街头示威肯定影响旅游息息相关行业，包括购物中心、酒店、德士及商店等。

她说，外国游客愿意来我国主要是我国政治稳定吉和平，若展开街头示威及发生动乱，将打击政府极力推动旅游业的努力。

“以去年的记录，7月份可获得6亿令吉收入，只要减少几巴仙的收入，对我国可是重大损失，我们不容许这事情发生。”

她今日会见国内旅游业代表后，针对7月9日示威事件这么说。

她指出，一些旅游业者担心街头示威事件影响生意已警，同时一些准备前来我国的外国团也关注此事紧张，担心街头示威衍生肢体冲突事件。

批净选盟试图推翻政府

黄燕燕批评净选盟举行街头示威的用意并不满选举制度，而是要试图推翻国阵政府，因为若我国选举制度有问题，反对党就不会在308大选时获得5州政权。

她对于有外国人加入该联盟感到震惊，因为那会影响我国安全。

酒店业者协会或索偿

大马酒店业者协会总执行长沙哈鲁丁指出，当酒店业者在极力改善服务协助推动旅游业，若展开街头示威只会导致很多游客止步，不敢到我国，业者生意额肯定直接受影响。

他说，虽然现在还无评估示威可能对酒店业者带来多少损失，但业者保留用法律途径要求涉及示威者赔偿的权利。

马来西亚水疗协会（AMSPA）副主席拿汀丽莫娜也提到，只要在吉隆坡市中心举行街头示威，该公司及其他业者都会在示威前后几天面对生意额大幅度下跌，因为顾客都不敢出门。

黄燕燕：鉴定所需人数 设一站式中心收集外劳数据

●南洋商报

（吉隆坡28日讯）旅游部近期成立一站式中心，收集旅游业非法及合法外劳数据，鉴定所需外劳人数，并制定旅游业雇用外劳机制。

旅游部长拿督斯里黄燕燕医生指出，酒店与廉价酒店、举办国际赛事的高尔夫球俱乐部、游乐场及水疗SPA中心业者必须向旅游部提呈本身雇用的外劳人数，包括非法与合法者。

她说，此举旨在让部门掌握这些领域所需的外劳人数，以确保有关领域拥有足够的外劳及员工，况且政府目前正特赦非法外劳。

她今日会见旅游业相关领域代表后，向记者指出，上述一站式中心将以旅游部副秘书长为首，成员包括上述4组业者代表，并将在本周召开首次会议。

她说，目前旅游部没有任何有关旅游业外劳人数的资料，因此希望通过部门转型计划制定旅游业外劳机制。

鼓励减少依赖外劳

她说，一站式中心也将研究如何鼓励更多本地员工加入这几个领域，减少依赖外劳，让旅游业有更好的发展。

大集會影響旅遊業損10億

（吉隆坡28日訊）旅遊部長拿督斯裡黃燕燕指出，709大集會將嚴重影響大馬旅遊業發展，可能導致我國旅遊業減少約10億令吉收益。

黃燕燕今日與旅遊業者代表進行匯報會後表示，去年7月的旅遊業總收入為60億令吉，若這次大集會影響我國旅遊業20%的收入，這也會是高達10億令吉。

她強調，若集會引發騷亂，那對大馬聲譽將受到中長期的打擊。一旦集會中只要一個推倒或是被踢的舉動發生，都可能引發更大範圍的衝突。

「遊行大集會若舉行，對所有人都不利，也將讓外國旅客對大馬存有壞印象，以為大馬常舉行示威遊行。」

她指大馬穩定、安全及沒有騷亂而受到外國旅客的愛戴，大集會將破壞了這個良好形象。

據黃燕燕所知，目前有中國旅遊團可能取消在7月份來馬的行程，也將影響正在放暑假的外國旅客。

另一方面，黃燕燕宣佈強制要求酒店、高爾夫球場、主題公園、度假村、溫泉業者呈交一份完整的外勞聘用名單，以協助進行有內政部推行的「6P外勞漂白行動」。

同時，旅遊部將設立以副秘書長祖奈達李為首的一站式服務中心，來處理旅遊業面多的人力資源需求問題。