Marketing Tourism

I like to travel but i didn't travel much until recent years. Unlike most of the Malaysian who enjoy taking a fully planned holiday package, I like to explore on my own. I admit that is it much easier and comfortable to travel by taking the fully planned holiday package, yet I would like to see more and do more than just visit to the most commercialised travel destinations (usually). And I also realised that most Malaysian traveller on these package do 3 common things. 1. Sleep on the bus 2. Get down the bus and go wee wee 3.Shopping shopping and more shopping

Being a perfectionist, I usually do plenty of homeworks before I finalised on my travel itinerary. What the mode of transport, accomodation, things to do & see. And if I am driving, I'll do research more like, routes to take, driving conditions and so on. And I found that some countries have really good tourism website. They clearly categorized each places, brief intro on the places, suggested things to do and see, details map (readily for download) and even links and website to local area council, travel destinations and tour operator, etc.

I think a good information on the places is very important marketing tool. Passing the knowledge to the potential visitors so that they can select the experiences they want to have. Travel is about experiences. If INFO about a particular travel destination is not complete it looses it edge in attracting people to come. Let say if a couple is looking for a romantic gateway for their honeymoon, they wanted to have luxury dining and maybe a cruise to see the coral or even picnic on a unexplore beach. As a Malaysian I know that Langkawi, Sabah and many other beautiful island we have can provide this beautiful experience to the couple. Yet there's a main problem here, not many people know that Malaysia is capable of providing this experience. Or even some Malaysian don't believe that Malaysia is a good place for such kind of romantic honeymoon. Most people will think of Bali, Phuket, Mauritius and so on... Why? This is beacuse the failure in TOURISM Marketing. People have no idea what we have to offer. It is obvious answer that people would not choose that destination for their holiday.

I find that Malaysia tourism industry needed to improve lots more on this area. I swear that it is 10 times more difficult to find info on Malaysia travel destination and travel info than countries like New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Malaysia have so much to offer in terms of tourism. Besides the many luxury and midrange hotels all around Malaysia. We have magnificient tropical rain forest, abundance of exotic floral and fauna, beautiful and unspoil beaches, kampung life / farm stay or even a home stay at the bumiputeras long houses, international standard diving spots, lots of excellent caves that nearby to township and city for visitor to explore. And I just wonder do these information available to the potential visitors? So many years, tourism industry here only stressed on Malaysia is a shopping haeven, food paradise, multi-racial and rich cultural. But we are far more than this. The only weakness is that the industry didn't market it well to Malaysian and to the world.

Besides, many Malaysian are extremely poor in tourism knowledge about Malaysia. Ah ha... I heard some people objecting. Before you object, let's do a quick test.

1. Name 10 travel destinations within KL.
2. Name 2 orang asli kampung within Selangor.
3. What are the states that have trishaw "beca"? What are the differences between these beca?
4. Name 3 national parks in Malaysia
5. Which state is famous for batik painting.

Haha.. let see how many of the questions you get it right. Below are my answers.

1. Istana Budaya, Istana, Menara KL (you can do flying fox, free guided jungle trekking), Petronas Twin Tower (shopping @ Suria, Galeri Petronas, Petrosains, KLCC Park), Aquaria @ KL Convention Centre, Pasar Seni / Centre Market, Forest Reserve Institute Malaysia more known as FRIM Kepong, Taman Tasik Perdana, Taman Rusa @Jln Perdana, Taman Orkid @ Jln Cendearawashi, Birds Park nearby lake garden, Batu Caves, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Masjid Negara, Petaling Street, Dataran Merdeka, Thean Hou Temple, not forgeting the ever popular Bukit Bintang area are just some of the attractions & places you can tell a visitor to go.

If you want to add in Putrajaya, where architectonical masterpieces, botanical garden & wetland park, mosque and the majestic administrative capital.

2. I really wonder how many people know about this. Even I have been staying in KL for 20 over years, I didn't know any of it, until I saw a road near LPD exit years ago. I realised that in Selangor itself, there are kampung orang asli. Surprise!! Below is a list of 13 orang asli kampungs in Selangor.
Kampung Orang Asli Broga - suku Temuan
Kampung Orang Asli Donglai Baru, Sungai Tekala, Semenyih - suku Temuan
Kampung Orang Asli Kuala Pangsoon - suku Temuan
Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Tampoi, Sepang, Selangor
Kampung Orang Asli Serigala Hulu , Ulu Selangor
Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat - suku Temuan
Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Tadom,Labuhan Dagang , Banting
Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Bangkong , Sepang
RSA Bukit Cheeding, Kuala Langat - suku Temuan
Kampung Busut Baru , Kuala Langat - suku Temuan
Kuala Kubu Baru suku Temuan
Tanjung Sepat, Banting - suku Mahmeri
Bukit Lanjan

3. Malacca & Penang. Malacca Trishaw driver at the side and passanger in slightly behind the driver. Penang trishaw passanger at the front and driver is behind.

4. Again I think the National Park (NP) list will surprise you.
Johor- Endau Rompin NP, Gunung Ledang, Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup Johor NP , Islands off Mersing Johor NP
Pahang- Taman Negara NP
Penang - Penang NP
Sarawak - Nako NP, Gunung Mulu NP, Niah NP, Similajau NP, Gunung Gading NP, Kubah NP, Batang Ai NP, Rajang Mangroves NP, Gunung Buda NP, Kuching Wetland NP, Santubung NP, Loagan Bunut NP, Tanjung Datu NP, Bkt Tiban NP, Maludam NP, Pulong Tau NP.
Sabah - Crocker Range Park, Kinabalu Park, Pulau Tiga, Tawau Hills, Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Turtle Island.

5. Terrenganu.

Yes, it all look like simple questions, but as Malaysian not many know the answer. This is because we Malaysian also not expose to such info. If we Malaysian do not even know how interesting our country are how do we market it to the world?

So, all the marketing people in Malaysia, time to re-look at the way of marketing Malaysia as a travel destination and how to effectively deliver the knowledge and info to all potential visitor. And we Malaysian, the best ambassador to the world, learn more about Malaysia and cuti -cuti around Malaydia more!! Show the world that Malaysia an excellent travel destination!!