BUSINESS events stakeholders in Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu have stepped up destination promotion efforts in secondary Chinese cities following announcements of new direct flights between Langkawi and Guangzhou and Kota Kinabalu and Wuhan.
Director of Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), Ramizan Kaman Shah, told TTGmice e-Weekly that a joint familiarisation trip was organised late last year with Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau to invite media agencies from all over China to Langkawi, ahead of AirAsia’s launch of its direct Langkawi-Guangzhou services on January 24.
Ramizan said: “Langkawi is a new destination for China. Its UNESCO Geopark status, golf courses, good beaches, as well as water and jungle activities make it an ideal destination for meetings and incentives.”
He pointed out that efforts are made to target Chinese MICE buyers from all over China, not just from Guangzhou, “as there are also good linkages from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi” which enable Chinese MICE travellers to visit the island via Malaysia’s main gateway.
AirAsia’s new daily service between Kota Kinabalu and Wuhan, which commenced on January 22 this year, has also encouraged Sabah Tourism Board and Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents Sabah Chapter to band together on a sales mission to Wuhan in March to engage outbound Chinese agents.
According to Ebony Leong, marketing manager at Sabah Tourism Board, the bureau is ready to provide non-financial support, such as welcome cultural performances, to Chinese meeting and incentive planners.
Currently, Kota Kinabalu receives 61 weekly flights from China and Hong Kong, including new services offered by China Southern Airlines in December 2015 connecting Guangzhou with Kota Kinabalu and Spring Airlines four-weekly services from Shanghai which commenced in October 2015.
