Latest news with #Tourism
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt to boost VM2026 on social media
KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will utilise social media platforms to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) globally. Its Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Xiaohongshu will be used to market Malaysia as an appealing travel destination. "The ministry is crafting consistent and effective narratives to make Malaysia appear as a prime travel destination," he said in reply to Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) during the Minister Question Time today. He added that Malaysia is employing targeted marketing strategies to attract tourists from China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Central Asia, Russia, Middle East, the United Kingdom, Chinese Taipei, Germany and Asean nations. "We are also increasing traffic of visitors to Malaysia by adding flight routes to main Malaysian cities from international destinations." He also said the ministry is engaging with online travel agencies to ensure that the travel packages offered remain competitive.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia strengthens Vietnam tourism ties for VM2026
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is stepping up efforts to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation with Vietnam as part of its strategic preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026. Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the initiative aims to boost market visibility and foster deeper engagement between industry players from both countries. 'Our visit aimed to strengthen bilateral tourism ties between Malaysia and Vietnam, particularly in laying the foundation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 through enhanced market promotion and industry collaboration,' he said in a Facebook post today. During the meeting, Tiong was warmly welcomed by Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association (HTA) president Nguyen Thi Khanh, along with several vice presidents and association representatives. Although Vietnam records about 10 million outbound travellers annually, only a small percentage currently choose Malaysia as their destination. 'We aim to change this by introducing joint promotions, bundled packages, and targeted travel experiences to encourage Vietnamese tourists to explore Malaysia more deeply, particularly secondary cities and cultural or natural attractions in Perak, Pahang, Melaka, Sarawak, and Sabah,' he said. To further enhance tourism awareness, Tiong also proposed organising a Malaysian Food and Culture Festival in Ho Chi Minh City to showcase the country's culinary heritage, traditions, and tourism offerings. - Bernama
Barnama
12 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia Boosts Tourism Partnership With Vietnam For Visit Malaysia 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is stepping up efforts to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation with Vietnam as part of its strategic preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026. Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the initiative aims to boost market visibility and foster deeper engagement between industry players from both countries. 'Our visit aimed to strengthen bilateral tourism ties between Malaysia and Vietnam, particularly in laying the foundation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 through enhanced market promotion and industry collaboration,' he said in a Facebook post today.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Warning over invasive predator 'boom' with Aussie rangers 'working around the clock'
Rangers say they are 'working around the clock' as one Aussie state braces for an invasive predator 'boom' following recent wet weather. While the rainfall in Outback Queensland has been a much-needed boost for all creatures across the food chain, it has also set the scene for populations of feral cats and foxes to explode, according to the state's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI). In an attempt to curb their expansion and protect critical habitats where 'an amazing array of wildlife' reside, rangers have been been putting 'control measures' in place at various national parks to help 'knock down predator pest numbers' and give native animals a chance to 'breed up'. Diamantina, Currawinya and Astrebla national parks, as well as Taunton National Park (Scientific), are home to threatened species, including the critically endangered bridled nail-tail wallabies and greater bilbies. They also have less tree cover than other protected areas in the state. 'Pest predators will particularly target babies and young and can have dramatic impacts on population numbers,' Pest Management Ranger Stuart said on Wednesday. 'We've also been monitoring and tracking their movements to get a better understanding of cat and fox behaviour so we can continue to tailor and adjust control methods for maximum effectiveness. 'Feral cats and foxes don't keep to regular work hours, so Rangers have been working around the clock in order to make our pest control efforts as effective as possible.' Queensland's control methods include trapping and baiting. Feral cats and foxes continue to threaten native species Feral cats and red foxes are some of Australia's worst invasive predators and have contributed to the country's status as having the worst mammal extinction rate in the world. Together, they've helped drive over 25 native species to extinction, and continue to threaten more than 100 others — including small marsupials, ground-nesting birds, and reptiles — many of which occur nowhere else in the world. Feral cats are considered one of the most damaging invasive species in Australia. Estimates suggest they kill more than a billion native animals every year. Their economic impact is also staggering, with research revealing that feral cats cost the Aussie economy around $1 billion a year, including expenses for control efforts, ecological damage, and biodiversity loss. Foxes were first introduced in the 1860s for recreational hunting, but their numbers have since exploded across the country, largely due to a lack of natural predators and an abundance of prey. Similarly to cats, they prey on native wildlife, but also affect agriculture by attacking livestock and poultry. While they're often less numerous than their feline counterparts, foxes can be just as ecologically destructive in areas where native species haven't evolved sufficient defences. They are also becoming increasingly prevalent in urban areas, with one man recently detailing his late-night encounter with a fox in a suburban Sydney parking lot to Yahoo News. 🚘 Late night encounter in suburban car park highlights big issue 🦊 Aussie council under pressure as iconic species ravaged by invasive predator 🐈 Sad find in Aussie garden as Aussie state looks to introduce new pet rules Major national park hazard to tackle 'big threat' Like all states and territories, NSW is trying to curb its growing fox population, with authorities warning residents this week to be vigilant as they prepare to commence an expansive fox baiting program at national parks and reserves. 'Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to native plants and animals and cause extensive damage to the environment, along with billions of dollars' worth of damage to Australian agricultural production each year,' a National Parks and Wildlife spokesperson told Yahoo, adding that 'sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is the most effective landscape fox control method'. They said extensive research has shown that native animals — including lace monitors, quolls and birds — have a high tolerance to 1080 at the concentrations used to control foxes. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar: Public Beaches Development Project to boost tourism
Doha: The recently announced second phase of Public Beaches Development Project seeks to enhance both domestic and international tourism in Qatar, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Municipality. The initiative focuses on upgrading public beaches across the country with world-class facilities, cultural and sports activities, and environmentally sustainable infrastructure to attract visitors and improve the overall quality of life. Senior Quality Projects Engineer at the Ministry of Municipality Eng Issa Muqbil explained that the initiative is built on three strategic goals: improving public well-being, promoting local tourism through cultural and sports activities at the beaches, and attracting foreign tourists by providing world-class beach infrastructure in coordination with Qatar Tourism. Speaking to Qatar TV recently, he said that the project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase, which has been completed, involved the development of eight public beaches across various municipalities. This included the provision of essential services such as signage, walkways — designed to be accessible for people with disabilities — shaded seating, beach furniture, children's playgrounds in family areas, kiosks, sand levelling, and various other amenities to ensure a high-quality visitor experience. The second phase, currently underway, will see the development of an additional 18 beaches across the country. Muqbil emphasized that environmental sustainability is a top priority throughout the project. The Ministry collaborates closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change at all stages — from selecting suitable beaches and developing initial and detailed designs, to implementing eco-friendly construction practices. The project features solar-powered lighting systems to reduce environmental impact and a dual-bin waste management system — grey bins for organic waste and blue bins for recyclable materials — to support sustainable waste disposal practices. The selection of the eight beaches for phase one was based on several criteria. These included environmental sustainability, geographical distribution across municipalities to ensure easy public access, and existing infrastructure such as road connectivity and nearby utility networks. Looking ahead, the Ministry is working to incorporate smart technology into beach services. For example, an electronic booking system is being launched for 974 Beach, which has seen significant footfall — particularly on ladies-only days, with attendance reaching 2,800 visitors, and weekend averages of about 800 daily. The Ministry has implemented multiple channels to monitor visitor satisfaction and collect feedback. A dedicated team monitors social media comments and suggestions, while visitors can also submit their feedback via the unified Ministry contact number or the 'Oun' mobile app. Additionally, field teams regularly visit beaches to assess service quality and gather feedback directly from beachgoers. All feedback is carefully reviewed and acted upon promptly. Private sector involvement is central to the initiative. In the first phase, beach development was carried out by private companies, and 974 Beach is currently operated by a private company to ensure high-quality service delivery. Opportunities for private investment will expand further in the second phase, where 18 more beaches are slated for development. Muqbil confirmed that beach development will remain an ongoing effort, with plans to explore new beach locations not included in the current project phases. The findings of the final study for the upcoming development phase are expected to be announced soon. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
