Tag: Malaysia
Indonesia & Malaysia emerge top Muslim-friendly travel destinations
Jakarta (TAN): Indonesia and Malaysia share the top spot in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2019.
The report, which was published this week, includes 130 destinations around the world, both within and beyond the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Singapore continues to be the top Muslim-friendly travel destination among non-OIC destinations, followed by Thailand, the United Kingdom, Japan and Taiwan. Continue reading Indonesia & Malaysia emerge top Muslim-friendly travel destinations
Uzbekistan to waive visa for citizens of 45 countries
Tashkent (NITN): Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that tourists from 45 countries will be able to visit Uzbekistan visa free, effective from February 1, 2019.
This is the latest in a series of reforms designed to stimulate the Central Asian country’s tourism development, as Mirziyoyev identified tourism and foreign investment as the two priorities for his term when he came to power in December 2016.
Initiatives including the introduction of e-visas in June 2018 have already resulted in an increase in foreign tourist numbers from 2.6 million in 2017 to 5.3 million in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates significant further growth in 2019.
National carrier Uzbekistan Airways will take delivery of two new Airbus A320neos and three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in spring 2019, increasing its capacity on long haul international routes and enabling it to add new destinations. The airline already provides direct flights between London Heathrow and Tashkent, and expects to add a second UK airport to its network this summer.
From February 1, 2019, the following countries will be able to enter Uzbekistan visa free for up to 30 days:
Andorra, Canada, Iceland, Mongolia, San Marino, Argentina, Chile, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia, Australia, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Norway, Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, Brunei Darussalam, Greece, Malta, Republic of Cyprus, United Kingdom Bulgaria Hungary Monaco Romania, and Vatican City.
Nationals of France, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey were granted visa free access in 2018. Germans will have visa free access from January 15, 2019.
President Mirziyoyev’s 5 January decrees also stated that:
- The existing e-visa scheme will be extended to cover the nationals of 76 countries, and will allow for double and multiple entries;
- New visa categories will be created for pilgrims, students, academics, and for medical tourism, and will be available within one month;
- Hotels must offer accommodation “regardless of the place of residence, citizenship, kinship and marital relations of individuals, as well as other factors that restrict the right to privacy.” This removes restrictions on unmarried couples;
- A list of prohibited sites (i.e. those of security concern) will be published on or before February 1, and clearly marked with signs. Tourists may photograph and film all unmarked sites without restriction.
Vietjet to fly 14 Hanoi-Incheon return flights a week
June 5 (TravelAndy): In a bid to meet the rising travel demand, Vietjet is increasing its operation frequency on the Hanoi – Incheon route to 14 return flights a week. The increase will come into effect starting August 2, 2017.
Beginning July 21, 2017, the Hanoi – Taipei route will also enjoy a frequency of 11 round trips per week with flights available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
In line with the announcement, Vietjet is offering 800,000 promotional tickets priced from USD0 in a three-day promotion which runs from June 6-8, 2017, under its ongoing promotional campaign “Free summer, Fly for free”. Continue reading Vietjet to fly 14 Hanoi-Incheon return flights a week
AirAsia to fly Pontianak-Kuching direct from June 5
April 4 (TravelAndy): Budget airline AirAsia has announced to start a direct flight between Pontianak in Indonesia and Kuching in Malaysia from June 5, 2017.
This will mark the airline’s first direct flight route between Indonesia and Kuching.
At present, AirAsia flies only one flight from Pontianak to Malaysia — to the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur. Continue reading AirAsia to fly Pontianak-Kuching direct from June 5
Fly Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur for INR999
February 24 (TravelAndy): AirAsia is offering an introductory all-in one-way fare of INR999 for its Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur flight.
The offer is valid on tickets booked till March 5, 2017, for travel from April 26 to October 27, 2017, said the airline.
This will be the first international flight from Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport. Continue reading Fly Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur for INR999
Uber boost to tourism in Malaysia’s Perak
February 5 (TravelAndy): The recent introduction of Uber cab service in the Malaysian state of Perak is expected to encourage tourism in the area, The Malay Mail Online said.
Scarcity of public transport in Ipoh, the capital city of Perak, has been a reason of recurrent complaint among tourists.
With Uber starting services in the city from Monday, tourists are expected to benefit from it, state tourism executive committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi said. Continue reading Uber boost to tourism in Malaysia’s Perak
OYO launches its international service in Malaysia
January 14 (TravelAndy): Indian budget hotel aggregator, OYO rooms have started their first international service in Malaysia, said reports.
“Taking the company international has always been on the cards but we wanted to achieve clear market leadership in India before heading overseas,” OYO Rooms Founder & CEO Ritesh Agarwal said.
Presently, OYO has a total of 40,000 rooms spread across 160 destinations in India including Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Chennai and Kolkata. Continue reading OYO launches its international service in Malaysia
Go to Malaysia for the food
Malaysia is pretty well connected by flights from India.
Apart from the several direct connections to Kuala Lumpur, India’s first direct flight to Penang also started recently. Despite all that, I find most travellers using Malaysia as a flight connection hub rather than a travel destination in itself. I wonder why.
If you have been thinking of reasons to visit Malaysia, think no further than the incredible food you get there.
I was talking to a friend who had been to Malaysia on her honeymoon and it appeared to me that the beautiful couple ate their way through the country! The enthusiasm my friend showed when she described me the finger-licking food they had in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Mersing and Kuching made me decide to share the details with you. Continue reading Go to Malaysia for the food
Trichy-Penang direct flight starts
October 3 (TravelAndy): Malaysia-based low-cost airline Malindo Air has started direct flights between India’s Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) and Penang in Malaysia.
The bi-weekly flight is operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The flight will depart from Penang airport at 8.30pm and reach Trichy at 9.40pm. The return flight will leave Trichy at 10.30pm and reach Penang at 4.45am, the next day.
“We hope that this new air link will help to boost the tourism, encouraging Indian tourists to come more often and stay longer in the country,” said Tourism Malaysia director Noor Azman Samsudin in Chennai, reports said. Continue reading Trichy-Penang direct flight starts
AirAsia to fly Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur
September 16 (TravelAndy): AirAsia is set to start direct flights between Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India, to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, said reports.
This will mark the first direct international flight from the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
Low-cost carrier AirAsia is planning to start this route tentatively from December 15. However the date has not been confirmed yet. Continue reading AirAsia to fly Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia’s new Johor Bahru-Bangkok flight
May 21 (TravelAndy): Low-cost carrier Air Asia will start operating on the Johor Bahru to Bangkok route from July 17.
Booking opened for the new route on May 18 and for bookings made till May 24, the airline is offering all-inclusive fares from MYR69 for travel between July 17 and May 31, 2016, Air Asia said in a statement.
The four-times-a-week will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 6.55pm and land in Bangkok at 8.45pm. Continue reading Air Asia’s new Johor Bahru-Bangkok flight
Cheap flights for Malaysia students
May 6 (TravelAndy): Over 6,50,000 students and staff of 20 public universities in Malaysia will shortly be able to travel more economically as part of an Air Asia program.
The airline recently signed a memorandum of agreement with 20 public higher learning institutions, providing access to its Waran Perjalanan Udara Awam service, which was previously limited to civil servants only.
This program allows passengers benefits such as flexible flight booking and flight change, complimentary baggage allotment up to 40kg, in-flight meals, seat selection with waived service counter fees.
With AirAsia’s wide domestic network, the programme intends to ease “travel plans for students and staff of the public universities” Aireen Omar, Air Asia’s chief executive officer was quoted as saying. He said the travellers will also be covered by Tune Insurance AirAsia Travel Protection plan.