KUALA LUMPUR SET TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE TOURIST DESTINATION FOR SINGAPOREANS

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

SINGAPORE, April 15 (Bernama) -- In a bid to lure more Singaporeans to visit
Malaysia's federal capital, Kuala Lumpur City Hall has come up with exciting new
tourism products and packages.

Its Culture, Arts, Tourism and Sports Department Tourism Consultant, Noraza
Yusof, said that there had been several interesting changes in Kuala Lumpur of
late.

"What I personally hope is that more Singaporeans, especially repeat
visitors, take the opportunity to experience these new attractions," she told
Bernama here.

Noraza was speaking after the recent launch of the ‘Central Region Seminar
and Travel Mart 2011’ here.

She said that there had been a lot of new developments, for example, the
recent completion of the upgrading of Little India, the Botanical Garden and
many other places.

"We have new shopping malls, including the 'Fahrenheit 88' in front of the
Pavillion,", she said.

Noraza said since more food centres were coming up, there were more things
for tourists to experience now than before.

"We are also working to revive other areas, for example, the Medan Pasar and
the Heritage Trail. Both are expected to be ready by early next year," she said.

When asked about the expected number of tourists from Singapore to Kuala
Lumpur, she said: "We hope to get a better figure from the Singapore market,
maybe up by 5-10 per cent will be good because visiting here is value for money,
especially for those with families."

She said that Singaporeans did not have to spend more when they were on
holiday in Kuala Lumpur.

PERDANA BOTANICAL GARDEN

Formerly known as the Perdana Lake Gardens, this lush green park was built
in the 1880s, making it the oldest and most popular public recreational park in
Kuala Lumpur.

Noraza said that extensive redevelopment was started in early 2010. This saw
thousands of new plants and trees being introduced to the gardens, which has
resulted in the park becoming a botanical garden.

When exploring the Perdana Botanical Gardens, the variety of flora that
includes everything from colourful flowering plants to shrubs, palms and exotic
trees, would amaze visitors, she said.

Among the unique natural wonders are the Bottle tree, the Sausage tree, the
Cannonball tree and the Baobab tree.

On the Cycus Island, she said, visitors would find a collection of Cycus
plants and bamboo.

The park also has a number of gardens that host specific species of
flowering plants, such as the hibiscus garden, the orchid garden and the
heliconia garden.

In the Heliconia Garden, Noraza said, visitors would find more than 80
varieties of heliconia, including the Heliconia Temptress, Heliconia Psittacorum
Nickeriensis and the Heliconia Bihai Nappi Yellow.

FORMULA 1

According to Noraza, 2011 denoted the 13th year of Petronas' association
with Formula One. This year saw the race renamed Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia
Grand Prix.

In conjunction with the F1 event, Noraza said that several concerts were
lined up, including the Twin Towers & Live 2011 with artists like Earth, Wind &
Fire, Derulo, Hoobastank & Colby O’ Donis, Rain & Bruno Mars."

On race day, there was also an F1 Grand Prix Sale.

KUALA LUMPUR MAYOR'S TOURISM AWARDS 2011

Noraza said City Hall had also come up with the Kuala Lumpur Mayor's Tourism
Awards 2011.

"Our objective is to identify, recognise and reward the establishments and
individuals who successfully promote Kuala Lumpur as a tourist destination.

"It is also to recognise and benchmark the highest industry standards of
excellence that have consistently been put into practice," she added.

She said that tour agents in Singapore were welcome to participate in this
awards programme by completing the nomination form under the International Tour
Operator category, which offers three Excellence Awards.