Latest news with #VisitSelangorYear2025
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Recognising Malaysia's tourism trailblazers
(From left) Rashidi, Emmy Suraya, Chua, Castaldi and Azimah at the press conference to launch Tourism Industry Awards 2025 in Petaling Jaya. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star Award categories include best products, services and sustainable initiatives, with added focus on Selangor's industry players THIS year's Tourism Industry Awards is set to celebrate the best in the industry across 90 categories. 'The awards encompass various aspects of tourism such as hotels, tour guides, tourism products, shopping centres and convention centres,' said its organising chairman Datuk Emmy Suraya Hussein. The second edition of the awards has drawn 150 entries, and some 1,100 local and international tourism players are expected to attend the Aug 9 ceremony at a hotel in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya in Selangor. 'It is also the first time we are collaborating with Tourism Selangor, in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025 (VSY 2025). 'This is a good chance to strengthen our relationship and provide more opportunities for local tourism players, especially those in Selangor,' she said during a press conference. Emmy Suraya said the award ceremony was also a celebration of resilience, creativity and excellence in tourism. 'As Malaysia continues to elevate its position as a top global travel destination, these awards honour trailblazers who have made significant contributions to the tourism industry,' she said. The awards are jointly organised by Malaysia International Tourism Development Association (Mitda), Tourism Selangor and a travel magazine. Also present at the press conference were Mitda president Captain (Rtd) Mahadzir Mansor, Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling, Tourism Industry Awards 2025 head juror Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah and Tourism Malaysia senior director (package development division) Azimah Aziz. Sunway Hospitality Group chief executive officer Alex Castaldi and Subang Jaya deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali also attended the event which saw the launch of Tourism Industry Awards 2025. Mahadzir said each winner would have the chance to promote their products to both local and international audiences. 'Mitda will provide the winners with slots to promote their tourism packages and products via World Tourism Channel, Mitda's electronic platform.' He said the winners' products would also be promoted in the travel magazine as well as other print media. 'Winners will also be recognised as a 'Tourism Ambassador of Malaysia' to help promote the country's tourism industry,' he added. Meanwhile, Chua said Selangor government had introduced 20 special award categories to recognise the contributions of tourism players and media professionals across the state. 'Tourism Industry Awards 2025 is more than a celebration. 'It is also a strategic platform to promote VSY 2025 and our signature domestic tourism campaign 'Selangor Kan Ada'. 'It is also an appreciation for those who have played a role in boosting tourist arrivals and enriching the tourism landscape in Selangor. 'We believe that by acknowledging these efforts, we can inspire more innovation, sustainability and excellence across the industry,' she said. Chua added that the awards ceremony was also a good avenue for tourism players to gather and exchange opinions to elevate the industry.
The Star
19-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Selangor ramps up bid to be top medical tourism hub
Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim. KLANG: Selangor is moving at top speed to strengthen its position as a regional medical tourism hub. State government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said intense promotions have been carried out for the past two years to push Selangor's 42 private hospitals and the world-class health services available here. 'Currently, Selangor is number three after Penang and Melaka in the medical tourism hierarchy. ' According to Ng, Selangor was targeting medical tourists from Indonesia as Malaysia was their destination of choice for second opinions, health screening, cosmetic surgery as well as treatment and surgeries for various ailments. He said affluent Indonesians medical tourists do not usually travel alone, but would bring their families, caregivers and domestic helpers. 'So, while seeking treatment and medical consultation, they also stay in top hotels, visit tourist attractions as well as carry out extensive shopping. 'All these activities are a boon for the state's tourism industry.' Given that medical tourists from Jakarta and Medan prefer going to Penang and Melaka due to the close travel proximity, Ng said in addition to wooing them, Selangor was also exploring other locations in Indonesia. 'We teamed-up with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council and have gone to promote Selangor as a medical tourism hub in Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Makassar. 'We had booths to showcase our private hospitals, the facilities and expertise they offer.' He added that in pursuit of Indonesian medical tourists, Selangor has even conceptualised a campaign with its own theme song dubbed Liburan Sehat Ya Di Selangor Aja! (Enjoy a Healthy Vacation in Selangor!) in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026. He said this was also a good time to woo Indonesian medical tourists who frequent Singapore but are finding it too expensive now due to the strength of the republic's currency. He added that due to intense promotions, medical tourists to Selangor has increased by more than 10% in the first six months of this year. Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said medical tourists came to Malaysia mainly for fertility, gastroenterology and oncology treatments. He added that roughly about 80% came for treatment while the rest came for health screening with the bulk of the medical tourists coming from Indonesia, China and India.
Barnama
17-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
S'gor's Tourism To Get Boost With Permanent Docking Of Piano Land Cruise Ship At PKCT
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Selangor's tourism sector is expected to receive a new boost when the Piano Land cruise ship from China will dock permanently (home port) at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT) starting in the fourth quarter of this year. Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling said it is expected to boost the arrival of international tourists directly to the state, thus opening up new potential in the state's maritime tourism. 'The Piano Land ship has a capacity of around 2,000 passengers and the selection of PKCT as the home port proves that the terminal has suitable and competitive facilities for the growing cruise ship tourism segment,' she told reporters after the Surprising Selangor Media & Influencer Hi-Tea 2025 here today. Chua said Tourism Selangor was also designing an exclusive package to take tourists directly from the terminal to Pulau Ketam without any transit, allowing them to enjoy unique experiences such as walking through the mangrove swamps, seeing eagles, and visiting the kelong (manmade wooden platform) on the island. 'Currently, tourists need to take a taxi to the South Port Terminal Jetty before boarding a boat to Pulau Ketam. With a direct route from PKCT, tourists from cruise ships can go straight to the destination upon arrival. PKCT has also upgraded a special jetty for this purpose,' she said. According to Chua, the move is also supported by the development of short-term tourism packages around Klang and Shah Alam, in line with the cruise ship stopover period, thus providing added value to the state's maritime tourism sector. In addition, she said that in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025, her team will be organising the Selangor Travel Fair 2025 on July 26 and 27 at the Central Market here, targeting more than 30,000 local visitors. The event, which will bring together 30 exhibitors such as Farm Fresh, Selangor Fruit Valley, GL Play, Tourism Malaysia and the Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation (PADAT), will also feature the launch of the official video and song 'Selangor Kan Ada!', performances by Aizat Amdan and Lah Ahmad, creative workshops and a 'live podcast' recording. Meanwhile, Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the state government is targeting eight million tourists this year, with a projected tourism receipt of RM11.2 billion, in line with efforts to strengthen the industry ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
The Star
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Bon Odori makes debut in Sunway City
Some attended the 49th Bon Odori at Sunway City Kuala Lumpur decked out in traditional outfits. - Photo: Bernama Bon Odori 2025 arrives in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur to celebrate culture and boost visit Selangor Year 2025 Tourism. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA PETALING JAYA: The Bon Odori Festival has made its debut at Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, featuring cultural performances, traditional dances, and more than 100 stalls offering Japanese street food, snacks, charming trinkets, handmade crafts, and unique festival finds. Held over two days starting Saturday (July 12) from 4pm to 11pm, the 49th edition of the festival is jointly organised by The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur and Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, with support from Tourism Selangor, the Embassy of Japan, and The Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur. Sunway Malls chief executive officer HC Chan said the festival's arrival in Sunway reflected a deepening of bilateral ties and community building. "Today marks an important milestone in the history of cultural exchange between Malaysia and Japan. It is with great honour and privilege that the 49th Bon Odori Festival is being held for the first time in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, one of Malaysia's top tourist destinations with an annual visitorship of over 42 million people," he told a press conference here on Saturday (July 12). Also present at the event were Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general Lee Thai Hung, Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim, Tourism Selangor CEO Chua Yee Ling, Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Shikata Noriyuki, The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur president Dai Hoshiai, and The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur Chairman Toru Nakabayashi. Chan noted that the support of the Selangor state government and Tourism Selangor had been crucial in making the festival a success, adding that Sunway's commitment to cultural diplomacy was also reflected in its extensive collaborations with Japanese institutions in business, education, and innovation. "Sunway University has established active collaborative partnerships with more than 20 Japanese universities, with eight more in the pipeline, focusing on research collaboration, technological innovation, and student exchange programmes," he said. Meanwhile, Ng stated that the celebration of Bon Odori was in line with the spirit of unity and multiculturalism promoted under Visit Selangor Year 2025. "As Visit Selangor Year 2025 continues to gain strong momentum into its second half, we are proud to welcome more multicultural celebrations across the state, a true reflection of Selangor as a model of unity and harmony, in line with the Kita Selangor spirit," he said. He added that Japan remained one of Selangor's key international tourist markets, with Japanese tourist arrivals climbing from 110,018 in 2023 to 132,526 in 2024, marking a remarkable 20.5% increase. "We are confident that with the continued strengthening of bilateral ties between Selangor and Japan, this upward trend will persist in the years to come," he added. Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese festival celebrated with dances and lively drum performances to welcome the homecoming of ancestral spirits. Since its inception in 1977, Bon Odori has attracted a diverse crowd, supported the local economy, boosted tourism, and solidified Malaysia's position as a leading cultural and lifestyle destination in the regional tourism landscape. – Bernama Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim (left) with Japanese ambassador Shikata Noriyuki (middle) and Sunway Mall CEO HC Chan at the press conference. - Photo: Bernama
BusinessToday
12-07-2025
- BusinessToday
FRIM Selangor Forest Park Named Malaysia's Sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia's (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park has been officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it the sixth site in Malaysia to receive the prestigious designation. The announcement was made during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently taking place from July 6 to 16 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The listing follows a nomination process that began in 2013 and was unanimously endorsed by the committee's 21 member states. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the inscription recognises FRIM Selangor Forest Park's unique status as one of the world's earliest large-scale tropical forest ecosystem restoration projects, successfully converting a former tin mining site into a thriving and biodiverse rainforest. 'FRIM Selangor Forest Park is a unique site that exemplifies how degraded land can be restored into a rich, functioning ecosystem. This recognition sets an international benchmark for ecological restoration and underscores Malaysia's long-standing commitment to environmental conservation,' MOTAC said in a statement. The restored forest, located just north of Kuala Lumpur, features high tree species diversity and a carefully managed ecosystem that closely mirrors a natural tropical rainforest. It is also a centre for research, education and eco-tourism, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a reconstructed rainforest environment. MOTAC noted that the World Heritage listing is expected to significantly boost the park's appeal as a tourism destination, particularly in the lead-up to Visit Selangor Year 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026. The ministry expressed confidence that the designation will attract more international visitors while providing sustainable economic benefits to local communities. With this recognition, FRIM Selangor Forest Park joins five other Malaysian sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list including Kinabalu Park (2000), Gunung Mulu National Park (2000), Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca – Melaka and George Town (2008), Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012) and Niah National Park Caves Complex (2024). The park is now among 1,223 sites worldwide protected under the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Related
