Latest news with #ArabianTravelMarket
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Malaysia to tap into Middle East market with ‘Brunei +' tourism model
Tiong says to support promotional efforts, Tourism Malaysia would offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. – Bernama photo PUTRAJAYA (May 31): Malaysia is poised to strengthen its tourism connections with Middle Eastern countries by adopting a successful model pioneered by Royal Brunei Airlines, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. According to him, Royal Brunei Airlines' well-established 'Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu' model, which offers travellers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before continuing to destinations like Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, has received encouraging market response and was recently extended to include Kuching. 'After seeing the success of this initiative, we plan to replicate it for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets, in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines, to attract more international visitors,' he said in a statement. Tiong said that during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market, he and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy held discussions with Royal Brunei Airlines' United Arab Emirates (UAE) regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman, which resulted in an initial agreement to adapt the 'Brunei +' model for the UAE market. The package would target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates living in the UAE and offer a seven-day, six-night tour covering Brunei and Malaysia, with Tourism Malaysia sponsoring a free one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. 'Our goal is to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries. 'I aim to finalise this package by the end of the year in support of our vision to welcome 45 million international tourists for Visit Malaysia 2026,' said Tiong. The minister said to support promotional efforts, Tourism Malaysia would offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. 'The familiarisation trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary expected to be finalised by the end of August.' Tiong also proposed for Royal Brunei Airlines to consider opening more connecting routes, such as direct flights from Dubai to Brunei with connections to destinations in Peninsular Malaysia like Melaka, Johor, Pahang and Perak. He said such routes could be implemented through codeshare agreements or chartered flights, helping to position Malaysia and Brunei as key gateways for regional travel. 'This strategy, where visitors enter via Brunei and depart from Malaysia, also aligns with efforts to grow the Muslim-friendly tourism segment between both countries,' said Tiong, adding that the ministry would work closely with the Transport Ministry to expedite any necessary approvals for new routes. — Bernama brunei Tiong King Sing tourism
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia To Tap Into Middle East Market With 'Brunei +' Tourism Model
GENERAL PUTRAJAYA, May 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is poised to strengthen its tourism connections with Middle Eastern countries by adopting a successful model pioneered by Royal Brunei Airlines, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. He said Royal Brunei Airlines' well-established "Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu" model, which offers travellers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before continuing to destinations like Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, has received encouraging market response and was recently extended to include Kuching. 'After seeing the success of this initiative, we plan to replicate it for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets, in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines, to attract more international visitors,' he said in a statement. Tiong said that during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market, he and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy held discussions with Royal Brunei Airlines' UAE regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman, which resulted in an initial agreement to adapt the 'Brunei +' model for the UAE market. The package will target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates living in the UAE and offer a seven-day, six-night tour covering Brunei and Malaysia, with Tourism Malaysia sponsoring a free one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. 'Our goal is to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries. I aim to finalise this package by the end of the year in support of our vision to welcome 45 million international tourists for Visit Malaysia 2026,' the minister shared. To support promotional efforts, Tiong revealed that Tourism Malaysia will offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. The familiarisation trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary expected to be finalised by the end of August. Tiong also proposed that Royal Brunei Airlines consider opening more connecting routes, such as direct flights from Dubai to Brunei with connections to destinations in Peninsular Malaysia like Melaka, Johor, Pahang and Perak.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia eyes Middle East tourists with 'Brunei+' travel package
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is set to deepen its tourism ties with Middle Eastern nations by adopting a proven strategy pioneered by Royal Brunei Airlines, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. He highlighted the success of the airline's "Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu" model, which offers travellers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before continuing on to destinations such as Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu. The initiative has received encouraging market response and was recently expanded to include Kuching. "Given the strong reception, we are planning to replicate this model for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets, in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines, to draw more international tourists to our shores," he said in a statement. Tiong said that during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market, he and Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy held talks with Royal Brunei Airlines' UAE regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman. The discussions resulted in a preliminary agreement to adapt the "Brunei+" model specifically for the UAE market. The new travel package will target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates residing in the UAE, offering a seven-day, six-night itinerary that includes Brunei and Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia will sponsor a one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching as part of the package. "Our target is to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries. I hope to finalise this package by year-end in support of our target to welcome 45 million international tourists under Visit Malaysia 2026," he added. To support promotional activities, Tiong said that Tourism Malaysia would offer 30 familiarisation trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, enabling its representatives to explore key attractions across various Malaysian states. The familiarisation trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary to be confirmed by the end of August. In addition, he proposed that Royal Brunei Airlines consider expanding its network through more connecting routes, including direct flights from Dubai to Brunei with onward connections to Peninsular Malaysia destinations such as Melaka, Johor, Pahang, and Perak. These routes, he said, could be introduced via codeshare agreements or chartered flights, strengthening the positioning of Malaysia and Brunei as joint gateways for regional tourism. "This approach — where travellers arrive via Brunei and depart from Malaysia — also supports the growth of the Muslim-friendly tourism segment between our two countries," he said, adding that his ministry would work closely with the Transport Ministry to facilitate approvals for any new flight routes.
Tourism Breaking News
2 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026 with Global Meet and International Outreach
Post Views: 80 In a special interview with TravTalkME, Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, Director International Promotion Division, North and East Asia, Tourism Malaysia shared that efforts are being made to intensify priority markets such as the GCC to drive more opportunities and that they are planning a special event to connect Malaysian sellers with international buyers and media in September this year on world tourism day to further promote about 'Visit Malaysia 2026'. She added that Malaysia is ramping up its preparations for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, with major initiatives already underway this year. A national priority, the campaign brings together strategic partners from across the hospitality and tourism industry—including hotels, airlines, and media platforms—to amplify Malaysia's brand on the global stage. 'Among the key highlights is Global Meet, a business-to-business (B2B) platform taking place later this year. The event will connect Malaysian tourism sellers with international buyers and media, aiming to boost global awareness and drive business opportunities ahead of 2026. Additionally, Malaysia will host World Tourism Day in Melaka this September, further showcasing its readiness and commitment. Efforts are being intensified in priority markets. While neighboring countries remain strong contributors to tourist arrivals, Malaysia is expanding its focus to China, India, and notably the Middle East—aligning with the Prime Minister's regional engagement efforts. Long-haul markets like Europe are also a renewed priority.' To drive this agenda, Malaysia has launched a series of sales missions and workshops. These include recent promotional tours in India, China, and the Middle East, such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and missions to Jeddah and Riyadh. Post-COVID, the push is clear: re-establish Malaysia's presence in under-engaged regions and aggressively market the country as a top tourism destination. With 2026 on the horizon, Malaysia is going 'all out' to ensure the campaign's success.
Syyaha
3 days ago
- Business
- Syyaha
Huawei and Emirates Collaborate to Launch HarmonyOS 5 Smartwatch App, Ushering in a New Era of Seamless, Smart Travel
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 29, 2025 — In a significant step towards redefining the digital travel experience, Huawei and Emirates have announced the global launch of Emirates' HarmonyOS 5 smartwatch app. The launch underscores the close collaboration between the tech giant and the world's largest international airline, reinforcing their shared commitment to innovation, customer-centric technology, and enhanced travel convenience, particularly for the Chinese market. Following the MoU renewal between both parties at the 2025 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, Emirates becomes one of the first global airline brands to integrate its services with Huawei's next-generation HarmonyOS 5 operating system. This move marks a pivotal milestone in the partnership between two global leaders, reflecting a shared ambition to elevate the travel experience through connected, intelligent solutions. The new Emirates HarmonyOS 5 smartwatch app is designed to make travel planning and in-flight services more intuitive. From real-time flight updates and itinerary overviews to mobile boarding pass, the app allows Huawei smartwatch users to seamlessly access Emirates services at a glance. Integrated directly into Huawei's device ecosystem, the app benefits from HarmonyOS 5 Services, delivering instant access, seamless cross-device continuity, and an AI-enhanced user experience — all without needing to open or download third-party applications. 'Partnering with Emirates is a testament to our commitment to revolutionizing the digital landscape,' said Mr. William Hu, Managing Director of the Consumer Business Group for Middle East and Africa Eco Development and Operation 'The launch of the Emirates smartwatch app on HarmonyOS 5 is a milestone in delivering smart, personalized, and immersive travel experiences. By combining Huawei's technological innovation with Emirates' premium customer service, we are redefining how users engage with global travel brands—right from their wrists.' 'Huawei's expertise in building seamless smart ecosystems enables Emirates to connect with travelers across key markets, particularly China, in powerful new ways,' added Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Far East) at Emirates. 'With the new Emirates smartwatch app on HarmonyOS 5, we are enhancing real-time engagement and unlocking smarter, more personalized journeys for our customers, further strengthening our global reach and service excellence.' The collaboration also includes joint efforts to enhance and optimize the Emirates App on HUAWEI AppGallery to ensure improved performance and stability across all Huawei smart devices, co-promote key campaigns such as Emirates' upcoming route launches to Shenzhen and Hangzhou in July to amplify reach within the Chinese market, and develop co-created content and integrated marketing initiatives tailored to digitally savvy travelers across the MENA region and mainland China. Available now on Huawei smartwatches, the Emirates app serves as a seamless extension of the airline's digital services, offering a tailored experience built for convenience and real-time engagement. This launch marks yet another milestone in Emirates and Huawei's groundbreaking collaboration, reaffirming their commitment to future-forward travel experiences powered by AI, ecosystem synergy, and data-driven innovation.
